Gods of Jade and Shadow

Throughout the novel, Silvia Moreno-Garcia alludes to Mayan mythology, weaving mythological characters into her original story. What is the overall effect of incorporating established mythological characters into a new work of fiction? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• What impact might “meeting” these characters have on someone familiar with Mayan mythology?
• What impact might “meeting” these characters have on someone unfamiliar with Mayan mythology?
• What are the pros and cons of incorporating established characters into a new work of fiction?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful to split the class into two groups—one that was familiar with Mayan mythology before reading Gods of Jade and Shadow and another group of those who were not. Each group can discuss these questions from their perspective, then share their conclusions with the other group.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who are more concrete thinkers, it might be helpful to have students create a t-chart to write down the pros and cons during discussion.