The House of the Spirits

Epigraph-Chapter 4

Reading Check

1. Rosa (Chapter 1)

2. Tránsito Soto (Chapter 2)

3. Esteban Trueba (Chapter 3)

4. Three: Blanca and the twins, Jaime and Nicolás (Chapters 3, 4)

Short Answer

1. The sight of Rosa’s autopsy, combined with the worry that she brought about Rosa’s death through her prophecy, leads Clara to stop speaking for nine years. (Chapter 1)

2. Férula resents Esteban’s freedom, as she has taken on caring for their arthritic mother and does not have much of a life beyond this. (Chapter 2)

3. Nívea spends a lot of time and attention on Clara to make up for her daughter’s absent social life and tells her a number of family stories. (Chapter 3)

4. Esteban sends his sons away to boarding school so they are not influenced by Clara’s “magic,” which he believes to be a feminine pursuit unsuitable for men. (Chapter 4)

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. Férula (Chapter 5)

2. Pedro García (Chapter 6)

3. Nicolás (Chapter 7)

4. Incan relics (Chapter 8)

Short Answer

1. Esteban fires Pedro Tercero for spreading socialist ideas amongst the peasants.