Investigate La Violencia, Colombia's fifteen-year period of civil conflict, and explore how "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" might reflect the events happening in Colombia during that era.

Research the following religious and mythological figures mentioned in the story, and examine their importance to the narrative: St. Stephen, Estevanico, Jonah, Zeus, and Quetzalcoatl.

Read a chapter from Homer's Odyssey and identify similarities between Homer's narrative and the events in this story.

Delve into the psychology of totemism and analyze what Esteban has come to represent for the villagers.