11TH GRADE - BIOGRAPHIES

 Rubén Darío

Rubén Darío was born on January 18, 1867 in Metapa, Nicaragua (later renamed Ciudad Darío). At birth, he was named Félix Rubén García Sarmiento and later took the old family name, Darío. His parents divorced and he was adopted and raised by his godfather Colonel Félix Ramírez. Dubbed El Niño Poeta (the poet child), Darío began reading at the age of 3 and at 12 he was already publishing poems. He called his first three poems "La Fe", "Una Lágrima" and "El Desengaño". In 1882, in an attempt to secure a scholarship to study in Europe, Darío read his poem "El Libro" to conservative Nicaraguan authorities including President Joaquín Zavala. He was denied the scholarship because his poems were considered too liberal. Instead, Darío traveled to El Salvador where he met the poet Francisco Gavidia, who introduced him to French poetry. At the age of 19, Darío moved to Chile and worked in journalism. He also wrote his first novel, Emelina. In 1890 he married Rafaela Contreras, and later had a son. In 1914, Darío was honored in New York with a silver medal from the Hispanic Society of America. He returned to Nicaragua and died in 1916 at the age of 49.

Augusto Sandino

Augusto Nicolás Calderón Sandino was born on May 18, 1895 in Niquinohomo, Masaya. As a child, he worked with his mother collecting coffee in plantations. In 1910 U.S. troops landed in Corinto, and in 1912 a revolt broke out against President Díaz. Benjamin Zeledón faced the invaders and died in battle, leaving a strong impression on young Sandino. In 1916 Sandino worked as a mechanic near Costa Rica. He later traveled to Honduras and Guatemala, working on plantations of the United Fruit Company. In 1926, an uprising began against Chamorro, and Sandino returned to Nicaragua to join the Constitutionalist War. His first confrontation with conservative forces ended in defeat, but he continued fighting. On July 1, 1927 he issued his first political manifesto. On February 21, 1934, after dining with President Sacasa, Sandino was captured and assassinated by order of Somoza García.

Carlos Fonseca Amador

Carlos Fonseca Amador was born in El Laborío, Matagalpa on June 23, 1936. He was the son of Justina Fonseca, a housekeeper, and Fausto Amador. He studied at the school for boys in Matagalpa, and at age 9 he began selling candies and newspapers to help his family. He was known for his responsibility and studiousness. In 1950 he entered secondary school at the National Institute of the North in Matagalpa. He was recognized as the best student of his class. In 1955 he graduated and received the golden star medal for best student. In 1957 he traveled to Moscow to attend the Youth World Festival. In 1961, Carlos Fonseca, Tomás Borge, Silvio Mayorga, and Santos López founded the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN).

1. Vocabulary in Context

Match the word with its meaning.
Words: leader, hero, journalist, modernism, peasant, revolutionary, poet, , mechanic, scholarship, manifesto

1. Sandino became a national ________.
2. Rubén Darío is the father of ________.
3. Carlos Fonseca was the son of a ________.
4. Sandino was a ________ of the Constitutionalist cause.
5. Fonseca was a ________ who founded the FSLN.
6. Darío was a famous ________.
7. In Chile, Darío worked as a ________.
8. Sandino worked as a ________ near Costa Rica.
9. Darío tried to get a ________ to study in Europe.
10. Sandino wrote a political ________ in 1927.

2. Fill-in-the-Blank. Complete the sentences with the correct word.

 

1. Rubén Darío was born in ________, Nicaragua.
2. Sandino worked as an assistant ________.
3. Carlos Fonseca sold ________ on the streets.
4. Darío’s first three poems were “La Fe,” “Una Lágrima,” and ________.
5. Sandino traveled to ________ in 1923 to work on plantations.
6. Fonseca graduated in 1955 and received the ________ star medal.
7. Darío was honored in ________ with a silver medal.
8. Sandino was assassinated in ________ by order of Somoza García.
9. Fonseca attended the Youth World Festival in ________.
10. Darío married ________ Contreras in 1890.

3. True / False / Doesn’t Say. Decide if the statement is true, false, or not mentioned.

1. Rubén Darío studied in Europe. ________
2. Sandino admired Benjamin Zeledón. ________
3. Carlos Fonseca was born in Managua. ________
4. Darío wrote his first novel in Chile. ________
5. Sandino worked for the United Fruit Company. ________
6. Fonseca had three children. ________
7. Darío received a medal in Costa Rica. ________
8. Sandino was killed in 1934. ________
9. Fonseca founded the FSLN alone. ________
10. Darío died at the age of 49. ________

4. Simple Past Tense Practice. Underline the past tense verbs and rewrite sentences.

1. Darío ________ poems at age 12.
2. Sandino ________ as a mechanic.
3. Fonseca ________ candies to help his family.
4. Darío ________ to El Salvador.
5. Sandino ________ his first manifesto in 1927.
6. Fonseca ________ in 1955.
7. Darío ________ Rafaela Contreras.
8. Sandino ________ the Constitutionalist cause.
9. Fonseca ________ a youth festival in Moscow.
10. Darío ________ in 1916.

5. Comprehension Questions

Answer in complete sentences.

1. What was Rubén Darío’s nickname as a child?
2. Why was Sandino impressed by Benjamin Zeledón?
3. What job did Carlos Fonseca do to help his family?
4. Where did Rubén Darío receive a silver medal in 1914?
5. Who founded the FSLN with Carlos Fonseca?
6. What was Sandino’s first defeat?
7. What did Darío try to get in 1882?
8. When did Fonseca graduate from secondary school?
9. What happened to Sandino in 1934?
10. How old was Darío when he died?

 

6. Creative Biography Writing

Complete the sentences with your own information to create a biography.

__________ was born in __________. He/She was known as __________.  He/She studied at __________ and graduated from __________.  He/She started working in __________ where he/she worked for ________ years.  He/She __________ and had ________ children. 

He/She died in __________ at the age of _______.  Today people remember him/her for __________________________.