"el diablo de la cienega" by Geoffrey becker
about Geoffrey becker
![Picture](/uploads/2/2/8/7/22879198/5212525_orig.jpg)
•Born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1959
•In the 80's, he played guitar in various bands
•Wife's name is Nora Sturges, artist
•Teaches at Towson University
•Currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
•In the 80's, he played guitar in various bands
•Wife's name is Nora Sturges, artist
•Teaches at Towson University
•Currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
pre-reading activity
Have you ever made a bet with a friend or family member? What was the outcome and how did you feel afterward?
•I made a bet with my dad about a birthday of a famous person for $50. My dad won, but he said I didn't have to pay him.
Have you ever felt that you had a skill or talent that made you special?
I have felt that I had a skill or talent that made me special. It was singing because I can sing various rap songs.
•I made a bet with my dad about a birthday of a famous person for $50. My dad won, but he said I didn't have to pay him.
Have you ever felt that you had a skill or talent that made you special?
I have felt that I had a skill or talent that made me special. It was singing because I can sing various rap songs.
vocabulAry
Regimen - a daily routine
"He got up and went into the kitchen to make himself a cocktail his name for the milk, Nestle's Quik, and raw egg drink he'd invented as part of his personal training regimen (Page 49).
Ominous - a dark or shady image
"In the darkness, the shapes of the wrecked cars were ominous, lurking monsters (Page 49).
Audible - to be heard
"Even out here, the sound of his mother's hacking was clearly audible, the only disturbance in the night's solemn quiet (Page 50).
Economizing - to save money
"Victor didn't mention that for the past two months, as a part of an economizing measure, they'd been doing without a phone" (Page 52).
Smattering - an instant uproar
"There was a smattering of applause" (Page 59).
Convened - to meet or be gathered
"For a brief moment, the powers of the universe had convened in his fingertips" (Page 62).
"He got up and went into the kitchen to make himself a cocktail his name for the milk, Nestle's Quik, and raw egg drink he'd invented as part of his personal training regimen (Page 49).
Ominous - a dark or shady image
"In the darkness, the shapes of the wrecked cars were ominous, lurking monsters (Page 49).
Audible - to be heard
"Even out here, the sound of his mother's hacking was clearly audible, the only disturbance in the night's solemn quiet (Page 50).
Economizing - to save money
"Victor didn't mention that for the past two months, as a part of an economizing measure, they'd been doing without a phone" (Page 52).
Smattering - an instant uproar
"There was a smattering of applause" (Page 59).
Convened - to meet or be gathered
"For a brief moment, the powers of the universe had convened in his fingertips" (Page 62).
contrasting ideas
Sure•Victor is sure of himself when he makes the bet with Money
•Victor is sure of himself when he bets Money to heal his mother. •Victor is sure of himself when he bets his soul to lose. •Victor is sure of himself when he was talking to the lizard. •Victor is sure of himself when he was going to win the basketball game. |
Unsure•Victor is unsure of himself when he questions Money being the devil.
•Victor is unsure of himself when he starts missing shots. •Victor is unsure of himself when he bets for his mother's health. •Victor is unsure of himself when he goes too far in making the last shot to win the game. •Victor is unsure of himself when he doesn't know if Money was sincere about the bet now that he lost. |