The Censors by Luisa Valenzuela March 10
"The Censors" ✂️ by Luisa Valenzuela March 10
Learning objective: Students will analyze key passages from the first half of "The Censors" to understand Juan's motivation and the story's satirical tone.
AERO Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.6
Lesson duration is: 30 minItems in this lesson
"The Censors" ✂️ by Luisa Valenzuela March 10
Learning objective: Students will analyze key passages from the first half of "The Censors" to understand Juan's motivation and the story's satirical tone.
AERO Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.6
From our last lesson, what's ONE word you remember about censorship?
Fill in the blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct word.
The government considered any writing that criticized its authority to be subversive.
Juan applied for the position of censor because he had an ulterior motive.
His conduct at work was irreproachable, and no one could accuse him of breaking the rules.
He was hired quickly, albeit he had little experience in censorship.
CONTEXT REFRESH
Argentina's Dirty War
Argentina, 1976-1983: The "Dirty War" (Guerra Sucia)
Key Facts🏛️ Military government overthrew the democracy
⚖️ Constitutional rights were suspended
👥 Anyone suspected of opposing the regime could be "disappeared"
💀 13,000-15,000 citizens were tortured and killed
✉️ ALL communication was monitored—letters, calls, publications
Read paragraph 1: Juan's Fear
"Poor Juan! One day, overcome by fear, he managed to jump over the wall that separated him from his best friend, Mariana, and he stayed there, in her house, for three days, until her husband kicked him out on the corner, in the rain. That's how it all began. From that moment on, Juan couldn't think about anything else but Mariana and the letter he had written her before that memorable day when he finally dared to cross the dividing wall. A letter that Mariana must have received and that might now be in the hands of the Censors."
What do we learn about Juan's relationship with Mariana?
Why is Juan so afraid about the letter?
Answer the questions in 1 sentence each.
Read paragraph 2: How the Censors Operate2
"He knows that they examine, sniff, feel, and read between the lines of each and every letter, and check its tiniest comma and most accidental stain. He knows that all letters pass from hand to hand and go through all sorts of tests in the huge censorship offices and that, in the end, very few continue on their way. Usually it takes months, even years, if there aren't any snags; all this time the freedom, maybe even the life, of both sender and receiver is in jeopardy."
How do censors examine letters?
They only read the first page
They examine every detail, including commas and stains
They only check for obvious threats
They skim quickly through each letter
What is at risk for sender and receiver?
Their friendship
Their reputation
Their mail delivery
Their freedom and possibly their lives
Read paragraph 3: Juan's Plan
"Well, you've got to beat them to the punch, do what everyone tries to do: sabotage the machinery, throw sand in its gears, get to the bottom of the problem so as to stop it.
This was Juan's sound plan when he, like many others, applied for a censor's job—not because he had a calling or needed a job: no, he applied simply to intercept his own letter, a consoling albeit unoriginal idea."
What is Juan's REAL reason vs. What he PRETENDS?
Read paragraph 4: Getting Hired
"He was hired immediately, for each day more and more censors are needed and no one would bother to check on his references.
Ulterior motives couldn't be overlooked by the Censorship Division, but they needn't be too strict with those who applied. They knew how hard it would be for the poor guys to find the letter they wanted and even if they did, what's a letter or two when the new censor would snap up so many others?"
Fill in the blanks
Juan was hired immediately because the government urgently needed more censors to monitor private correspondence, showing how the regime valued speed and control over careful background checks.
The Censorship Division understood that many applicants had ulterior motives for joining the department, but they ignored this risk because they believed the system itself was strong enough to maintain control.
The officials believed that finding one specific letter among thousands would be extremely difficult, which reveals how overwhelming the volume of mail was and how unlikely it seemed that anyone could locate a single personal message.
They assumed that even if one suspicious letter was overlooked, the new censor would still destroy many others, demonstrating that the system focused on suppressing large amounts of communication rather than protecting individual freedoms.
Read paragraph 5: The Dangerous Work
"He didn't even worry when, in his first month, he was sent to Section K where envelopes are very carefully screened for explosives.
It's true that on the third day, a fellow worker had his right hand blown off by a letter, but the division chief claimed it was sheer negligence on the victim's part. Juan and the other employees were allowed to go back to their work, though feeling less secure.
After work, one of them tried to organize a strike to demand higher wages for unhealthy work, but Juan didn't join in; after thinking it over, he reported the man to his superiors and thus got promoted."
What happened to Juan's coworker?
He got a promotion
He quit his job
His hand was blown off by a letter
He found a dangerous letter
How did the division chief respond?
He shut down Section K
He apologized and increased safety
He blamed the victim for negligence
He gave everyone a raise
What did Juan do during the strike?
He did nothing
He reported the man and got promoted
He joined the strike
He quit his job
