The Cemetery of Untold Stories

Several characters in the novel keep lifelong secrets. Compare and contrast at least three such characters and explain their motivations for remaining silent.

Many Dominican expressions are employed throughout the novel. Select at least three and explain their contexts and deeper meanings for the characters who use them.

Compare and contrast this novel to two other novels by Julia Alvarez: In the Time of the Butterflies and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. What themes and content reappear across these stories?

How does forgiveness (or the lack thereof) drive the events of this story? Examine at least three characters and use evidence from the text to support your interpretations.

In this novel, how does Alvarez present the differences between Dominican and Dominican American characters? How do these differences affect the dynamics of the families featured in the novel?

Explore the significance of names in this novel. What deeper meanings lie within the names of the four sisters, and how do Filomena, Perla, and Tesoro’s names reflect their three-way conflicts? Additionally, consider the frequent appearance of the name Altagracia, and analyze the significance of Alma’s decision to adopt the name Scheherazade as a pseudonym.

How does Alvarez use key characters to explore the concept of belonging to a place or a community? Be sure to examine at least two characters’ feelings about the United States and the Dominican Republic.

Brava creates markers for each of Alma’s untold stories. How do the physical details of each marker encapsulate the conflicts of the stories they represent?