The House of the Scorpion

A Simon Pulse Guide for Reading Groups

"The House of the Scorpion"

By Nancy Farmer

ABOUT THE BOOK

Matt is a clone of El Patron, a powerful drug lord of the land of Opium, which is located between the United States and Mexico. For six years, he has lived in a tiny cottage in the poppy fields with Celia, a kind and deeply religious servant woman who is charged with his care and safety. He knows little about his existence until he is discovered by a group of children playing in the fields and wonders why he isn't like them. Though Matt has been spared the fate of most clones, who have their intelligence destroyed at birth, the evil inhabitants of El Patron's empire consider him a "beast" and an "eejit." When El Patron dies at the age of 146, fourteen-year-old Matt escapes Opium with the help of Celia and Tam Lin, his devoted bodyguard who wants to right his own wrongs. After a near misadventure in his escape, Matt makes his way back home and begins to rid the country of its evils.

Prereading activity

Ask students to write down their definition of science fiction. Then have them discuss the meaning of cloning. Have them debate whether a novel about cloning is by their definition considered science fiction.

Discussion questions

Matteo Alacran is the clone of El Patron, the lord of the country called Opium, and lives in isolation until children playing in the poppy fields discover him. Why is he so eager to talk to the children, after he is warned against it? Why is Maria especially attracted to Matt?

Describe Matt's relationship with Celia. Why is she the servant chosen to care for Matt? Celia snaps at Matt when he calls her mama. Then she says to him, "I love you more than anything in the world. Never forget that. But you were only loaned to me, mi vida." Why doesn't she explain the term loaned to Matt? Celia really believes that she is protecting Matt by keeping him locked in her cottage and ignorant about his identity. Debate whether this type of protection is indeed dangerous for him. How does Celia continue to protect Matt throughout his life on the Alacran Estate?

After the children discover Matt, he is taken from Celia and imprisoned in a stall for six months with only straw for a bed. How might prison be considered a metaphor for his entire life? Who is the warden of his prison? Discuss the role of Maria, Celia, and Tam Lin in helping him escape his prison.

Rosa describes El Patron as a bandit. How has El Patron stolen the lives of all those living on his estate? Which characters are his partners in evil? Debate whether they support him for the sake of their own survival. Explain what Tam Lin is trying to tell Matt when he says, "If you are kind and decent, you grow into a kind and decent man. If you're like El Patron...just think about it." Considering that Matt is the clone of El Patron, debate whether environment influences evil more than genetics.

El Patron celebrates his 143rd birthday with a large party. Though Matt was "harvested," and doesn't really have a birthday, the celebration is for him as well, since he is El Patron's clone. How does Matt imitate El Patron's power when he demands a birthday kiss from Maria? Discuss how El Patron encourages Matt's uncharacteristic behavior. Why is Maria so humiliated by Matt's demand? How does Matt feel the crowd's disapproval?

El Viejo, El Patron's grandson and the father of Mr. Alacran, is a senile old man because he refused the fetal brain implants based on religious and moral grounds. Debate his position. Why does El Patron consider Mr. Alacran rude when he mentions El Viejo's religious beliefs? Celia is also a deeply religious person. How is this demonstrated throughout the novel?

At what point does Matt realize that Tom is dangerous? He remembers what Tam Lin had told him, "If you didn't know Tom well, you'd think he is an angel bringing you the keys to the pearly gates." How does Tom mislead Maria? Discuss why Tom takes Matt and Maria to see the screaming clones. How is this a turning point for Matt and Maria's friendship? Why does Celia feel that Matt deserves the truth once he has seen the clones?

What gives Celia the courage to stand up to El Patron and refuse to let Matt be used for a heart transplant? What does El Patron mean when he says to Celia, "We make a fine pair of scorpions, don't we?" Explain why she is insulted by this comment.

How does Tam Lin know that Matt's future lies in finding the Convent of Santa Clara? Describe Matt's journey to the convent. What does he discover along the way? Discuss Esperanza's role in helping Matt gain his ultimate freedom — to live as a human.

Activities

Discuss the structure of the novel. How does it resemble acts and scenes in a play? Why does the author include the Cast of Characters at the beginning of the novel? Divide the class into five groups, and assign each group a section to write as a one-act play. Take dialogue directly from the book, and use a narrator to relate the story between speakers. Matt finds order in the music of Mozart. Locate music by Mozart to use at the beginning and end of each act.

Have students design a family crest for El Patron's empire. Discuss why this crest may repulse Matt. Create an alternative crest for the Alacran family after Matt transforms the empire.

Read about Cinco de Mayo and draw a parallel between the history of this Mexican holiday and Matt's victory for rights and justice at the end of the novel. Plan a Cinco de Mayo celebration that Matt might have after he breaks down the empire of Opium. Include appropriate food and music.

Maria refers to Saint Francis throughout the novel. As a class, create a picture book about Saint Francis that Maria might give to Matt. Write an appropriate dedication to Matt. How might the story of Saint Francis offer hope to Matt?

Dolly, the first mam

Winner of US National Book Awards: Young People's Literature 2002

“ "This is a powerful, ultimately hopeful story that builds on today's sociopolitical, ethical, and scientific issues and prognosticates a compelling picture of what the future could bring. All of these serious issues are held together by a remarkable coming-of-age story."-- Booklist, starred review”

"Readers will be hooked from the first page."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "This is a powerful, ultimately hopeful story that builds on today's sociopolitical, ethical, and scientific issues and prognosticates a compelling picture of what the future could bring. All of these serious issues are held together by a remarkable coming-of-age story."--Booklist, starred review "Mind-expanding fiction."--USA Today "Strong, rough, exciting reading."--Chicago Tribune "A story rich in twists and tangles, heroes and heroines, villages and dupes, and often dazzlingly beautiful descriptive prose."--The Boston Globe "An inspiring tale of friendship, survival, hope, and transcendence."--Kirkus, starred review

Nancy Farmer has written three Newbery Honor Books: "The Ear the Eye and the Arm; A Girl Named Disaster;" and "The House of the Scorpion, " which, in 2002, also won the National Book Award. Other books include "Do You Know Me, The Warm Place, " and three picture books for young children. She grew up on the Arizona-Mexico border, and now lives with her family in Menlo Park, California.

A Simon Pulse Guide for Reading Groups The House of the Scorpion By Nancy Farmer ABOUT THE BOOK Matt is a clone of El Patr

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.