Sirena Selena by Mayra Santos-Febres. Use the following format: A) Give a Historical Context if any.

The novel is placed in the Puerto Rica of today where street boys -- and there are many of them -- do rummage through garbage cans and live a torturous life for survival forced to snort and sell drugs whilst doing so.

Selena was fortunate in that he was recognized for his golden voice. There are many others, however, who similarly gifted may sing their boleros in vain. Many of them end up as prostitutes or criminal. This is the story of many Mexican children of the past and of today.

B) Give the type of plot and explain why you consider that it is specifically this plot.

Most, if perhaps all, plots can be reduced to one theme: conflict. This plot is no different. The story describes Selena's conflict with various factors that include temptation and the need for survival. Naturally gay, and seduced to a relationship with a gay person, Selena withstands the temptation and turns into a 'woman' in order to help him get out of the streets and make his way into the world.

Tobias (1993) proposes 20 basic plots. The narrative of Selena may best be described as one of 'Temptation' and perhaps also of 'metamorphosis' and 'transformation'.

Selena is tempted by love. There is also the aspect of 'metamorphosis 'in that the 15-year-old gay street hustler is turned into the diva with the golden voice.

Finally, you have the plot of 'Transformation' where Selena overcomes the pull of her long seduction for the wealthy businessman, Hugo Graubel, and chooses to replace seduction for survival.

According to Polti's 36 dramatic situations, the plot in this case would most likely resemble 'Ambition'. The vulnerable 15-year-old boy is determined to succeed and make his way in the world. Love threatens to intrude. He pushes it away and persists in retaining his guise in order to become wealthy, successful and survive.

C) Give a brief summary of the novel.

Leocadio...

She also pretends to be his mistress and introduces him as Serena Selena. Divine is attracted to Selena for she sees in him patterns of correspondence to her own life.
Whilst auditioning at one of the upper class hotels in the Dominican Republic, Selena is discovered by Hugo Graubel, a wealthy investor of that hotel who married and with children has his own story. The book delves into the stories of both Divine and Graubel.

Menatime, Selena and Graubal are attracted to one another and the novel follows a tortuous description of their romance. Selena, however, eventually steps past the romance in order to succeed in his career. Selena suppresses his homosexual inclinations and becomes 'woman' in order to succeed in the world of business and competition. The novel ends with his transformation into a seducing geisha that puts money -- or the need for wealth and success -- above the lures of love.

Stories, generally, end with love prevailing. This one ends with ambition and money trumping love.

D) Name and briefly discuss the principal characters of the novel.

Sirena Selena -- Originally Leocadio, he is a 15-year-old gay street hustler who lives on the streets of San Juan after the death of his grandmother and is taught how to hustle for drugs. He is recognized by Martha Divine whop changes his name and pretends to be his mistress. Possessed with a glorious voice and beauty, he is transformed into a diva and experiences a romance with Gruabult before renouncing it for success.

Sirena is a vulnerable but resilient individual who, as the novel progresses, merges into strong-willed, disciplined young man.

Martha Divine -- She is the drag queen working the streets of San Juan 'Drag queen' is the term given for a man who dresses…