In the spellbinding novel, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya, readers get involved in a young boy's encounter with an amazing "old soul," named Ultima. When she arrives at the Marez household, she brings an unusual companion, the owl. One realizes the owl is a symbol and a running metaphor as it appears in major scenes throughout the story.

The owl is first introduced in the novel when Ultima arrives Marez's house. To them, Ultima is as normal as everybody else, but yet everybody else thinks she is a witch or a bruja. "And with Ultima came the owl. I heard it that night for the first time in the juniper tree outside of Ultima's window. I knew it was her owl because the other owls of the llano did not come that near the house." (Pg 13) Her owl was very close to Ultima, and was not that...