Chapter 8

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – The Eejit in the Dry Field

Matt and Tam Lin depart for their picnic via horseback. Matt sees farm laborers working in the opium fields for the first time. He sees a many lying on the ground that has died of thirst. Matt is troubled that nothing could be done to help him. Cleanup crews will come for the man at the end of the day. The two will walk the final length of the trip as the horses are programmed to stay on the farm – the horse is a “Safe Horse” and has an implant to keep it from bolting or jumping, and even eating or drinking without a verbal command.

Tam Lin has taken Matt to an “oasis” off the property that El Patron does not know about and promises Matt to keep it a secret. Tam Lin wanted to tell Matt a few things without being spied on: Matt learns of the cloning process, why people dislike clones, and his relationship with El Patron. Matt also learns that eejits are similar to the “Safe Horse” in that they are programmed to do a specific task. Teacher will not return as she has now been programmed to mend curtains/peel potatoes. Tam Lin takes on a teacher role of sorts for Matt.

1.    Describe the farm workers. What are they doing?

2.    What was the fate of the man lying on the ground (p. 77-78)? What does this say of the value placed on his life?

3.    Why won’t the horse leave the farm?

4.    Where was their picnic? Why did Tam Lin keep this place a secret?

5.    What was the purpose of the picnic?

6.    Does Matt really understand who or what he is?

7.    How does Tam Lin describe the cloning process?

8.    What is an “eejit?” Examples?

9.    Will Teacher come back?

10. What will be done about Matt’s education?

Chapter 7

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Teacher

We learn Matt doesn’t like to leave apartment too often because of how he is treated by the other people living in the Big House. Tom routinely visits Matt along with Maria, and Matt and Tom get in a fight, broken up by Tam Lin. Matt then wanted both Maria and Tom to leave.

Maria and the other children left the Big House to go away to school. Tam Lin tells Matt criticism) that El Patron has made choices to live his life the way he has – “Very Dark indeed is his majesty…” (p 70). Matt is provided with a teacher (an eejit). The Teacher learns that Matt still is not talking. Matt is finally motivated to speak due to a combination of frustration with the Teacher and poor self esteem. The Teacher doesn’t understand Matt’s reaction, and is escorted out by Tam Lin. Matt doesn’t understand what is meant by Tam Lin’s description of her as an eejit. Tam Lin promises to take Matt on a picnic to celebrate the fact he is now talking.

1.    In a complete sentence(s), describe Tom.

2.    Who stops the fight between Tom and Matt?

3.    What is the reaction to Matt wanting Maria and Tom to go?

4.    What was a “little off” about Tom?

5.    In a complete sentence(s), describe Tam Lin.

6.    Why did the doctor visit more? What power did it give to Matt?

7.    Why is Maria leaving?

8.    What is Matt and Maria’s relationship like?

9.    How does Tam Lin describe El Patron? Choices?

10. The Doctor once told Rosa “clones go to pieces when they get older” (p. 71). What do you think this means?

11. In a complete sentence(s), describe "Teacher."

12. What made Matt finally talk? Why?

13. What did Matt say? What does that say of his self-esteem?

14. How will they celebrate this event?

pg. 70 Explain what Tam Lin is trying to tell Matt when he says, "If you are kind and decent, you grow into a kind and decent man. If you're like El Patrón...just think about it."

 Considering that Matt is the clone of El Patrón, debate whether environment influences evil more than genetics

Chapter 6

House of the Scorpion - Chapter 6

Chapter 6 – El Patron

Matt is cleaned up by Rosa and warned by her all the important family members and the doctor will be there. She threatens to kill him if he tells anyone how she has treated him. Matt meets El Patron for the first time, the man who Matt is the clone of. Upon learning how Matt is treated, El Patron displeased and upset that he was not informed. Rosa is led away by guards quite angry. El Patron begins to call Matt Mi Vida like Celia. Matt and El Patron have dinner together. Over dinner, Matt learns some of El Patron’s background and the significance of scorpions to him.

Celia and Matt will now live in an apartment in the Big House. El Patron presents Matt to the family and orders them to treat Matt with the same respect he commands. He gives Matt the choice between one of his two Scottish bodyguards; Matt chooses Tam Lin.

1.    What is the setting at the beginning of the chapter? What did Matt get?

2.    What was Rosa’s warning to Matt?

3.    For whom was Matt cleaned up to meet?

4.    Incomplete sentences, describe El Patron. Who old is he?

5.    Who is supposed to report to El Patron?

6.    What is discovered when Matt takes off his shirt?

7.    Describe the exchange between Rosa and Dr. Willum.

8.    What does El Patron decide to call Matt? Why?

9.    What is the relationship between Matt and El Patron?

10. What is Aztlan?

11. What is the significance of Scorpions?

12. Typhoid?

13. Where was Celia now living?

14. What is Maria to do? Why?

15. How long was Matt in prison?

16. hat is the reaction of everyone to Matt? El Patron?

17. Who is most important to El Patron? What is the significance of this? What are the consequences?

18. Who did Matt choose as a bodyguard? Why?

Discuss the role of Mariá, and Celia in helping Matt escape the prison.

Rosá describes El Patrón as a bandit.(chapter 5) How has El Patrón stolen the lives of all those living on his estate? Which characters are his partners in evil?

Debate whether they support him for the sake of their own survival.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Prison

Senator Mendoza’s children (Maria and Emilia) are sent home. 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.

After the children discover Matt, he is taken from Celia and imprisoned in a stall for six months with only straw for a bed. How might prison be considered a metaphor for his entire life? Who is the warden of his prison?

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?

Why is Mariá especially attracted to Matt? (Be sure to included information from prior chapters)

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?

Matteo Alacrán is the clone of El Patrón, the lord of the country called Opium, and lives in isolation

until children playing in the poppy fields discover him. Why is he so eager to talk to the children,

after he is warned against it?

Chapter 2

 

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.”

Describe Matt's relationship with Celia.
Why is she the servant chosen to care for Matt?
Celiasnaps at Matt when he calls her mama. Then she says to him, "I love you more than anything in the world. Never forget that. But you were only loaned to me, mi vida." Why doesn't she explain the term

loaned to Matt?
Celia really believes that she is protecting Matt by keeping him locked in her cottage and ignorant about his identity.
Debate whether this type of protection is indeed dangerous for him.

How does Celia continue to protect Matt throughout his life on the Alacrán Estate?