Dr. Ramirez
Contemporary Latino Fiction
Research Prompts for Simple
Habana Melody:
Oscar Hijuelos ladens his fiction
with many references to music, flora and fauna, as well as history.
Take time to explore the context
of the novel. You can begin examining his use of classical music.
Then consider his depiction of Rita Valladares as a parallel to the Cuban
celebrity Rita Montaner.
Here are three sites with which
to begin:
1. Classical References
http://www.wwnorton.com/classical/composers/welcome.htm
Look up Bach and Mozart
2. References to Cuban composer
Moises Simons
http://www.passion-music.co.uk/
Look up El Manisero
3. References to Rita Montaner
http://www.lajiribilla.cu/2001/n17_agosto/491_17.html
See any parallels with Rita Valladares?
Do you see the saturn shaped hat
of Hijuelos's imagination?