In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez- Vocabulary

1.  Circa:  at, in, or of approximately —used especially with dates- Pg.3

2.  Gringa: a term used in Latin America or Spain to refer to a female foreigner, especially one of U.S. or British descent (sometimes used facetiously).- Pg.3, Para.1

3.  Obligatory: required as a matter of obligation; mandatory- Pg.3, Para.3

4.  Delegations: a group of people who are chosen to vote or act for act for someone else-Pg.3, Para. 3

5.  Impertinent: intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently rude; uncivil- Pg. 4, Para.1

6.  Campesino: (in Latin America) a peasant or farmer- Pg.4, Para.7

7.  Prickly: full of troublesome points- Pg.5, Para. 2

8.  Inevitably: unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary- Pg.5, Para.3

9.  Embarked: to board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, as for a journey- Pg.5, Para.3

10.  Wincing: to draw back or tense the body, as from pain or from a blow; start; flinch- Pg.5, Para.4

11.  Sentimentalities: the quality or state of being sentimental or excessively sentimental.- Pg.6, Para.1

12.  Waif: a person, especially a child, who has no home or friends- Pg.6, Para.2

13.  Normalcy: the quality or condition of being normal, as the general economic, political, and social conditions of a nation; normality- Pg.6, Para.4

14.  Porbrecita: poor thing- Pg. 6, Para.9

15.  Monolithic: of or pertaining to a monolith- Pg.7, Para.2

16.  Bluntly: having an obtuse, thick, or dull edge or point; rounded; not sharp- Pg.7, Para.2

17.  Sired: the male parent of a quadruped- Pg.9, Para.4

18.  Coquette: a woman who flirts lightheartedly with men to win their admiration and affection; flirt- Pg.8, Para.8

19.  Pious: having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations- Pg.9, Para.4

20.  Agitating: to move or force into violent, irregular action-Pg.10, Para.6

21.  Shawls: a square, triangular, or oblong piece of wool or other material worn, especially by women, about the shoulders, or the head and shoulders, in place of a coat or hat outdoors, and indoors as protection against chill or dampness.-Pg.10, Para.6

22.  Talcum Powder: a powder made of purified, usually perfumed talc, for toilet purposes-Pg.13, Para. 4

23.  Inclined: deviating in direction from the horizontal or vertical; sloping- Pg.14, Para.1

24.  Canvas: a closely woven, heavy cloth of cotton, hemp, or linen, used for tents, sails, etc-Pg.15,Para.7

25.  Beholden: obligated; indebted- Pg.16, Para.1

26.  Immaculate: free from spot or stain; spotlessly clean- Pg.17, Para.5

27.  Exodus: a going out; a departure or emigration, usually of a large number of people-Pg.19,Para.8

28.  Curlicue: an ornamental, fancy curl or twist, as in a signature-Pg.20, Para.6

29.  Bandolier: a broad belt worn over the shoulder by soldiers and having a number of small loops or pockets, for holding a cartridge or cartridges-Pg.20, Para.1

30.  Pesos: a coin and monetary unit of Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, and the Philippines, equal to 100 centavos- Pg.22, Para.1

31.  Centennial: pertaining to, or marking the completion of, a period of 100 years- Pg. 24, Para.4

32.  Embossed: to raise or represent (surface designs) in relief- Pg.24, Para.5

33.  Ecstasy:  rapturous delight-Pg.24, Para.6

34.  Catechism: an elementary book containing a summary of the principles of the Christian religion, especially as maintained by a particular church, in the form of questions and answers.- Pg. 31, Para.4

35.  Contrition: sincere penitence or remorse- Pg. 31, Para.4

36.  Chaste: refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion; virtuous- Pg. 35, Para.4

37.  Perched: a high or elevated position, resting place, or the like- Pg. 45, Para.8

38.  Crucifixion: severe and unjust punishment or suffering; persecution- Pg. 48, Para.2

39.  Decorously: characterized by dignified propriety in conduct, manners, appearance, character, etc.- Pg.50, Para.3

40.  Guayabera: a sport shirt or lightweight jacket, often with several large front pockets, modeled upon a loose, smock like shirt originally worn by men in Cuba-50, Para.3

41.  Extolling: to praise highly; laud; eulogize-Pg.51, Para.3

42.  Virtues: moral excellence; goodness; righteousness- Pg.51, Para.3

43.  Obscure: not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain- Pg.63, Para.1

44.  Sibyl: any of certain women of antiquity reputed to possess powers of prophecy or divination- Pg.63, Para.3

45.  Woes: grievous distress, affliction, or trouble- Pg.63, Para.3

46.  Bungalow: a cottage of one story- Pg.65, Para.4

47.  Regime: a mode or system of rule or government-Pg.65, Para.8

48.  Beau: a frequent and attentive male companion- Pg.66, Para.4

49.  Muses: to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject- Pg.68, Para.11

50.  Ambivalence: uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things- Pg.88, Para.1

51.  Asylum: an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance-Pg.96, Para.7

52.  Crypt: a subterranean chamber or vault, especially one beneath the main floor of a church, used as a burial place, a location for secret meetings, etc.- Pg.114, Para.4

53.  Monogrammed: a design consisting of two or more alphabetic letters combined or interlaced, commonly one's initials, often printed on stationery, embroidered on clothing, etc.- Pg. 129, Para.4

54.  Sachet: a small bag, case, or pad containing perfuming powder or the like, placed among handkerchiefs, lingerie, etc., to impart a pleasant scent-Pg.129, Para.5

55.  Jalousies: a blind or shutter made with horizontal slats that can be adjusted to admit light and air but exclude rain and the rays of the sun- Pg.149, Para.2

2. How are the Mirabal sisters alike, and how are they different?

3. Why is Patria's commitment in the revolution differ from her sisters?

4. If you had to be in the situation of any of the Mirabal sisters who would you be, and why?

5. How do the actions of the Mirabal sisters compare to the other famous people who died for important causes?

6. How did the Mirabal sisters exhibit courage in their words and actions?

7. Out of all the people who went against Trujillo, why are they overshadowed by the Mirabal sisters?

8. Usually in a story a character solves the problem by the end of the story, but why does this story have to be different?

Dominican politician and soldier who ruled the Dominican Republic from February 1930 until his assassination in May 1961.

He officially served as president from 1930 to 1938 and again from 1942 to 1952, ruling for the rest of the time as an unelected military strongman under figurehead presidents.

His 31 years in power, to Dominicans known as the Trujillo Era (Spanish:La Era de Trujillo), is considered one of the bloodiest eras ever in the Americas.

It has been estimated that Trujillo's tyrannical rule was responsible for the death of more than 50,000 people.