Recap Part One
Manzano could memorize and recite poetic verses, making him “the pet” of his mother’s owner Doña Beatriz who had him entertain and perform for her guests. Manzano secretly learned to read and write and later crafted his own poetry. At the age of six, Manzano’s mother was granted her freedom with the promise that Juan would gain his as well upon the death of Doña Beatriz. But when she died, he was transferred as a slave to La Marquesa de Prado Ameno, a cruel woman who subjected him to brutal beatings and confinement.
Entry Questions
.What was the cultural/racial hierarchy of Cuba during the 19 century? How was this revealed in The Poet Slave of Cuba?
.Reflecting on her writing process, author Margarita Engle said:
“For ten years, I struggled to write about Manzano in prose, but it never worked. Until I switched to free verse, the story of this brave poet’s childhood simply did not spring to life. Once the story was told in verse, I could focus on Manzano’s spirit of wonder and hopeful emotions. In his autobiographical notes, he mentioned that he hoped to write a novel about his life, but he never had the chance, so I felt like I was doing it for him, with his spirit watching, cheering me on.
I believe the story worked in verse rather than prose primarily because poetry is a suitable vessel for expressing the inner life, a secret life, a life of hidden hopes.”
Think of a keyword or keyphrase and complete the following sentence:
In the novel The Poet Slave of Cuba poetry is_________________.
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Group Discussion
Discuss how the notions of abolition, freedom, and Black solidarity are explored in this section.