I.  Text Questions

What is the difference between a settler and a squatter?  Where are the Darrells originally from?  Are there any African Americans in the novel?  Why does Mary not want to marry William at the beginning?  Why is religion important in this context?  What religion do the Darrell’s children practice?  What year does the novel take place?  What are the names of the squatters?  Was the Alamar’s claim to the lands approved or rejected?  According to whom?  Why are the squatters killing the cattle in don Mariano’s property and why can’t he stop them?  Who are the “natives” according to don Mariano?  What ethnic label does don Mariano use to classify himself?  Why does the legislature pass laws to protect agriculture and not cattle?  How does the concept of orphanhood come up in the novel?  How does don Mariano feel about the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?  How does don Mariano feel about democracy, as for example when he talks about “the votes of the squatters”?  What is the Land Commission?  What is the physical description of Mathews and Gasbangs?  Why are the settlers on Señor Alamar’s rancho “very military,” according to the captain of the ship?  Why do the squatters insist that claiming the Alamar’s land is lawful?  Why do the Alamares have to pay taxes on land appropriated by the squatters?  Why does don Mariano not blame the squatters?  Whom does he blame?  What does Clarence’s mother ask him to do as soon as he arrives in San Diego?  What is don Mariano’s demeanor when talking to Darrell?  What law is passed on Feb. 14, 1872?  What effect does it have on the Alamar’s property?

II.     Author’s conclusions

What can you gather about the author’s position on class?   On race?  How are the author’s ideas manifested in the text?

III.    Conceptual questions.

Usually the heterosexual romantic relationships are allegories of national or ethnic resolutions.  If you take into account who marries whom in the novel (so far), what can you tell us about the symbolic resolution of class/ethnic/national conflicts?