Studied by 18 people
Who is the author
Sandra Cisneros
Theme
lives of women, identity, sexuality
Motifs
women by windows, names, sky
symbols
high heels monkey garden, 4 skinny trees
What is a vignette?
A vignette is a short, written sketch or descriptive scene. It is usually about an event or memory in someone’s life.
Describe the house Esperanza and her family live in.
Small and red with tight steps in the front and windows so small, no back yard, small garage, one washroom, one bedroom
Describe the house the family dreams of having.
Running water, real stairs, a basement, three bathrooms, white with trees around it with a fence.
How does Esperanza feel about the House on Mango Street?
She doesn't hate it but she doesn't love it
How does Esperanza feel about her mother?
She thinks highly of her
What metaphor does Esperanza use to describe herself?
A red balloon, tied to an anchor
How does Esperanza feel about her sister Nenny?
Feels like she is her responsibility, Nenny is too young to play with her
What does Esperanza’s name mean in Spanish, according to her?
Too many letters, sadness, waiting
Esperanza admires her great-grandmother, but she doesn’t want to be like her, why?
She didnt live her best life
What would she like her name to be?
Zeze
What does this name she chose for herself, tell you about her?
So the kids at school don't make fun of her
Explain this quote, “...they’ll just have to move a little farther north from Mango Street, a little farther away every time people like us keep moving in.”
Esperanza is really referring to her ethnic background. Cathy views her ethnic background as bad.
Where did Esperanza get the money for the bike?
Had saved $3 and took $2 from Nenny
What are the arrangements for the bike, and who gets to ride first?
everyone for the first day then Esperanza, Lucy, Rachel
What is something Esperanza and Nenny have in common?
Their laughter
Why is it important that Esperanza and Nenny have agreed that the house looks like Mexico?
Nenny was the only one who backed her up on her thought
Describe Gil.
An old black man who owns a store
What does Nenny want to purchase and why do you think it isn’t for sale?
A music box with a ballerina inside
Has sentimental value
Who is Meme Ortiz and how did he break both arms?
Is original name is Juan and he broke it because of the Tarzan jumping contest, from trees
Who is Louie?
Is the oldest in a family in family of little sisters
Where did Louie’s other cousin get the car?
He stole it
Describe Marin.
She wears short skirts, has pretty eyes, smokes, and tries to see boys. She plans to marry her boyfriend
What does this chapter tell you about the people in the neighborhood?
They all know each other and everyone is close
Who were the Vargases?
Bad people
What happened to Angel? How do you know?
He died after falling from somewhere high up, and nobody in the neighborhood seemed to notice or care.
Who is Alicia and why is she tired?
She is busy studying all night
Describe Darius and what did he say that was smart?
Stupid and likes school, that the clouds were God
What happened in “and some more”?
A conversation about clouds between Esperanza, Nenny, Lucy, and Rachel turns into a fight. Esperanza says the Eskimos have thirty different names for snow, which leads them into a discussion about names for clouds. Esperanza knows two names: cumulus and nimbus
What does Esperanza say is scary?
She said it was scary to look down at your own feet that are no longer yours and see attach a long, long leg
Why do the girls like the high heels and what changed about them?
Because they say it makes them look more beautiful
What happened to the shoes?
Lucy’s mom throws away the shoes
Who typically eats in the canteen?
The special kids who can’t walk home to get their lunches
Why does Esperanza’s mom say she can’t eat at the canteen?
She is afraid that Esperanza's siblings will want to start taking their lunches, meaning she would end up making sandwiches all morning every day.
Why do you think Esperanza is crying? What text support can you provide?
Sister Superior points out a row of houses and assumes that is where Esperanza lives. However, those houses are so run-down that even "raggedy men are ashamed" to go into them. She is upset that the nun assumes that Esperanza comes from a very poor and run-down home.
Where is Esperanza’s family going?
They are going to Precious Blood Church for their cousin's baptism
Why does Esperanza get brown saddle shoes every September?
they last longer
How does Esperanza feel after she dances with her Uncle Nacho?
She felt proud and happy of herself. "All I hear is the clapping when the music stops."
What similes does Esperanza use to describe hips?
they bloom like roses
Where and what was Esperanza’s first job?
Peter Pan photo finishers match negatives with their prints
What is different about the man she meets on her first day?
He offers to sit with her for lunch then kisses her on the mouth
describe the tone of “Papa who wakes up tired in the dark”
its sad and depressing
Why does Esperanza feel bad about imitating her aunt?
She didn't know Aunt Lupe was dying
How does Esperanza feel about her aunt’s death?
She was sad because Aunt Lupe listened to her.
Who is Elenita?
A witch woman, a fortune teller
How does Esperanza feel about Geraldo’s death?
She isn't too upset about it
Who are Ruthie and Edna and what does Esperanza like about Ruthie?
Ruthie is Edna’s daughter and because she stays on Mango Street even if she doesn't need to
Why did Esperanza need to look at Sire, when all the other girls wouldn’t?
to be brave
What happened when Esperanza looked at Sire?
Sire bumped into a car
What do we learn about Esperanza in this chapter?
keep reaching for what she wants, and they show her it is possible to grow.
Describe Mamacita.
The big mama of the man across the street
Why did Papa only eat ham and eggs when he came to this country?
That was the only word he knew in english
Describe Sally.
A girl who all the boys think is beautiful
How does Esperanza feel about Sally?
She likes Sally. "I'm going to ask to buy the nylon too."
Describe Minerva’s home life.
She is married with two kids, and she cries about how unlucky she is, and her husband abuses her
Why does Esperanza say there is nothing she can do?
Because she is just a kid and she can’t do a lot to fix anything
Why is Esperanza ashamed to drive by the homes her father works at?
She feels ashamed of her envy
Why does Esperanza say she will be happy to tell people there are bums in the attic?
She acknowledges the impact of poverty
Why does Esperanza want to be beautiful and cruel?
like the femme fatales in movies who drive the men crazy and then refuse them. These women do not give their power away
Describe Esperanza’s mom.
She is smart but threw her dreams away once she had kids
Why did her mother quit school?
because she had kids
What happened to Sally?
Her father beats her up
Why does he hit her?
He is scared she will run away and put him in
Why is the garden called the Monkey Garden?
It is full of beautiful, exciting plants and animals, and it becomes a magical place for Esperanza and her friend
Describe the garden.
a magical place, beautiful to look at, and well taken care of. However, when the family moved away, it slowly broke down, with weeds growing everywhere and cars being abandoned.
The monkey garden becomes a symbol.
a magical, perfect place where everything is innocent, but where something happens that causes a loss of innocence is your hint. Think about how this could compare to a biblical place and explain the symbolism in your own words.
What happens in this chapter?
While Esperanza waits for Sally to return, a group of non-Latino boys attacks her
How old is Sally when she gets married and explain if Sally’s home life is better now that she is married.
She was 14; It’s not better because she is not able to do anything without her husband knowing about it.
What did the sisters say to Esperanza that is important?
She told Esperanza to "remember to come back for the others who cannot leave"
What is your interpretation of “A house of my own”?
She is talking about the house that she wants and she doesn't have to be bothered by anyone
What does Esperanza like to do?
Tell/write stories
Does Esperanza leave Mango Street? Text support (quote) required.
Yes, "I have gone away to come back"
Imagery
the use of pictures or words to create images
Testimonial
an authentic narrative, told by a witness who is moved to narrate by the urgency of a situation
Quote
an exact copy of someone else's words, usually enclosed in quotation marks and credited to the original author or speaker.
Repetition
a literary device that involves using the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece of writing or speech.
Hyperbole
an exaggerated statement
smile
a comparison using like or as
metaphor
one thing is compared to another by stating they share the same qualities
Personification
gives human traits to non-human things
Rhetorical Questions
a device used to persuade or subtly influence the audience. It's a question asked not for the answer, but for the effect
Varied Sentence Length
Using a variety of sentence lengths helps make the text interesting
Syntax
Proper sentences(subject + verb)
Catalog
a collection of people, objects, ideas, and other elements in list form within poetry or prose
Motifs
a repeated pattern
diction
The choice and use of words in speech and writing( the words the writer chooses to use-Any good sentence)
Flashbacks
an instance that takes place before the story begins that interrupts the chronological order of the plot in order to provide context or information that is integral to the text
Allusion
an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text
Parallel structure
grammatical device using a consistent structure of two or more clauses with similar form and length
Varied sentence length
grammatical device using a consistent structure of two or more clauses with similar form and length
Emphatic fragment
emphasis shown using a fragment that is dialogue, narration, or internal thought
Note 
Flashcard (20)