At the time of her death, Ortiz Cofer had been transcribing Puerto Rican folktales, in a method that she described as “a translation of fábulas criollas with lots of poetic license involved.” These creole fables, which are still commonly known throughout the island, she had heard from her grandmother, who frequently used them as teaching tools addressing women and girl family members.
This presentation highlights key elements of Ortiz Cofer’s creole fables, including important figures, such as the Puerto Rican version of Cinderella, that become her favorite characters. Excerpts from selected stories will also be read.