Essay Questions

Compare the relationship between Marco and his father in Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros.

The relationship between Marco and his father is tense. Marco's father wants his son to concentrate on sports. The father believes a child can only excel in life if he succeeds in sports. On the contrary, Marco is the brightest student in school, and teachers encourage him to continue winning academic trophies because he has a bright future. When Marco discovers that his father does not appreciate his academic achievements, he starts playing basketball.

How does Ernesto Cisneros explore the theme of teamwork in the novel?

Teamwork is among the the primary themes in the novel. Isaac works closely with other basketball players, and he encourages them to embrace cooperation if they want to succeed in their competitions. In addition, Isaac and his best friend, Marco, work as a team as they help each other excel in their respective fields. For instance, Isaac helps Marco to become a successful basketball player. On the other hand, Marco supports Isaac in his homework to ensure he improves his grades. Therefore, teamwork is an important theme throughout the novel because characters help each other to achieving their respective goals.

What motivates Marco and Isaac to work hard in whatever they do?

Marco and Isaac are neighbors and childhood friends who have supported each other despite their disadvantaged backgrounds. Isaac's father is an alcoholic, and his mother dislikes him because she often says he will end up like his father. Isaac also excels in basketball, but his mother tells him without good academic grades, he will end up drunk like his father. On the other hand, Marco excels in academics, but his father wants him to be an athlete. These two friends have strained relationships with their parents, but are determined to work hard to disapprove of their parents. Isaac wants to spend more time doing his homework to get good grades to impress his mother. Marco also starts playing basketball to impress his father, who wants him to be a sportsman instead of an academician.