Essay Questions

What is Tepeyac?

Tepeyac is a hill in Mexico that is important for religious people. It is believed that the hill was the place where Saint Juan Diego meet with the Virgin of Guadalupe for the first time and the place where the image of the Lady was given. The site became a place of pilgrimage for many and it is one of the most visited religious sites in the world. The place was considered as being a religious one even before the Church decided to consider it holy as there are evidence pointing towards the idea that the hill was used both by the Aztecs and by various indigenous tribes as a holy ground where they worshiped different deities.

What is the meaning of the title "My Tocaya?"

In Spanish, the word tocaya means having the same name. In the short story, the narrator talks about a person who has the same name as she does and presents what happened to that person. The name thus is fitting, as the story presents the life of two girls with the same name and same age.

Who is the Marlboro Man and why is he important?

The Marlboro Man was the name given to the actor playing in various commercials for the cigarettes brand Marlboro. During the 60s and 70s, the Marlboro Man was used a symbol for masculinity and the American ideals. Until the United States imposed laws limiting the advertising for cigarettes, the Marlboro Man was one of the best known people to represent a tobacco company.