The entire plot of Un viejo que leía novelas de amor grows out of a single act: a gringo kills a female ocelot's cubs and wounds her mate. That act sets off a chain of consequences that runs all the way to the end of the novel. In this activity, students create a storyboard that shows that chain of causes and effects.
The template has two rows: the cause on top and its effect below. Each effect becomes the cause in the next cell. Ask students to use cause-and-effect transitions in their descriptions (in Spanish, por eso, como consecuencia, debido a, por lo tanto; in English, therefore, as a result, because of). This practice is especially useful for AP Spanish students and students learning Spanish as a second language.
To wrap up, discuss with the class: who is responsible for the deaths in the novel? The ocelot, the gringo, the mayor? This discussion connects the activity to the theme of ecology.
| CAUSE | EFFECT |
|---|---|
| A gringo kills the ocelot's cubs and wounds the male. | The ocelot attacks and kills the gringo. |
| A group of Shuar bring the gringo's body to El Idilio. | The mayor accuses them without evidence, but Antonio José proves an animal did it. |
| The ocelot keeps attacking men in the area. | The mayor organizes an expedition and forces Antonio José to take part. |
| The expedition fails and the mayor is afraid. | He pays Antonio José to hunt the ocelot alone. |
| Antonio José confronts the ocelot and kills her. | He feels ashamed and takes refuge once again in his romance novels. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Create a storyboard that shows the chain of causes and effects in Un viejo que leía novelas de amor.
Write on the board: A gringo kills an ocelot's cubs and wounds her mate. Ask the class what happens next and record the answers as arrows. Within a few minutes you'll have the skeleton of the chain.
The cause goes on top and its effect below, and each effect becomes the cause in the next cell. Model the first two cells with the class: the attack on the gringo and his body arriving in El Idilio.
Have each description use a different connector: por eso, como consecuencia, debido a, por lo tanto. It's valuable practice for Spanish learners and AP Spanish students; with heritage speakers, check that they don't reuse the same one every time.
A common mistake is listing events in order without a causal link. As you walk around the room, ask at each cell: Did this happen because of what came before? If the answer is no, the student needs to find the missing link.
Spend 15 minutes on the question: Who is responsible for the deaths in the novel: the ocelot, the gringo, or the mayor? Students defend their position using the chain they built. The debate ties the activity to the theme of ecology.
A single act: a gringo kills an ocelot's cubs and wounds her mate. From then on the animal attacks men in the area, the mayor organizes an expedition, and in the end he pays Antonio José to hunt her alone. That's why the novel works so well for teaching cause-and-effect chains.
Plan for 40 to 50 minutes for the storyboard plus 15 minutes for the closing discussion. Do it after chapter 8, because the last link in the chain, Antonio José's shame and his return to his novels, comes in the ending.
Check three criteria: each effect truly follows from its cause, the chain follows the order of the novel, and the descriptions use cause-and-effect connectors. For pairs, have each student initial the cells they wrote so you can assess individual participation.
For learners, provide the causes already written and ask only for the effects, with a bank of connectors. For heritage speakers, ask for complex sentences that join cause and effect in one line, such as «Debido a que la tigrilla seguía atacando, el alcalde organizó una expedición».
The central one is Who is responsible for the deaths: the ocelot, the gringo, or the mayor? Others: What would have happened if the Shuar hadn't brought the body to El Idilio? What effect does the hunt have on Antonio José? In Spanish, the second one is good practice with the conditional perfect for advanced students.