Cabeza de Vaca: from "La Relacion" - Read

Question 1

tips on reading

Answer 1

• there are four sub-headings in this story that you can use to help you break down the parts of de Vaca’s journey
• Pay close attention to the adjectives that de Vaca uses in connection with Native Americans. Keep a list of them as you read the story
• notice the wording/tone of the last sub-heading and take note of what is shows about de Vaca’s feelings about his adventure

Question 2

sub-heading

Answer 2

• can help you follow events of the plot

Question 3

word choice/tone

Answer 3

• the kinds of words the author uses to give clues to his purpose

Question 4

when de Vaca and his exploration party attempted to continue their voyage

Answer 4

• their barge overturned and they ended up back on the island

Question 5

although some of the native americans believed the Europeans caused the disease that killed half their tribe and 80% of the Europeans, de Vaca’s host persuaded them not to kill what was left of the foreigners for revenge, reasoning that

Answer 5

• if the foreigners had the power to cause the disease, so many of them wouldn’t also have died

Question 6

early in the account, de Vaca says he would have hailed death with delight rather than

Answer 6

• see so many around him in such a condition

Question 7

after disease reduced the number of Europeans on the Island from 80 to 15 and wiped out half of the Native Americans as well, some of the Natives wanted to kill the remaining Europeans because

Answer 7

• they believed the Europeans were causing the disease

Question 8

which was not a source of possible death to de Vaca and his fellow explorers in this account

Answer 8

• attacks by Native Americans