HOUSE ON MANGO STREET

PAGES 3-20, SECTIONS A AND B

CHAPTERS 1-8

NAME: _jhoselin orellana___________

CH. 1: ESPERANZA: protagonist

HOW HAS ESPERANZA’S EXPERIENCES BEFORE SHE MOVED TO MANGO STREET HELPED TO SHAPE HER
VIEW OF THE WORLD? before she moved to mango street she had to experience some difficulties such
as pay rent and dealing with her landlord.

WHAT ARE HER GOALS? (Hint: there are 2 to 3) her goals is to get a house that is not in mango street
and where she can be a writer.

CH. 2: FAMILY LIFE

Who do you think she is the closest to in the family? Why? she is closer to her mother

Which family member do we know the least about? Why do you think that is? we know the least about
kiki and nenny

CH. 3: ZEZE THE X:

What is Esperanza’s dilemma with her name? (Hint: Connect this back to her grandmother). What does
her grandmother represent in the novel?

CH. 4: FRIENDS: Has she ever had a real friend? Why or why not?

CH. 5: ESPERANZA DESCRIBES HERSELF AS A “RED BALLOON TIED TO AN ANCHOR” pages 8-9

What does this mean? Has the color red come up anywhere else in the novel? Is there a connection?

CH. 6: NENNY: Esperanza doesn’t view Nenny as her friend. Why? Why does this contrast with what
happens in “Laughter” (pages 17-18). Do you think Esperanza will ever view Nenny as her friend?

CH. 7: CATHY-LUCY-RACHEL:

Cathy is the first “friend” Esperanza meets on Mango Street. Why doesn’t this friendship last long? Who
does she replace Cathy with?

What do you think Cathy is supposed to represent for Mango Street in the novel? (Hint: Think about why
Cathy is moving)

What do you think Lucy and Rachel are supposed to represent in the novel?
 HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
PAGES 3-20, SECTIONS A AND B
CHAPTERS 1-8

Why doesn’t Cathy want Esperanza to play with these two sisters? What do you think is the “real”
reason?

CH. 8: GIL’S FURNITURE BOUGHT AND SOLD

How does the personality difference between the two sisters show up in the store?
Why does Esperanza pretend she doesn’t care about the music box?
What literary devices are used to describe the music from the music box?