Bless Me, Ultima

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1972

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Before You Read

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-19

Chapters 20-22

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Anaya invented the legend of the golden carp by drawing on Aztec myths. What elements of Aztec or other Indigenous mythology can you identify in the legend?

Compare and contrast the different types of magic presented in the novel. What is the source of Ultima’s magic? What about Narciso’s and the Trementina sisters’?

How does the novel incorporate magical realism? Find three examples of magical realism in the novel and discuss their thematic significance.