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Chapter Analysis
Intermediate13 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
The chapter "A Letter to God" by G.L. Fuentes narrates the story of a farmer named Lencho whose crops are destroyed by a hailstorm. Left with no income, Lencho writes a letter to God seeking financial help, certain of receiving aid due to his unwavering faith in divine intervention. The postmaster, moved by Lencho’s faith, decides to respond by collecting money from his employees and sending it back to Lencho as if from God. However, Lencho, upon receiving less than he asked for, doubts the integrity of the post office employees rather than his faith in God.
Key Topics
- •Faith and belief
- •Irony and human nature
- •Hope and despair
- •Nature’s impact
- •Human kindness
- •Innocence and ignorance
- •Conflict: man vs nature
- •Altruism
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the concept of irony through story analysis.
- ✓Explore the themes of faith and belief in adversity.
- ✓Analyze character motivations and their impacts.
- ✓Discuss the portrayal of human and natural conflict.
- ✓Reflect on the influence of empathy and kindness.
- ✓Evaluate the narrative structure and thematic elements.
Questions in Chapter
Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Answer: Lencho had complete faith in God. He wrote a letter to God asking for money.
Page 6
Who read the letter?
Answer: The letter was read by the postmaster.
Page 6
What did the postmaster do then?
Answer: The postmaster decided to collect money from his employees and send it to Lencho on behalf of God.
Page 6
Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation?
Answer: Lencho believes the post office employees have taken the rest of the money. The irony is that the same people he accuses are the ones who helped him.
Page 7
Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is?
Page 8
There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Page 8
Additional Practice Questions
Why did Lencho expect a response to his letter?
easyAnswer: Lencho's unwavering faith in God led him to believe that his letter would definitely be answered, reflecting his naïve yet hopeful nature.
What role does irony play in Lencho's story?
mediumAnswer: Irony is central to the story as Lencho's letter reaches divine attention not by God but by human intervention, showcasing a contrast between belief and reality.
How does the story explore the theme of faith?
hardAnswer: The story emphasizes blind faith through Lencho's absolute belief in God's help, raising questions about rationality versus faith in uncertain times.
Discuss how the postmaster's actions highlight his character traits.
mediumAnswer: The postmaster's decision to collect money to aid Lencho stems from a place of empathy and kindness, reflecting his benevolent nature and belief in helping others.
How does the story address the concept of despair and hope?
mediumAnswer: Despite facing despair due to the devastation of his crops, Lencho's hope in divine assistance showcases a blend of resilience and faith, providing a complex view of human emotion.
What does the story suggest about human connection and altruism?
hardAnswer: By depicting the postmaster’s anonymous charity, the story illustrates how genuine altruism transcends personal recognition, emphasizing the human capacity for empathy.
Analyze Lencho’s response upon receiving the money.
mediumAnswer: Lencho's anger upon receiving only partial assistance, while genuinely believing in a divine promise, reveals his simplistic yet steadfast worldview.
In what ways does Lencho’s letter highlight themes of innocence and ignorance?
mediumAnswer: Lencho’s expectation for divine intervention, without skepticism of human channels, highlights his innocence as well as his disregard for real-world complexities.
Explore how nature is portrayed in the story.
mediumAnswer: Nature is depicted as both a life-sustaining force and a source of destruction, showing its dual role in Lencho’s life of providing sustenance and presenting challenges.