House of the Scorpion
By : Nancy Farmer
Discussion questions:
Chapter 2
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 Alacrán Estate?
Chapter 3
Matteo Alacrán is the clone of El Patrón, 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?
Chapter 4
Why is Mariá especially attracted to Matt? (Be sure to included information from prior chapters)
Chapter 5
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?
Chapter 6
Discuss the role of Mariá, and Celia in helping Matt escape the prison.
Rosá describes El Patrón as a bandit.(chapter 5) How has El Patrón 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.
Chapter 7
pg. 70 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 Patrón...just think about it." Considering that Matt is the
clone of El Patrón, debate whether environment influences evil more than genetics.
Chapters 7,8,9
Discuss the role of Mariá, Celia, and Tam Lin in helping Matt escape his prison.
Chapter 10
pg. 93 El Patrón 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 Patrón's clone.
Chapter 11
How does Matt imitate El Patrón's power when he demands a birthday kiss from Mariá? Discuss
how El Patrón encourages Matt's uncharacteristic behavior. Why is Mariá so humiliated by Matt's
demand? How does Matt feel the crowd's disapproval?
Celia is a deeply religious person. How is this demonstrated throughout the novel?
