The House on Mango Street
English
Spanish
Before you begin reading...take a few moments to fill out the pre-reading on the Anticipation Guide.
Essential questions:
Where does our sense of identity come from?
How do environments shape who we become?
What kind of courage is required in order to overcome obstacles to future dreams?
Overview:
For the next few weeks we
will be reading, studying and analyzing Sandra Cisneros’ The
House on Mango Street. The novel is
made up of 44 vignettes following Esperanza, a Mexican-American young woman who
just moved with her family to Mango Street. Since the stories don’t really follow each
other chronologically, we are going to read the novel in the thematic sections
outlined for you below:
Section One: Self Definition and Identity
Pre-reading question: 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?
Read pp. 3-11 The House on Mango Street; Hairs;
Boys and Girls; My Name
Select three of the following sections to read and summarize (one paragraph for each section):
Section Two:
Friendship, Neighborhood, Home
Pre-reading
question: 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?
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
Section Three:
Freedom and Entrapment
Pre-reading question: 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.
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
Section Four:
Growth and Maturity, Sexuality
Pre-reading question: 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.
Read pp. 39-55:
The Family of Little Feet; A Rice Sandwich; Chanclas; Hips; The
First Job
Section Five:
Gender Roles and Expectations
Pre-reading question: 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.
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
Section Six:
Fitting in
Pre-reading question: 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?
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
Section Seven: Individualism
Pre-reading question: 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?
Read pp. 88-102:
Beautiful and Cruel; A Smart Cookie; What Sally Said; The Monkey
Garden; Red Clowns; Linoleum Roses
Section Eight:
Finding One’s “Home”
Pre-reading question: 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?
Read pp. 103-110:
The Three Sisters; Alicia and I Talking on Edna’s Steps; A House of
My Own; Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes