Sandra CisnerosSandra Cisneros

The House on Mango StreetThe House on Mango Street

Discussion and Discussion and WritingWriting

The House on Mango The House on Mango StreetStreet 1-Where did the narrator live before she 1-Where did the narrator live before she

moved to The House on Mango Street? moved to The House on Mango Street?

2-How were her previous homes different?2-How were her previous homes different?

3-In what kind of house would she like to 3-In what kind of house would she like to live?live?

4-Does she like her new house? Why not?4-Does she like her new house? Why not?

HairsHairs

5- Who are the members of 5- Who are the members of Esperanza’s family?Esperanza’s family?

6- How are Papa and Mama’s 6- How are Papa and Mama’s hairs different?hairs different?

Boys and Girls 7- Why do Esperanza’s brothers

talk to her at home but not in public?

8- Why does Esperanza feel that Nenny is her responsibility?

My NameMy Name

9- After whom was Esperanza 9- After whom was Esperanza named? named?

10- According to Esperanza, what 10- According to Esperanza, what does her namesake’s story tell you does her namesake’s story tell you about the status of women in about the status of women in Mexican society?Mexican society?

11- Why does Esperanza say, “I don’t 11- Why does Esperanza say, “I don’t want to inherit her place by the want to inherit her place by the window”?window”?

Cathy Queen of CatsCathy Queen of Cats

12. Why is Cathy’s family about 12. Why is Cathy’s family about to move?to move?

Our Good DayOur Good Day

13. How does Esperanza make 13. How does Esperanza make friends with Lucy and Rachel? friends with Lucy and Rachel?

14. What makes them better 14. What makes them better friends than Cathy?friends than Cathy?

Laughter

15. How are Esperanza and Nenny alike?

Gil’s Furniture Bought and Sold

16. When does the black owner turn on the lights?

17. What did Esperanza’s family buy in the store before?

18. What does Nenny want to buy at the store?

19. Describe the store.

Meme Ortiz

20. What is Meme’s real name?21. Who lived in the house before

Meme moved in? Who built it?

Louie, His Cousin and His Other Cousin22. Where does Louie’s family live?

Where are they from?23. What does Marin usually wear? What

is her job in the house?24. What kind of car does Louie’s cousin

drive? Where does he take the neighborhood kids?

25. What happens to Louie’s cousin at the end of the chapter and why?

MarinMarin

26. Who is Marin? 26. Who is Marin? 27. Why is she unable to leave 27. Why is she unable to leave

her house?her house? 28. How does she plan to change 28. How does she plan to change

her situation?her situation? 29. Why do Esperanza and her 29. Why do Esperanza and her

friends admire her?friends admire her?

Those Who Don’tThose Who Don’t

30. How do outsiders see 30. How do outsiders see Esperanza’s neighborhood?Esperanza’s neighborhood?

31. How does Esperanza feel when 31. How does Esperanza feel when she visits other neighborhoods?she visits other neighborhoods?

There was an Old Woman She There was an Old Woman She had So Many Children She had So Many Children She didn’t Know What to Dodidn’t Know What to Do

32. Why does Rosa Vargas cry 32. Why does Rosa Vargas cry every day?every day?

33. Why do her children 33. Why do her children misbehave?misbehave?

34. What happens to her son 34. What happens to her son Angel?Angel?

Alicia Who Sees MiceAlicia Who Sees Mice

35. How does Alicia’s father treat 35. How does Alicia’s father treat her efforts to get an education?her efforts to get an education?

36. How does Alicia go to the 36. How does Alicia go to the university?university?

37. Why does she want to become 37. Why does she want to become a professional?a professional?

Darius and the CloudsDarius and the Clouds

38. What kind of boy is Darius?38. What kind of boy is Darius?

39. Who does he see in a cloud?39. Who does he see in a cloud?

And Some MoreAnd Some More

40. Why does the conversation 40. Why does the conversation about clouds between Esperanza, about clouds between Esperanza, Nenny, and Rachel turn into a Nenny, and Rachel turn into a fight?fight?

The Family of Little The Family of Little FeetFeet

41. What happens to Esperanza 41. What happens to Esperanza when she and her friends are when she and her friends are given some cast-off shoes?given some cast-off shoes?

42. How do the shoes change 42. How do the shoes change them?them?

43. What effect do they have on 43. What effect do they have on the men in the neighborhood?the men in the neighborhood?

A Rice SandwichA Rice Sandwich

44. Why does Esperanza want to 44. Why does Esperanza want to eat in the canteen?eat in the canteen?

45. What does she tell her mother 45. What does she tell her mother to do so she can eat in the to do so she can eat in the canteen?canteen?

46. How does Sister Superior make 46. How does Sister Superior make Esperanza feel embarrassed?Esperanza feel embarrassed?

ChanclasChanclas

47. What does Esperanza’s mother 47. What does Esperanza’s mother forget to buy?forget to buy?

48. What are they going to 48. What are they going to celebrate?celebrate?

49. How does she feel and why?49. How does she feel and why?

50. Who invites Esperanza to dance? 50. Who invites Esperanza to dance? How does he convince her to do How does he convince her to do it?it?

HipsHips

51. What does Esperanza mean when she 51. What does Esperanza mean when she says, “One day you wake up and they are says, “One day you wake up and they are there”?there”?

52. According to Esperanza, what can women 52. According to Esperanza, what can women do with their hips?do with their hips?

53. What does Nenny say about hips?53. What does Nenny say about hips?

54. What happens to women’s bones if they 54. What happens to women’s bones if they have many children according to have many children according to Esperanza?Esperanza?

55. Why do Lucy and Rachel get mad at 55. Why do Lucy and Rachel get mad at Nenny?Nenny?

The First JobThe First Job

56. Who helps Esperanza find her first 56. Who helps Esperanza find her first job?job?

57. Why does Esperanza have to lie 57. Why does Esperanza have to lie about her age?about her age?

58. What is her job all about? Describe it.58. What is her job all about? Describe it.

59. Describe what happens to Esperanza 59. Describe what happens to Esperanza when she takes her break in the when she takes her break in the coatroom. Give as many details as coatroom. Give as many details as possible.possible.

Papa who wakes up Papa who wakes up Tired in the DarkTired in the Dark

60. Why is Esperanza’s father crying? 60. Why is Esperanza’s father crying? How does she react?How does she react?

61. Why does Esperanza feel that it’s 61. Why does Esperanza feel that it’s her responsibility to tell the others her responsibility to tell the others about about abuelito’sabuelito’s dead? dead?

62. What are the traditions in the Latino 62. What are the traditions in the Latino culture when somebody in the family culture when somebody in the family is dead?is dead?

  

Born BadBorn Bad

63. What happened to Aunt Lupe?63. What happened to Aunt Lupe?

64. What did she use to do before 64. What did she use to do before getting sick?getting sick?

65. Why does Esperanza feel she is 65. Why does Esperanza feel she is going to hell?going to hell?

Elenita, Cards, Palm, Elenita, Cards, Palm, WaterWater

66. Who is Elenita and what does she 66. Who is Elenita and what does she do for a living?do for a living?

67. Why does Elenita ask Esperanza 67. Why does Elenita ask Esperanza to fill up a glass with water?to fill up a glass with water?

68. What does Esperanza ask Elenita 68. What does Esperanza ask Elenita to find in the glass of water? What to find in the glass of water? What does Elenita tell Esperanza instead?does Elenita tell Esperanza instead?

Geraldo No Last NameGeraldo No Last Name

69. Where did Marin meet Geraldo? 69. Where did Marin meet Geraldo? How was he dressed?How was he dressed?

70. What happened to him?70. What happened to him?

71. What are Esperanza’s thoughts 71. What are Esperanza’s thoughts about Geraldo’s family back in about Geraldo’s family back in Mexico?Mexico?

SireSire

72. Who is Sire?72. Who is Sire?

73. Sire is Esperanza’s first real 73. Sire is Esperanza’s first real crush. Give examples of crush. Give examples of Esperanza’s feelings towards Sire.Esperanza’s feelings towards Sire.

No Speak EnglishNo Speak English

74. Why doesn’t Mamacita leave 74. Why doesn’t Mamacita leave her house?her house?

75. What happened to Esperanza’s 75. What happened to Esperanza’s father when he did not know to father when he did not know to speak English?speak English?

Rafaela Who Drinks Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & PapayaCoconut & Papaya

76. Why does Rafaela get locked in 76. Why does Rafaela get locked in her apartment?her apartment?

77. What would she like to do 77. What would she like to do instead of being in her instead of being in her apartment?apartment?

78. How does she get coconut & 78. How does she get coconut & papaya juice? papaya juice?

SallySally

79. Why does Sally’s father think 79. Why does Sally’s father think that to be beautiful is trouble?that to be beautiful is trouble?

80. Why does Esperanza want to be 80. Why does Esperanza want to be Sally’s friend?Sally’s friend?

81. Why does Esperanza assume 81. Why does Esperanza assume Sally does not want to go back Sally does not want to go back home?home?

Minerva Writes PoemsMinerva Writes Poems

82. How old is Minerva? How many 82. How old is Minerva? How many children does she have?children does she have?

83. What happened to Minerva’s 83. What happened to Minerva’s husband?husband?

84. What do Minerva and 84. What do Minerva and Esperanza have in common?Esperanza have in common?

Beautiful & CruelBeautiful & Cruel

85. What is Esperanza’s concern in 85. What is Esperanza’s concern in this chapter?this chapter?

86. How does Esperanza expect to 86. How does Esperanza expect to be a different woman?be a different woman?

A Smart CookieA Smart Cookie

87. What are Esperanza’s mother 87. What are Esperanza’s mother skills, especially around the skills, especially around the house?house?

88. Why does she tell Esperanza to 88. Why does she tell Esperanza to study hard? Why does she feel study hard? Why does she feel ashamed? ashamed?

What Sally SaidWhat Sally Said

89. Why does Sally’s father beat 89. Why does Sally’s father beat her up so often?her up so often?

90. Why does Sally’s father visit 90. Why does Sally’s father visit Esperanza’s house?Esperanza’s house?

91. Why does Sally’s father beat 91. Why does Sally’s father beat her up one more time? her up one more time?

Linoleum RosesLinoleum Roses

92. Who did Sally get married to?92. Who did Sally get married to?

93. Why did she move to another 93. Why did she move to another state?state?

94. How does her husband treat 94. How does her husband treat her? Explain.her? Explain.

The Three SistersThe Three Sisters

95. What happened to Lucy and 95. What happened to Lucy and Rachel’s sister?Rachel’s sister?

96. What is Esperanza’s wish? 96. What is Esperanza’s wish?

97. What does one of the three 97. What does one of the three sisters tell Esperanza about her sisters tell Esperanza about her wish?wish?

Alicia & I Talking on Alicia & I Talking on Edna’s StepsEdna’s Steps

98. Why is Esperanza jealous of 98. Why is Esperanza jealous of Alicia?Alicia?

Why does Alicia tell Esperanza, Why does Alicia tell Esperanza, “Like it or not you are Mango “Like it or not you are Mango Street, and one day you’ll come Street, and one day you’ll come back to”?back to”?

A House of My OwnA House of My Own

99. Describe Esperanza’s ideal 99. Describe Esperanza’s ideal house.house.

Mango Says Goodbye Mango Says Goodbye SometimesSometimes

100. Why does at the end of the 100. Why does at the end of the book Esperanza decide to come book Esperanza decide to come back to Mango Street? What is back to Mango Street? What is the message in this chapter?the message in this chapter?