House of the Scorpion - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Prison

Senator Mendoza’s children (Maria and Emilia) are sent homr. Rosa says Senator Mendoza always asks El Patron for money. We learn El Patron has not asked about Matt in years. The doctor wonders if El Patron is senile or still like a bandit.

The doctor leaves Rosa to serve El Patron; she is very angry and blames Matt for this. She mistreats Matt by taking away his bed, clothing (except shorts), and waste bucket. He lives in filth and eventually sawdust – which he burrows through and plays in.

Another boy, Tom, comes to see Matt and insults him. Matt hurls a rotten orange full of worms at him. Tom returns with a pea shooter and tortures Matt.

Maria returns and brings Celia to Matt’s prison window. Matt is in disbelief, fearing further pain and disappointment. Celia refers to Matt as “child” and asks Maria to give a letter to Senator Mendoza (her “dada”) asking him to help Matt.

1. What has happened to Emilia and Maria?


2. Why does Rosa think Senator Mendoza always visits El Patron?


3. 3. Describe the conversation between Rosa and the Doctor (Willum) on p.37-40.


4. What steps did Rosa take to make Matt’s life miserable in his prison.


5. Why do you think Rosa was so upset with Matt?


6. Who’s Tom? How did Matt and Tom’s first meeting go?


7. Who finally brings Celia to see Matt?


8. How did Matt initially respond to the sight of Celia?


9. Is there evidence that Matt means more to Celia than how their relationship was described in chapter 2.


10. What was Celia’s plan to free Matt?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – Maria

We learn that most clones have their mind destroyed at birth and are treated like animals. Matt is different, he is El Patron’s clone. El Patron is rich and powerful and used his money to ensure Matt grew up like a real boy. Emilia shows the apathy of most people to clones by saying “clones aren’t people,” and the maid Rosa repeatedly says “filthy clone.”

When Matt’s identity is determined, the doctor brings him into the servant’s quarters and treats his injuries. Celia is not allowed to see him. However, Maria sneaks in to visit him. She brings him food and will stay with him for the night – getting her into a lot of trouble. Matt does not know what a clone is, but understands he is hated.

1. How do the children describe clones?


2. Why is Matt brought back inside?


3. Where is Matt taken?


4. How does Rosa treat Matt?


5. Will Celia be coming to see Matt?


6. In a complete sentence(s), describe Maria.


7. How is Maria different than the others? What does she do for Matt?


8. Why do you think Celia told Matt stories about chupacabras and other monsters?


9. Why does Maria stay with Matt? What are the consequences of this decision?


10. At this point, what is Matt’s state of mind?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Property of the Alcaran Estate

Emilia, her younger sister Maria, and Steven visit Matt and try to talk to him. He can’t play with them as he is locked in the house, but tries to communicate with them. Steven and Emilia give up and leave Maria behind at Matt’s house. Matt becomes frustrated and breaks the window and asks Maria if she wants to play, drawing the attention of Steven and Emilia. Matt jumps out of the window, lands on the glass, is severely injured and passes out. The children bring him back to a large mansion. The maids begin to treat Matt. A tattoo is discovered on his foot: “Property of the Alcaran Estate.” Mr. Alcaran is furious, treats him like an animal, and tosses the injured Matt onto the front lawn.

1. Who came to visit Matt? Is it the same as before?
   


2. Why did Emilia bring Maria along?
   


3. Why couldn’t Matt go outside to visit with the children?
   


4. How did he initially try to communicate with them?
   


5. What motivated Matt to break the window? What happened to him?
   


6. Where did the Children take Matt?
   


7. What was discovered on Matt’s foot?
   


8. How did Steven’s father react to Matt being brought to the house? What happened next?

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - The Little House in the Poppy Fields

The clone is now six years old and named Matt. Celia is his caregiver. He must stay home by himself, but he’s very curious of the children in the fields. Only connection to the outside world besides Celia is television and a doctor who visits once a month. Food is left for him. Matt is depressed, angry and sad. One day, some kids see him in the house. They are the children of the Alcaran (own the fields) and Mendoza (U.S. Senator) families. Steven and Emilia try to get Matt’s attention.

1. Create a bubble map to describe Celia.
   


2. Create a bubble map to describe Matt.
   


3. What do you think mi vida means? Why is it significant that Celia calls Matt this.
   


4. Create a circle map to brainstorm about what was found in Matt’s home (i.e. his
   toys, his room, furniture, food, entertainment, etc.).
   


5. Besides Celia, what is Matt’s only connection to the outside world?
   


6. What did Matt see & hear outside the house one day when Celia was at work?
   What was his reaction?
   


7. What didn’t Celia want Matt to call her? Why?
   


8. Why did Matt have trouble understanding the word “loaned.”

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – In the Beginning

The scene takes place in a laboratory where Eduardo, a technician, attempts to clone humans from cells frozen over 100 years ago. All but one of the clones do not survive. The one that survives grows to become an infant, and does not have his intelligence blunted, which is what is typically done to most clones. This is so because this clone is a clone of an important character, Matteo Alcaran.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the setting of this chapter?



2. What is Eduardo trying to do?



3. How old are the frozen cells?


4. How many of the cells survived the process?


5. What happens to most clones? Why didn’t it happen to this clone?

Human Cloning

One of the issues discussed in The House of the Scorpion is human cloning. Based on class discussion and the article we read together, "How Human Cloning will Work," please answer the following prompts:

• 3 - What are three things you have learned about human cloning?
  
• 2 - What are two questions you still have about human cloning?
  
• 1 - Do you support the idea of human cloning. Why or why not?

House of the Scorpion Vocabulary #1

Our first vocabulary list:

1. Indingant
2. Recoiled
3. Blunt
4. Desolation
5. Brood
6. Voluminous
7. Solitary
8. Malicious
9. Appalled
10. Consternation
11. Defile
12. Sullen

Classwork: Define these words. Try dictionary.com or m-w.com

Homework: Please use each word in a sentence.

Example: Mr. Hermance felt that Ryan spilling his soda all over Rob's notebook was a malicious act.