House of the Scorpion - Chapter 38

Chapter 38 – The House of Eternity

1. Use a flow map to sequence the events of El Patron’s wake, funeral, burial, etc.


2. What happened to all of the Alcarans and most of the bodyguards, including Tamlin?


3. How did Daft Donald survive?


4. Why did Tam Lin not warn anyone else?


5. Tam Lin knew what would happen to him by drinking the toast to El Patron. Why do you suppose he drank anyway?


6. Describe the Dragon Horde.

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 37

Chapter 37 – Homecoming

1. Describe Esperanza.


2. How has things changed in Opium?


3. How many lock downs have there been for Opium. What is different about this one?


4. What is Esperanza’s plan.


5. What is Matt’s reaction to Esperanza’s plan?


6. What does Esperanza’s view of international law mean for Matt? What is Matt to do?


7. What was the extent of the suffering El Patron had caused?


8. What was Matt’s job?


9. Who greeted Matt in the music room?


10. What do you think happened to Tam Lin?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 36

Chapter 36 – The Castle on The Hill

1. Describe the costumes. Are any of the costumes familiar to Matt?


2. Who was waiting for Matt and Fidelito at the hospital?


3. Who stopped the brawl with the keepers at the hospital?


4. What was reported to the Aztlan police?


5. What happened to the keepers?


6. Who arrived at the end of the chapter?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 35

Chapter 35 – El Dia De Los Muertos

1. What happened to Matt at the Colorado River?


2. Who came to help Matt and Chacho?


3. Where were the boys taken?


4. What day was being celebrated? Purpose?


5. Where were the boys going to be taken to?


6. How would the boys go undetected?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 34

Chapter 34 – The Shrimp Harvester

1. Who arrived to help the boys? With what?
   
2. How was Chacho removed from the bone pit?


3. How are the boys escaping?


4. What happened to the keepers?


5. Where is Flaco going? Why?


6. What did Matt say to Ton-Ton to try to console him?


7. Where are Matt and Fidelito going?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 33

Chapter 33 – The Boneyard

1. Describe the boneyard.


2. Why was the tape on Matt’s mouth removed?


3. How does Matt describe Tam Lin?


4. What is the boys’ status at the end of the chapter?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 32

Chapter 32 – Found Out

1. How did Matt begin to feel the confessions?



2. Why is Fidelito punished by Jorge in particular?



3. According to Jorge, why must the lazy be punished?



4. What did Matt do rather than “retreat to his private kingdom?”



5. What was Flaco’s “implied threat” (p. 320-321).



6. What was found out about Matt? What was the impact on the other boys?



7. Who comes to Matt’s defense? What does he say?



8. Where were Matt and Chacho taken?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 – Ton-Ton

1. Who is Luna?
2. How many keepers were there? How many boys?
3. Describe the keepers’ compound.
4. Did Ton-Ton have a problem with how the keepers lived?
5. Why didn’t Matt want the Landarum?
6. What happened every night? What was the significance of this event to Matt?
7. What happened to Matt’s skin?
8. What is Matt’s escape plan?
9. Why was “friendship a pain” for Matt?
10. Why is Ton-Ton loyal to Jorge?
11. Why did the boys want to be “friends” with Ton-Ton?
12. Matt finally admits who is his mother?
13. Who does he see as his father figure?
14. What is Matt’s Reaction to the thought of Tam Lin and Celia? Chacho’s reaction?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 30

Chapter 30 – Where the Whales Lost Their Legs

1. Where were the boys from?


2. Why was Matt targeted with accusations each night?


3. Chacho and Fidelitio?


4. What do the good bees do to the evil drones according to Jorge?


5. What happened to Ton-Ton?


6. What comparison was made to El Patron?


7. What lesson did Matt learn from what happened to Ton-Ton?


8. What did Fidelito do out of fear of what would happen to Matt?


9. Why did Matt confess and take a beating?


10. How did the boys react?


11. What did Matt take at the infirmary?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 29

Chapter 29 – Washing a Dirty Mind

Matt continues to be called "the aristocrat." He chooses to endure Jorge's bedtime story due to the threat of losing another meal. We are introduced to Ton-Ton, a simple minded boy who reinforced Jorge's points. Self-criticism is important to keep one's minds sharp and considerate of the "general good of the people." Ton-Ton is the first to model this by telling his "sins" and deriving a punishment for himself.

When it's Matt's turn, he states that he has done nothing wrong, answered by gasps by the other boys. On prompting from Jorge, they hurl accusations at Matt, except Chacho and Fidelito. Matt draws on past relationships for personal strength and realizes new strength through his relationship with Chacho and Fidelito.

1. Why is Matt called “the aristocrat?”


2. Why didn’t Matt contradict the bedtime story?


3. Who is Ton-Ton? What happened to him? Why?


4. What is the role of self criticism?


5. What happened to Matt?


6. What kept Matt going? His Friends?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 – The Plankton Factory

On the hover craft to the plankton factory, the boys must continue working. Fidelito gets motion sickness and throws up in the bag of plastic strips for sandals. Chacho and Matt have to clean the aircraft and the bag of strips, but they don't ask Fidelito to help because he is too sick.

A new keeper, Carlos, gives the boys a tour of the Plankton factory. Plankton is harvested from the Gulf of California and turned into a variety of foods. The waste flowing from the Colorado river has been diverted back to "Dreamland." Salt is also harvested. The factory is incredibly smelly and the climate is very hot.

Carlos has been informed that Matt is an "aristocrat." The boys are required to recite the Five Principles of Good Citizenship and Four Attitudes Leading to Right-Mindfulness before meals. The boys are told that Plankton is most delicious when shared by all.

The boys (Fidelito, Chacho, Matt) are punished with no food when Matt asks Carlos to points out the hypocrisy of the boys having to walk and Carlos is riding around in an electric cart (and also refuses to take Fidelito back). When Chacho and Matt try to apologize to Fidelito, he responds by saying "You're my compadres! Crot Carlos! Crot the Keepers!"

1. Why was Matt’s work quota double the other boys?


2. What happened at age 18?


3. What other two boys went with Matt to the factory?


4. Who is Matt describing when saying “They couldn’t seem to relax unless they had total control” (p. 278)?


5. Create a bubble map to describe the setting the boys find themselves?


6. What is the symbolism of the emblem of a beehive on the keepers’ uniforms?


7. What is Plankton? Why are they harvesting it?


8. What will prevent escape?


9. Is their equality at the Plankton Factory – do the guards follow the same principles taught to the boys?


10. What happened to the Colorado River and Gulf of California?


11. Why was Fidelito and his grandmother not allowed to leave the refugee camp?


12. Why were the boys denied dinner?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 27

Chapter 27 – A Five Legged Horse

In this chapter, we learn more of the plight of orphans in the new Aztlan, who are often orphans as a result of losing their parents to Dreamland (opium). The children are made to utter phrases that promote a rejection of individuality and promote working for the good of the state. Matt debates the keeper Raul over the story of the "Five Legged Horse," hampered by the fifth leg of individuality, advocating putting a chip in the brain of workers (eejits) is more efficient, to the disgust of Raul. For standing up to the keepers, Matt is making friends for the first time.

1. Who were the keepers in charge of?


2. Who were the Lost Boys and Lost Girls?


3. What was Opium called at the work camps? What was known about it?


4. What did the boys have to recite before eating?


5. What had happened to most of the boys’ parents?


6. What did Matt not want the other boys to see?


7. Is individualism promoted or discouraged in Aztlan? Why?


8. What was Matt suggesting about Raul’s story (p. 274)? What was Raul’s reaction? Boy’s reaction?


9. What was Matt’s reaction to having friends?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 26

Chapter 26 – The Lost Boys

Upon making it across the border, Matt is taken in, cleaned up and given food by a group of guards called "Keepers." These keepers where black uniforms with an emblem of a beehive on the sleeve. Matt takes the last name "Ortega" to help disguise his identity and utters a fake story of his parents being captured by the farm patrol that Tam Lin had supplied him. Due to Matt's polite mannerisms, he is labeled an "aristocrat" by the keepers.

After a nights sleep, he is led to a room of other boys by a keeper named Raul. All the boys are working at different tasks and are repeat several phrases relating to work, including "Its hard, but its fair." We learn that this is an orphanage/word camp. Matt tries to follow El Patron's lessons of commanding respect/showing authority. Matt will be transported to a Plankton factory in San Luis with two other boys, Fidelito (a small boy of about eight years old) and a larger, more boisterous boy named Chacho.

1. What name did Matt taken when he asked? Why?


2. How was Matt welcomed in Aztlan?


3. What is Matt’s cover story?


4. Why was Matt asked about skills?


5. Is Matt familiar with the new technology available? Why or why not?


6. What does “The orderly production of resources is vital to the general good of the people” (p. 264), “Its hard, but fair” and “Attention to the welfare of the nation is the highest virtue to which a citizen can aspire” (p. 265) tell you about the priorities of the country of Aztlan?


7. Why did the boys have to be locked in?


8. What is a keeper?


9. What kind of place does Matt find himself at?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 25

Chapter 25 – The Farm Patrol

Matt prepped at the Oasis for his escape – a dangerous root requiring much climbing that Celia would not have been able to do had she been able to join him.

Matt feels pity and weeps for El Patron, even thought he doesn’t deserve it.

Matt eludes the Farm Patrol and makes it across the border into Aztlan as a refugee. However, he lost his backpack, money, and was covered in black slime.

1. What is the analogy made comparing a Buzzard to El Patron? (p. 251).


2. Why does Matt weep for El Patron?


3. What does Matt finally see across the border? His reaction?


4. Before crossing the border,, who does Matt see?


5. How was Matt able to get across the border?


6. What did Matt lose crossing the border?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 24

Chapter 24 – A Final Goodbye

Tam Lin really intended to help Matt escape. He answers Matt’s question about his past activities as a terrorist. Tam Lin is hiding Celia in the stables with Rosa, disguised as an eejit, but she’s unharmed.

We learn the “dirty secret” that clones are no different than other humans and that El Patron has kept Opium one hundred years behind the rest of the world. Tam Lin tells Matt to head to Maria’s convent once he makes it into Aztlan, and then make contact with her mother.

1. Describe Matt’s thoughts/feelings at the beginning of the chapter.


2. What was Tam Lin’s real plan?


3. What was the choice Matt had to make on p. 242.


4. What was Tam Lin’s perspective on the bombing? Working for El Patron?


5. What did Celia show Tam Lin?


6. What does Tam Lin mean when saying he can’t escape the “moral consequences?” What does he intend to do?


7. What does Tam Lin tell Matt to do? Go?


8. What is the “filthy lie” about clones?


9. What is meant by “El Patron kept Opium frozen one hundred years in the past?” (p. 245).


10. Where does Tam Lin tell Matt to head to first when he gets to Aztlan?


11. What is significant about Matt’s escape?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Death

Matt is taken to the hospital and tested and prepped for surgery to provide El Patron with transplant heart. We learn that Matt was allowed to keep his intelligence, as was El Patron’s other clones, so that his clones could live the child hood El Patron did not have a chance to enjoy. El Patron feels he is “owed” the lives of his siblings who died at a young age; he is the only one of eight to live to adulthood.

The Eejits are just “cattle” to El Patron and are of no consequence.

We learn that Celia has poisoned Matt with foxglove from the garden and arsenic, which has been the reason for all of his health problems and has made his organs unfit for transplant. El Patron dies.

Mr. Alcaran orders Tam Lin to dispose of “the clone” as he has now has “no use.” Celia is to be turned into an eejit. Tam Lin describes himself as a “mercenary” and now appears to now be allied with Mr. Alcaran. Matt is devastated when Tam Lin calls him “It."

1. Where has Matt been taken? What thoughts are running through his head?


2. What is Matt being tested by Willem and the other doctors for?


3. What is the one thing that could help Maria?


4. What does El Patron say to Matt from his hospital bed?


5. Why was Matt allowed to keep his intelligence?


6. What is implied by El Patron’s story and the quote “I am meant to have those lives.” (p. 232-233).


7. What is said of the economies of the USA and Aztlan? How have things changed?


8. Does El Patron care about all the eejits killed?


9. Why does El Patron think Matt owes him continued life?


10. Why has Celia poisoned Matt?


11. Why would the technician want a snip of Matt’s hair?


12. How did Matt react to El Patron’s death? How is the news given to him? Is his reaction surprising?


13. What is Mr. Alcaran’s order to Tam Lin? How many other clones were there?


14. How has Tam Lin changed? What will happen to Celia? Why?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 22

Chapter 22 – Betrayal

Matt is scared and unsure what to do. Matt finally connects all the clues that had been given him over the years – understanding what his purpose is and what hereally means to El Patron.

Maria meets him in the secret passage. Everyone is looking for him. Maria decides to disguise him as an eejit and try to sneak him off the estate with her. Emilia and Stephen betray them and Matt is carried away by body guards.

1. What conflict was Matt trying to deal with?


2. Why do you think El Patron told so many stories to Matt about the afterlife?


3. Who is looking for Matt? Why?


4. What does Maria say to Matt that in other circumstances would have thrilled him?


5. Why does Matt and Tam Lin see El Patron as being like a “Force of Nature?”


6. What is Maria’s plan?


7. What does El Patron need to survive?


8. What did the red light show? What are the possible dangers?


9. What do Matt and Maria say to each other?


10. Who betrayed Matt and Maria?


11. What are all clones considered?


12. What does Matt think would happen?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 21

Chapter 21 – Blood Wedding

Everyone gathers for the wedding. We learn that El Patron has arranged Emilia and Steven’s wedding for his own purposes, as he did in arranging the marriage of Benito to a Nigerian princess. Matt realizes that he will never be allowed to marry.

Maria now thinks Matt has a soul. Maria tells Matt that El Patron has arranged for her to marry Tom, obviously upsetting Matt. She feels she can change Tom. Matt shows Maria the book containing the picture of her mother. El Patron has another heart attack at the wedding. Tam Lin rushes him to the doctor. Stephen and Emilia are left forgotten at the altar.

1. Who is getting married?


2. Why did Ell Patron want this?


3. Who did Benito Alcaran marry? Why?


4. Why wasn’t Matt going to the Oasis?


5. What was Matt’s attitude toward Stephen and Emilia? Why?


6. Where did Matt and Maria meet?


7. What does Maria think about Matt’s soul?


8. Who is Maria engaged too? Who decided this?


9. What did Matt show Maria?


10. How was Maria different from the others at the wedding?


11. What happened at the end of the wedding?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 20

Chapter 20 – Esperanza

Matt begins the chapter with a fever. He contemplates the fact that he is fourteen years old, and from his perspective, an adult.

Matt returns to the oasis, where he continues to read more about the history of Opium. He learns that eejits are made from illegal immigrants trying to get from Mexico to the United States, having to pass through Opium. El Patron continues to be described as evil. Matt learns that Esperanza Mendoza is Maria’s mother –Maria was told her mother was dead. He plans on telling Maria her mother is alive.

Could Tam Lin and Celia be working on a plan to save Matt? El Patron is growing weak again and thinks Matt is Felipe, his dead son. He begins to think about running away to Atzlan, but not until Emilia and Steven’s wedding – he had to see Maria again.

1. How did knowing he was 14 make Matt feel?
   
2. Why did Matt further study Tam Lin’s books and Maps?
   
3. Why did El Patron come up with idea of Eejits?
   
4. What happened to dead Eejits?
   
5. How did they lose their humanity?
   
6. What is Matt’s reaction to what he read?
   
7. Who wrote the book? What was the author’s relationship to Maria?
   
8. What did Matt plan to do with his new knowledge?
   
9. Who had once lived at the Oasis?
   
10. Who was Felipe?
    
11. Why can’t Matt escape to Aztlan yet?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Coming – Of – Age

Matt’s voice cracks [changes] when singing to El Patron. He is now fourteen years old. Celia and Tam Lin decide to celebrate this. Tam Lin, after a few drinks, decides to finally tell Matt the truth of his origins despite the cameras. He also says hundred of thousands of Eejits have died during El Patron’s lifetime.

Matt begins to realize why he was created, but still holds on to the believe that he is different and not intended to be spare parts – that’s why he was allowed to keep his intelligence, learn music, etc.

1. What happened to Matt when singing? What does this signify?


2. The statement “clones fall to pieces when they get older” is said once again. Why?


3. Why does Tam Lin want to tell Matt the truth despite the watching cameras?


4. What does Tam Lin say about how they’re treated?


5. How many eejits have died in 100 years?


6. What did Matt begin to realize about the role of clones?


7. Why is it ironic that El Patron refers to Matt as Mi Vida?


8. Why did Matt feel he was different?


9. What did Matt have to “look in the eye?”


10. How old is Matt now?