The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros—Questions, Quote notes, Activities etc!Some content adapted from Oakland Unified School district lesson plans, but mostly created with LOVE for you, by Nisrene!You must complete ALL the pre-readings, quote notes, and questions. You should choose at least THREE activities to complete and submit by the due date (when we finish reading the book!).

Section One: Self Definition and Identity1. Pre-reading questions for class discussion & personal blog post:

What is the personal significance of your given name (first, middle and last)?Does your name mean different things to you, your family, and your friends?What are your nicknames? What do your nicknames mean to you and those who call you those names?

2. Read pp. 3-11 -- The House on Mango Street; Hairs; Boys and Girls; My Name3. Quote notes:Literary technique—find a definition for each and write it next to the term

Quote from book—find a quote from this first section that uses this technique

Personification--

Metaphor--

Simile--

Alliteration--

Repetition--

Sensory detail--

4. Reading questions: Answer in complete sentences and paragraphs.1. What type of house would the narrator like to live in?

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2. What binds the family together in The House on Mango Street?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What does Esperanza find shameful or burdensome about her name? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think Cisneros chose this name for her protagonist?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Hairs-inspired creative writing Writing Situation : In the vignette “Hairs,” Sandra Cisneros reveals a lot about the narrator’s family,

especially her mother, through a discussion of one physical trait: hair. Her first paragraph describes the hair of the narrator’s father and the hair of her siblings, using those descriptions to give the reader insight into each of their personalities. Cisneros also reveals the narrator’s feelings towards her mother in the passage, using a variety of stylistic devices to achieve this effect. Think about the people in your own family, the characteristics you share with them and those which make them (and you) distinctive. Decide which physical trait you would like to write about. Is the trait one you share with your family or yours alone? How might you present your piece Cisneros did with metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, repetition and sensory details?

Writing Directions : Using “Hairs” as a model, write a vignette about your own life that discusses an important physical trait and how it reveals something about the person who possesses it and your relationship to him/her. You may choose to discuss a trait that all of you share, or one that makes a particular family member—or you—stand out from the others because it is different. You must incorporate at least four stylistic devices in your vignette.

Presentation: Write about a page!

Section Two: Friendship, Neighborhood, Home1. Pre-reading questions for class discussion & personal blog

post: Is living in a house your family owns different from living in a house or apartment your family rents? How? Are renters, owners and homeless people all considered equal citizens in America? Why or why not? Does your family live in a house you own or rent?

2. Read pp. 12-25 -- Cathy Queen of Cats; Our Good Day; Laughter; Gil’s Furniture Bought and Sold; Meme Ortiz; Louie, His Cousin and His Other Cousin

3. Quote notes:Quote Context—what is happening in the

book at this point? What does this quote mean, literally?

Relevance—How does this quote show you something about a character, theme, setting, or idea?

“… 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.” page 13

“Meme won. And broke both arms.” page 22

4. Reading questions: Use complete sentences and paragraphs.1. Why is Cathy's family about to move?

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2. In “Our Good Day,” what lines in this chapter create the sense of happiness that the narrator feels? What metaphor is used to reinforce this idea?

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3. How is the laughter of the two sets of sisters described? Why?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think Esperanza doesn’t focus on the theft as she tells the story about Louie’s cousin? What does she spend more time telling us about in this chapter? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Synesthesia Poems Poster Activity Writing Situation: Cisneros describes the sound of an

old music box like this: "It's like all of a sudden he let go

a million moths all over the dusty furniture and swan-neck shadows in our bones." This technique, in which a sound is described in terms of things seen and felt, is called synesthesia. Remember we learned about this when we talked about how the brain works!

Writing Directions: Write poems that are descriptions of: a) a place, using sounds; b) a piece of music, using smells; c) a meal, using colors; d) a person, using taste and touch.

Presentation: Write about a page, and include drawings to present on a poster for display.

Section Three: Freedom and Entrapment1. Pre-reading question for class discussion & personal blog post:

In what areas of your life are you most free to do what you like? In what areas of your life do you have the least freedom? Consider the roles gender, race, religion, education, class, age, and upbringing play in limiting an individual’s personal freedom.

2. Read pp. 26-38 Marin; Those Who Don’t; There Was an Old Woman…; Alicia Who Sees Mice; Darius and the Clouds; And Some More

3. Quote notes (begin):

House: Details: What happens here? What does it look like? Who lives here?

Quote:

Esperanza’s house on Mango street

Cathy’s house, the one that Meme Ortiz moves into after Cathy moves out

Louie’s house where he lives with his family and his cousin Marin

3. Reading questions:1. Who is Marin? Why is she unable to leave her house? How does she plan to change her situation? Why do

Esperanza and her friends admire her? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How do outsiders see Esperanza's neighborhood? How does Esperanza feel when she visits other neighborhoods?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why does Rosa Vargas cry every day? Why do her children misbehave? What happens to her son Angel?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How does Alicia's father treat her efforts to get an education? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. Activity option: Chapter Headings Autobiography Writing Situation: Cisneros’ chapter titles are interesting, concise,

and revealing. They grab the reader’s attention, and they are carefully crafted like all good short writing.

Writing Directions: Brainstorm a list of ten significant events in your life that helped shape your sense of identity, and title them accordingly. Then create a personalized table of contents for your own life. Make your titles interesting and unexpected, inspired by Cisneros’ style.

Presentation: Display your chapter headings like a table of contents. Think about the visual impact and model it on how chapter titles are displayed in books.

Section Four: Growth and Maturity, Sexuality 1. Pre-reading question for class discussion & personal blog post:

How is growing into a teenage body (physically, mentally and emotionally) like moving into a new house/apartment? Compare the experiences of moving into a new house/apartment to the experiences of being a teenager.

2. Read pp. 39-55: The Family of Little Feet; A Rice Sandwich; Chanclas; Hips; The First Job

3. Quote notes: Choose two sentences that you liked from section four and complete the chart:Quote Context—what is happening in the

book at this point? What does this quote mean, literally?

Relevance—How does this quote show you something about a character, theme, setting, or idea?

4. Reading questions:1. How old do you think the girls are at this point? Why? Why are the shoes dangerous?

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2. Why does Esperanza cry when the nun assumes that her house is one of the “ugly three-flats”? Does this remind you of any other incidents in the book? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why does Esperanza say that Nenny is “too many light-years away” and “in a world we don’t belong to anymore”? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think the old man acted the way he did at Esperanza’s job? What do you think she will do about it? Why? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Texting/ Email—non-direct communication Writing Situation: Esperanza make attempts to communicate in this

chapter. She tries to explain about eating lunch, fails to understand what her role at job is, and isn’t able to assert herself against her co-worker. Sometimes, text messages and emails help people communicate more clearly, but of course the setting of this novel is before this technology existed.

Writing Directions: Choose five important points throughout the novel, and write at least two text messages or emails from characters at this point in the story. Think about questions they would ask, what they would say to each other, and coming up with more information than provided in the book. Use text speech and emoticons-- emojis even.

Presentation: Present your final text/ email messages with headings, organization, and visual impact on one piece of paper.

Section Five: Gender Roles and Expectations1. Pre-reading question for class discussion & personal blog post:

Should parents/guardians raise their teenage girls in the same way that they raise their teenage boys? Why or why not? What rules should be the same for girls and boys? What should be different? Do you have brothers, sisters, cousins, etc. who are treated differently from you because of gender? Explain.

2. Read pp. 56-73: Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark; Born Bad; Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water; Geraldo No Last Name; Edna’s Ruthie; The Earl of Tennessee; Sire

3. Quote notes:Literary technique & quote as example (write the quote beneath the term)

Context—what is happening in the book at this point? What does this quote mean, literally?

Relevance—How does this quote show you something about a character, theme, setting, or idea?

Personification--

Simile--

Sensory detail--

4. Reading questions:1. Why does Esperanza say that “most likely I will go to hell and most likely I deserve to be there”?

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2. What do you think the prediction for a “home in the heart” means? How about when her aunt tells her that writing will keep her free? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What happened to Geraldo? Why do you think Marin stayed with him?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Edna’s Ruthie, The Earl of Tennessee, and Sire each introduce very different characters. Make one connection how a description of a character shows something Esperanza understands about herself.

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5. Activity option: Film Poster/ MOvie trailer

Writing Situation: This is a very visual novel, with a strong sense of setting. What would a movie adaptation look like? How would the film format adapt the vignettes and the story? What would be the main enduring images to

Writing Directions: Create a poster or a movie trailer to advertise a film version of the book. Consider who or what to have as the main image to promote the film, a tagline that advertises the movie, and how to organize the elements in your design.

Presentation: Present your final poster with visual impact on one piece of paper, or use a computer to make a movie trailer.

Section Six: Fitting in1. Pre-reading question for class discussion & personal blog

post: Describe a situation where you once felt really out of place or uncomfortable. Why did you feel this way? What does the word “outcast” mean? What kinds of attributes make people into outcasts? Why must society have outcasts?

2. Read pp. 74-87: Four Skinny Trees; No Speak English; Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut and Pineapple Juice on Tuesdays; Sally; Minerva Writes Poems; Bums in the Attic

3. Quote notes: (Section SIX)Literary technique & quote as example (write the quote beneath the term)

Context—what is happening in the book at this point? What does this quote mean, literally?

Relevance—How does this quote show you something about a character, theme, setting, or idea?

Metaphor--

Alliteration--

Repetition--

4. Reading questions:1. Explain how the trees are like Esperanza.

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2. Why does Mamacita cry when her son learns a Pepsi commercial? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Does the image of Rafaela leaning out of the window remind you of anything else from the book? Why? What connection is the author making?

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4. Do you think Esperanza admires Sally? Use details from the book to support your point. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What happens to Minerva? How does Esperanza respond? Explain how “Bums in the attic” can also be considered a response to Minerva.

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5. Activity option: Quote Poster Writing Situation: Cisnero’s writing is poetic, and many

sentences of hers can stand alone with a lot of power. Writing Directions: Choose three quotes from The

House on Mango Street that you think are important and present them in a poster form – include visuals, information about context and connections/ relevance, and what chapter it is from.

Presentation: Present your final poster with headings and visual impact on one piece of paper.

Section Seven: Escaping and limitations

1. Pre-reading question for class discussion & personal blog post:

What parts of your life would you most like to escape? Can you escape these elements at some point in your life? If so, how? If not, why not?

2. Read pp. 88-102: Beautiful and Cruel; A Smart Cookie; What Sally Said; The Monkey Garden; Red Clowns; Linoleum Roses

3. Quote notes: Choose two sentences that you liked from section seven and complete the chart:Quote Context—what is happening in the

book at this point? What does this quote mean, literally?

Relevance—How does this quote show you something about a character, theme, setting, or idea?

4. Reading questions:1. Explain how Esperanza has “begun (her) own quiet war.” Why?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. What does the title of the chapter “Smart Cookie” mean in the story? What is one way that Esperanza’s mom hasn’t fulfilled her dreams?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think Esperanza and her family don’t confront Sally’s father? What happens to her? What can she do about it? Why?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Why did Esperanza believe she needed to save Sally? At the end of the chapter, why did she decide that the garden wasn’t a good place to play anymore?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. Find and copy down a sentence that shows how uncomfortable Esperanza felt at the fair. Why was she so uncomfortable and upset?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6. In what ways is Sally’s wedding something comforting to her? In what ways does it seem like a trap?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Activity option: Mango Street Map- Writing Situation: We learn a lot about this block and the

people who live in the different houses and what happens at each one. The novel builds a map for us by describing the street.

Writing Directions: Draw a map that accurately locates at least 10 of the character’s houses, apartments, stores, etc. on Mango Street. You may also add other significant features of the neighborhood like pets, objects, trees, etc. Select one quotation from the novel for each building or feature of the street and copy it onto your map. Identify and list the characters that live in each house/apartment and the significant events that happen at each location. (i.e. Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, Esperanza and Nenny all live at 4006 Mango Street. Or, in his backyard, Meme Ortiz wins the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest and breaks both arms).

Presentation: Illustrate your map using appropriate colors and images from the novel, and the details above.

Section Eight: Finding One’s “Home”1. Pre-reading question for class discussion & personal blog post:

What inspires you most in life? What do you see your future holding for you? What obstacles might stand in your way? In what ways will you attempt to overcome them and achieve your future desires?

2. Read pp. 103-110: The Three Sisters; Alicia and I Talking on Edna’s Steps; A House of My Own; Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes

3. Quote notes:House: Details: What happens here? What does it look

like? Who lives here?Quote:

Earl’s place(p.70-71)

The Monkey Garden(p.94-98)

Sally’s new house after she gets married(p.101-102)

Esperanza’s dream house in the future(p.108)

4. Reading questions:1. What wish do you think Esperanza made? Why?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. What do you think the three sisters means by “a circle”? What is their advice to Esperanza?

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3. Why doesn’t Esperanza want to call Mango Street home? What does she mean by “Not the mayor”?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Name one important detail about Esperanza’s dream house. Explain why it is important to Esperanza._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Answer these questions from the last chapter based on your understanding of Esperanza’s decisions about her life. “What happened to that Esperanza? Where did she go with all those books and paper? Why did she march so far away?”

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5. Activity option: Final Chapter Writing Situation: The ending of this book isn’t final, and leaves

the reader with a lot of questions. What happens to Esperanza and all the other characters in the future? Do they manage to follow their dreams?

Writing Directions: Write a final chapter that tells the rest of the story. Consider setting it a period of time in the future, writing from the point of view of a different character, following up with characters we didn’t hear about, picking up where the book left off, etc.

Presentation: Write at least two pages. Consider adding a visual element.