Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes and symbols from the poem, and support their choices with details from the text. While “The Latin Deli” is not a long poem, it has several interesting themes to explore and powerful motifs to describe.
In the course of the poem, Ortiz Cofer refers to many items of Latino origin including specialty foods, candies, and items that the store owner keeps. Each stanza includes examples like Bustelo Coffee, Jamón y Queso, Merengues, Plantanos, and dried cod fish. Each of these items is meant to represent a part of the culture that has remained visible, even though the various customer live in America.
All of the patrons at the deli retain a strong connection to their countries of origin, even though they may never return. They come to the deli to hear their native language, and to be with others who have come to the United States as immigrants or children of immigrants. The woman behind the counter of the deli is called the “Patroness of Exiles” (evoking the Statue of Liberty, sometimes called “Mother of Exiles”) and she provides a connection for customers to their past by “selling canned memories”, and trading with the “closed ports” of the places in their hearts. The poem focuses on the bittersweet feelings that accompany nostalgia.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies and explains one motif from the text.
Collect quick feedback from students about motifs at the end of your lesson with simple exit tickets. This helps you gauge who grasped the concept and who needs more support before moving on.
Write 1–2 questions that ask students to identify a motif from 'The Latin Deli' and explain its meaning using their own words. Keep questions clear and open-ended to encourage thoughtful responses.
Hand out slips of paper or use digital forms for students to answer the motif questions before leaving. This quick activity reinforces learning and gives every student a voice.
Scan the exit tickets to spot common misunderstandings or strong insights. Use this feedback to adjust your next lesson or provide targeted support where needed.
The main motifs in 'The Latin Deli' include Hispanic foods, nostalgia, and exile. These motifs highlight cultural heritage, the bittersweet experience of longing for home, and the sense of community found in the deli.
Students can identify motifs by looking for recurring images, symbols, or ideas—such as specialty foods and feelings of nostalgia—then connecting them to the poem’s themes using specific examples from the text.
Nostalgia is central to 'The Latin Deli' because it reflects the emotional ties immigrants feel to their homeland. The deli serves as a place where memories are preserved and shared, making nostalgia a key part of the poem’s message.
The poem mentions Bustelo Coffee, Jamón y Queso, Merengues, Plantanos, and dried cod fish. These foods symbolize cultural identity and the comfort of familiar tastes in a new country.
A creative method is to have students create a storyboard that illustrates a chosen motif, explains its significance, and connects it to the poem, helping them visualize and analyze the text more deeply.