Mayan Literature
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Project Background

Guatemalan History

Intro to Literary Works

Rigoberta
Menchú

Calixta Gabriel Xiquín

Maya Cu

Grupo de Mujeres Mayas Kaqla

Women Writers

Humberto
 Ak'abal

Lesson Ideas

Web Resources


Lesson Ideas 

For most lessons on literature or culture I prefer to have students play an active role in the development of course materials so that the class becomes theirs as much as it is mine.  When students research and present a topic they become much more involved with it than when they merely listen and take notes.  The following are suggestions that could help.    

  1. Research

    Have     different students conduct further research on the following topics in the lesson and present findings in class:

  • Guatemalan History

  • Mayan Literature

    • Outline one of the major works of early Mayan literature:
       El Popol Wuj, El Memorial de Sololá, El Título de los Señores de Totonicapán, El Xajoj Tun o Rabinal Achi’, La Canción de la Danza del Arquero Flechador,  Los libros de Chilam Balam.

    • Choose one of the women writers on the list and present her work or biography.

  • Mayan glyphs (this information is included on the Mayan Connection web page)

  • Rigoberta Menchú 

    • Outline her first novel, Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así  me nació la conciencia.

    • Research newspaper and magazine articles for criticism of her first book.

    • Testimonial literature:  define and give examples.

  • Humberto Ak’abal

  • Present another one of his books. 

  1. Discussion Questions

  • How do you think being at war for more than thirty years affects the literary production in a country?  Think of actual production of literature and content.

  • Can you think of other writers or countries who deal with similar themes in their writing?  Have they been affected by the political climate in their countries?

  • What other countries have suffered the disappearance of citizens?  What was the political situation in the country to cause this?  How could situations like this be better prevented or should they be?

  • Can you make any comparisons between the writings and belief systems of Rigoberta Menchú and Native Americans?

  • How is the situation of Native Americans in the United States similar to that of the indigenous populations in Guatemala?  

  • According to Rigoberta Menchú we have lost our connection with Mother Earth.  Do you think this is true?  If so, how does this affect us in the 21st century?

  • Rigoberta tells the story of the origin of the quetzal bird.  Do we have a similar story relating to birds in our culture?

  • Humberto Ak’abal draws on his experiences in nature for his poetry.  Were any of you raised in a rural environment?  How do you think that affects the way you see the world as compared to people raised in urban settings?

  • What are the elements of nature present in Humberto Ak’abal’s poetry?  If you were to write a poem about your hometown what elements of nature would you include?  Write a poem to share with the class!

  • Humberto Ak’abal has a poem about a snail and five points. The conch shell was used by the Mayas in their glyphs to represent zero and the cyclical nature of life and the universe.  Analyze this poem looking for these signs.

  • The last poem is about his grandmother’s definition of peace.   What is your definition of peace?  

  1. Essay  

Write an essay in which you develop your opinion to the following quote from Rigoberta Menchu’s  novel.  Support your opinions with examples, and justify your opinions with explanations.  

 “I believe that, where there’s a human being, there’s a human right.  Regardless of his convictions, regardless of whatever it might be, a prisoner of war also has a right to be treated like a human being.“                                        

Rigoberta: La nieta de los mayas, Rigoberta Menchú, page 282    

  1. Debate  

Conduct a debate with the differing opinions expressed in the essays.  In debate students are able to share their opinions, though different, in a peaceful manner.  Remember, it’s okay to agree to disagree without letting emotion take over.  We don’t have to see eye to eye, but let’s hope we can talk heart to heart.         

Created and Maintained by Ann Sittig
Last edited:12/10/04