Mexican Gothic

Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. She is Noemí’s cousin. (Chapter 1)

2. The Doyles’ home (Chapter 2)

3. Francis (Chapter 2)

4. 1888 (Chapter 4)

5. Tuberculosis (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. He is concerned about Catalina because he has received a “very odd” letter from her that claims her husband is poisoning her. (Chapter 1)

2. Catalina wants Noemí to pick up some medicine from Marta Duval. (Chapter 5)

Chapters 6-10

Reading Check

1. Francis (Chapter 6)

2. Talk (Chapter 7)

3. The infinite (Chapter 8)

4. Mushrooms (Chapter 9)

5. Polishing silver (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. Noemí learns that Howard’s wives were sisters and that they were his first cousins. (Chapter 7)

2. Francis tells Noemí that Ruth killed several members of the family, but that he does not know why. He suggests that she potentially had a mental illness. (Chapter 10)

Chapters 11-17

Reading Check

1. Virgil (Chapter 11)

2. Ruth’s lover (Chapter 12)

3. Seizures (Chapter 13)

4. Dr. Cummins’ daughter (Chapter 15)

5. A page of Ruth’s diary (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Noemí sees Ruth killing her family. (Chapter 11)

2. Dr. Camarillo tells Noemí that the tincture could not possibly contain opium since poppies do not grow locally. (Chapter 15)

Chapters 18-20

Reading Check

1. The rain (Chapter 18)

2. To reopen it (Chapter 19)

3. The gloom (Chapter 20)

Short Answer

1. The cigarette she was smoking burns her fingers. (Chapter 18)

Chapters 21-27

Reading Check

1. Cigarettes (Chapter 21)

2. His razor (Chapter 22)

3. The ouroboros (Chapter 23)

4. Mushroom and wine (Chapter 24)

5. Mary (Chapter 25)

6. Agnes (Chapter 26)

7. Destroyed by fire (Chapter 27)

Short Answer

1. Noemí is forced to bathe in front of Virgil. (Chapter 21)

2. Virgil wants to “inject new blood” into his bloodline that has been weakened by “interbreeding.” (Chapter 22)

3. He is afraid that despite the destruction of the house and mushrooms there may yet be corruption in his blood. (Chapter 27)