S.Soney
The House on Mango Street
By Sandra Cisneros
Response Journals
As part of our memoir unit, we will be utilizing a text in which the author writes in vignettes. Vignettes are brief, snapshot like slices of memories, linking with a thought or idea. Sanda Cisneros based her writing in this book on her own life experiences, things she actually experienced. This will be an independent adventure for you both as a reader and as a writer.
You will come in each day, get a book, read five (5) chapters and respond to the corresponding questions in FULL PARAGRAPHS. At the end of each week, we will choose which responses we want to share in our Mango Street Selections group reading.
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The House on Mango Street
Ownership, especially of houses, is a significant aspect of American society. Often people’s identity and status are associated with the area in which they live, the kind of house they live in, and if they own or rent. The narrator of this story remembers pointing to her apartment and being asked, “‘You live there?’ The way she said it made me feel like nothing.… I knew I had to have a house. A real house.”
Describe your home. What does the area and house tell about your identity and social status?
Hairs
The narrator shares intimate details of her family. To know the feel and smell of someone’s hair and skin is to be close, in a loving way, to that person. Record your memories of the hair and skin of your family members, or the people with whom you are close.
Boys & Girls
Do you agree with the narrator’s statement, “The boys and the girls live in separate worlds”? Using your own experience as a reference point, what evidence do you see of separateness or lack of separateness?
How would you define a best friend? Use a best friend you have or had to illustrate your point.
Tell about a time you felt you were “a balloon tied to an anchor.” This could be any time you wanted to be free, but felt held down by a responsibility or restraint.
My Name
What associations do you make with your name? Are you named for anyone? If so, how do you feel about it? If not, why did your parents give you the name they did?
Esperanza makes the following comments about women: “the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their women strong.” “She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow.” Based on your experience, list some factors that cause a person to be passive and sad or to lead a life of unrealized dreams and potential. These factors can include gender bias for men as well as women. What conclusions can you come to about ending up, not experiencing life, but only watching it by the window, as Esperanza puts it?
Cathy Queen of Cats
Often, people reveal their attitudes and values by the way they interpret things around them. Cathy says a lot to Esperanza about the neighborhood and the people in it. What is your opinion of Cathy? Does Cathy remind you of anyone? What do you find amusing about the title of this sketch?
Our Good Day
Tell about a time you had a good day sharing something with friends.
Laughter
What characteristics or understandings do members of your family share?
Esperanza describes laughter figuratively: “the shy ice cream bells’ giggle” Think of a person that you know who has distinctive laughter. Describe the laughter in terms of something familiar.
Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold
Write a short human interest story for the local newspaper of Gil’s town. Tell about Gil, his store, and his hidden treasures.
Meme Ortiz
What do you find comical in this sketch?
What does the image of the huge tree suggest to you?
Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin
Imagine that you are Marin and write a letter to a close friend in Puerto Rico telling about your life on Mango Street, your feelings about living there, and the incident with the yellow Cadillac. Try to use the way of speaking of a girl Marin’s age.
Marin
Respond to the feeling that Esperanza has for Marin. Does she look up to her or judge her? What qualities do we see that Marin has, that might benefit Esperanza?
Those Who Don’t
Esperanza provides a commentary on strangers who come into the neighborhood. Imagine you are a stranger who drove down Mango Street. What might your impression be of the many things that have been described? Would you feel safe driving down the street at night? Why or why not?
There was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children…
Think about parents with troubled children, or in some cases, children with troubles parents. In “There was an Old Woman She Has So Many Children She Didn’t Know What to Do,” the reader is faced with a group of children with no father or father figure and a mother who is at a loss for control and parenting. Cisneros writes, “No wonder everybody gave up” (30). How do people give up on children? Do you agree or disagree that there is a necessary time for people to do so? Respond using what you read in this vignette.
Alicia Who Sees Mice
There are many people who are afraid of bugs or animals. In “Alicia Who Sees Mice” the reader gets the idea that Alicia is left with her father, who she may or may not get along with so well. In the last line of this chapter, while brief, Cisneros writes, “And fathers” (32). Has there ever been a time in which you have been afraid of your parents? Or perhaps, afraid of mice/animal/bug? In any way, can you relate to Alicia?
Darius & the Clouds
Have you ever looked at the clouds like Darius does in this chapter? Do they create formations on their own or is it just what we want to see?
Should we believe in the clouds? In nature? Something bigger than ourselves? Or, like Esperanza might feel, should we just believe in ourselves?
And Some More
Describe what happens in this vignette. It is written differently than most of the others you have read so far. Why does Cisneros write this particular chapter in a dialogue?
The Family of Little Feet
Does one ever tire of beautiful things? Describe at least five things that you find beautiful.
A Rice Sandwich
Why does Esperanza want to eat in the canteen so badly? If she was able to stay, would it really make a difference in her day? Consider her persuasion speech to her mother.
Chanclas
Have you ever needed something (or wanted so badly) but you weren’t able to have it?
What is the significance of this chapter?
Hips
Describe the meaning of this chapter’s title, using what you learn from reading the chapter.
The First Job
In this chapter, we see that Esperanza gets a job matching photographs to their negatives. She is nervous, unsure and slightly embarrassed. Respond to Esperanza’s first job experience.
What do you think your first job will be, if you haven’t had small jobs already? What do you want it to be?
Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark
Living the life that Esperanza is living throughout this novel is not one that most would find happy. In “Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark,” she realizes that she is not the only one going through hardships and heartaches, when her father’s father dies. While she does not know what to do when he starts crying, the way that she describes her father is with love. Choose an important person in your life. Describe them in the best and most descriptive you can.
Born Bad
Esperanza describes imitating her Aunt Lupe, who is sick and eventually dies. How does Aunt Lupe change after she becomes ill? What is the effect of her illness on her family? Is the children’s imitation of Aunt Lupe cruel? Why or Why not?
How does the children’s interaction lead to the imitation of Aunt Lupe? Are there things that you do with a group that you would not do alone? Have you ever imitated someone in a mean or unflattering way? Do you regret it? Why or Why not?
Elenita, Cards, Pal, Water
What does a house made out of heart mean? Respond as Esperanza might understand it and as you understand it. Does the material of a house truly matter?
Geraldo No Last Name
This vignette is about a seemingly unimportant character. Geraldo meets Marin at a dance and is involved in a hit and run accident. Marin has to go to the hospital to give information about him even though she does not know him well. Why is Geraldo’s character significant in this novel?
Edna’s Ruthie
Cisernos introduces Ruthie, a woman who has a lot of talent and opportunities, but choosed to get married instead of pursuing a career. What are the results of Ruthie’s choices? What can Esperanze learn from Ruthie’s experiences?
The Earl of Tennessee
In “The Earl of Tennessee,” Esperanza notices Earl: his life, his job, his wife(?), his habits. What someone sees about someone else can say a lot about them as a person. What would someone observe about you?
Sire
Esperanza gives the reader a glimpse of her character in “Sire.” What are some of the character traits that she displays? What are some relevant details that show the reader that Esperanza is starting to grow up?
Four Skinny Trees
In “Four Skinny Trees,” Esperanza relates to these trees explaining that “they are the only ones who understandme. I am the only one who understands them. Four skinny rees with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine. Four who do not belong here but are here” (74). What do the trees symbolize to Esperanza? Why does she compare them to herself?
No Speak English
Does it seem like Mamacita wants to learn English? Why or why not?
Does learning a new language mean you are losing your home or where you come from?
Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays
In this vignette, Cisneros writes of Rafaela, who as beautiful as she is, is controlled by her husband. Rafaela “…wishes there were sweet drinks, not bitter like an empty room, but sweet sweet like the island…” (80). Analyze the simile within that line and connect it to Rafaela’s life of “emptiness.”
Sally
Think of someone in your life who might need some encouragement. Write them a brief letter.
Minerva Writes Poems
In this vignette, Esperanza says that Minerva’s “luck is unlucky” (84). Can luck be unlucky? Does luck even exist?
Bums in the Attic
Consider what Esperanza’s family says about her change in attitude in this chapter. Does growing up mean your attitude changes? Explain how this may be happening to you as you grow up.
Beautiful & Cruel
Would you rather be beautiful and cruel, or ugly and nice? Explain both sides and which will get you farther in life.
A Smart Cookie
What point is Esperanza’s mother trying to make?
What Sally Said
Discuss what Sally is really going through and the image that she has had in the novel up until this point.
Does this change how we view her?
The Monkey Garden
Analyze the symbolism of “monkey” garden. What change is taking place here?
Red Clowns
This chapter addresses a very mature experience. Esperanza blames Sally for leaving her and for what happened to her. Knowing what we know about Sally, discuss why Sally would leave Esperanza.
Linoleum Roses
Throughout the whole novel, Esperanza talks about getting off of Mango Street and getting out of the life she has been in. In this vignette, we see that Sally gets out. At what cost does one leave a hindering life? What cost would be worth it? Is Sally’s?
The Three Sisters
In this chapter, Esperanza is told, “You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango Street. You can’t erase what you know. You can’t forget who you are” (105).
Alicia & I Talking on Edna’s Steps
In this vignette, Esperanza says she doesn’t belong on Mango Street. What would it be like to feel like you never belong?
A House of My Own
Simple and poetic, what is Esperanza describing or yearning for in this vignette? Is a future in this setting possible for her?
Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes
“I am too strong for her to keep me here forever. One day I will go away.”
What does Esperanza mean by these statements? Why would Sandra Cisneros end her novel like this? What is the significance of the title of this final vignette?