TAKE HOME QUESTION

The House on Mango Street”
1.Where did the narrator live before she moved to The House on Mango Street?
2.How were her previous homes different?
3.In what kind of house would she like to live?
"Hairs"
1.Who are the members of Esperanza's family?
"My Name"
1.After whom was Esperanza named?
2.What does her namesake's story tell you about the status of women in Mexican society?

"Cathy Queen of Cats"
1.Why is Cathy's family about to move?
"Our Good Day"
1.How does Esperanza make friends with Lucy and Rachel?
2.What makes them better friends than Cathy?
3.What did Esperanza buy?
4.How did she go about buying it?

"Marin"
1.Who is Marin?
2.Why is she unable to leave her house?
3.How does she plan to change her situation?
4.Why do Esperanza and her friends admire her?
5.Where is Marin going in a year? Why?

"Those Who Don't"
1.How do outsiders see Esperanza's neighborhood?
2.How does Esperanza feel when she visits other neighborhoods?

"There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do"
1.Why does Rosa Vargas cry every day?
2.What does Esperanza say the Vargas children don’t have?




“Alicia Who Sees Mice”
1) In "Alicia Who Sees Mice," do you think the mice really exist? Write about that part of the story that conveniences you that the mice do or do not exist.
2) What happened to Alicia's mother and what did Alicia inherit?

“Darius and the Clouds”

1) In "Darius and the Clouds," Esperanza writes,” you can never have too much sky." In your own words, write about Esperanza's impression of the sky.
2) How does Esperanza describe Darius?
3) Darius said something wise. What did he say?

“And Some More”
1.) In "And Some More," Rachel says, "...clouds got at least ten different names." How does Darius's heavenly view of the clouds differ from Rachel's earthly view of the clouds?

“The Family of Little Feet”
1) The mother's feet are described as polite. What is implied in Esperanza's comment about "polite feet?"

2) Rachel teaches Lucy and Esperanza "to walk down to the corner so that the shoes talk back to you with every step." What does Rachel's lesson teach Lucy and Esperanza?

3) What is Mr. Benny's concern for Rachel, Lucy, & Esperanza and what warning does he give to them?

4) What proposition does the Bum man offer Rachel?
“A Rice Sandwich”

1) What is a canteen?
2) Why did Esperanza's mother object to Esperanza's wish?
3) How did Esperanza persuade her mother to grant her the special wish?
4) How did Esperanza persuade Sister Superior to give her what she wanted?
“Chanclas”
In "Chanclas" (shoes) Esperanza is overly concerned about her shoes.


1) What did Mama forget to buy Esperanza?
2) Was being celebrated? . Why
3) While dancing, Esperanza forgot about something. What was it?
In "Hips," Esperanza has some interesting views.

1) What does Esperanza say hips are good for?
­2) What does Lucy say hips are good for?
3) What does Nenny say about hips?
In "The First Job," Esperanza learned something new.

4) Who found Esperanza her first job
5) Describe Esperanza's work at her first job?
6) How did Esperanza learn her new job?

In "Papa... Wakes Up," something very sad happens.

7) Esperanza's papa mourns the death of whom?
8) What role does Esperanza play in this scenario (what does she do
“Born Bad”

1) In “Born Bad," what did Esperanza's mother say about her birthday?
2) With reference to Aunt Luce what did, Esperanza do that was shameful
3) What did Esperanza share with Aunt Lupe?
4) After Aunt Lupe’s death Esperanza began to what

In “Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water,” mysteries unfold.

5) Who is Elenita?
6) What was Esperanza’s palm reading message?
7) In "Edna's Ruthie, how is Ruthie related to Edna? What is Ruthie's problem?

“The Earl of Tennessee”

1) In "The Earl of Tennessee, " where does Earl live?
2) Does Earl work? When does he work?
3) What happens when Earl opens the door where he lives?
4) Earl's pets do not walk like ordinary animals. How does Earl's pet act in public?
6) Earl speaks with a “ _____________________”.
“SIZE”


1.)In "Sire," Esperanza walked passed Sire's house. What were Sire and his friends doing?
2)Other girls feared Sire and his friends. What do other girls do to avoid Sire and his friends?
3)What did Esperanza do to prove that she did not fear Sire?
4) Esperanza calls Sire a name. What name does she call him?
5) What is Sire's girlfriend's name?
6) Describe Sire's girlfriend?
7) What does Esperanza's mama say about girls like Sire's girlfriend?
8) Esperanza feels as though she is going to explode. Why?
“Four Skinny Trees”

1) In "Four Skinny Trees," how does Esperanza describe the trees?


2) What does Esperanza say about the strength of the trees and the tree's roots?

“No Speak English”
Complete the Following:

1) In "No Speak English," who is the main character in the story?
2) How does Esperanza describe the main character?
3) The main character is seldom seen after her arrival. Why?

4) What did Esperanza's father eat when he first arrived in the US ? Why?

5) Why does the man get disgusted with the main character?

6) What does the man want the main character to do?
7) What does the main character not want the little boy to do?
Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut…Juice….”

1) In "Rafaela Who Drinks …Papaya Juice...” what happens to her in the story?
2) Where does Rafaela wish she could go?
3) Why can't Rafaela go to the store for herself?
“Sally”

1) In "Sally," who is Sally?
2) What does Sally's father say about being beautiful?
3) What does Esperanza say about Sally's religion?
4) Sally has to go straight home after school. Esperanza says that Sally becomes different. Describe how Sally is different?

Minerva”

1) In "Minerva," how is she described?
2) What is Minerva's big problem?
3) What lesson does Minerva learn?
“Bums in the Attic”
1) In "Bums in the Attic," what kind of house does Esperanza want for herself?
2) Esperanza says, "people who live on hills sleep close to the stars, and they forget those of us who live too much on earth." What does this statement mean?
3) What will Esperanza do when she become a homeowner?