Characters & Names
Which main character's name means "hope" in English?
Esperanza.
In Cathy Queen of Cats, why does Cathy say her family has to move away next Tuesday?
She claims the neighborhood is "getting bad" because people like Esperanza are moving in.
What is a comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Papa's hair is like a broom")?
A simile.
What is the first sentence of a paragraph that states the main idea?
A topic sentence.
In Boys & Girls, Esperanza compares herself to a "red balloon." What is the "anchor" holding the balloon down?
Her responsibility to take care of her younger sister, Nenny.
Who is Esperanza's younger sister, described as "too young to be my friend"?
Nenny.
In the very first chapter, a nun from her school points to Esperanza's broken house. What did the nun say that made Esperanza feel ashamed?
You live there?"
What is a direct comparison that does NOT use "like" or "as" (e.g., "I am a red balloon")?
A metaphor.
What do we call the quotes, facts, or examples from the book that prove your main point?
Supporting details / Evidence.
In My Name, Esperanza does not like her name. What does she want to do to her name to change her identity?
She wants to baptize herself under a new name (like Zeze the X).
Which neighbor owns many cats and claims to be related to the Queen of France?
Cathy.
In Marin, Marin is a young woman who has to stay inside the house most of the time. What is one reason why she is trapped inside?
She has to babysit Louie's sisters / Her family is very strict / She is not allowed out.
In the chapter "Hairs", what warm food does Mama's hair smell like?
Bread.
What is the final sentence of a paragraph that summarizes the main point?
A concluding sentence.
In Four Skinny Trees, why does Esperanza admire the trees? What do they do even though they live in hard concrete?
They keep growing / They never give up / They survive in a tough place.
What happened later when Meme Ortiz moved into Cathy's house and won a Tarzan jumping contest?
He broke both arms.
In Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin, a cousin drives a beautiful, expensive yellow car. What happens at the end of that short, exciting ride?
He crashes into a lamppost and gets arrested by the police.
What is it called when you give human qualities to non-human things (e.g., "windows holding their breath")?
Personification.
What do we call words like "First," "In addition," and "Finally" that connect ideas?
Transition words.
In A House of My Own, describe what Esperanza’s dream house feels like. Why does she want it so badly?
It is quiet; it is clean; it is a place where she can write; nobody can boss her around.
In the chapter Meme Ortiz, Meme has a big, clumsy dog. What is special or unusual about this dog's name?
It has two names—one in English and one in Spanish.
Describe one way Esperanza’s real house on Mango Street is different from the "dream house" her parents always talked about.
It is small and red; it has no front yard; it only has one bedroom; the windows are small.
In Four Skinny Trees, the narrator says the trees have "skinny necks and pointy elbows." What literary device is used here?
Personification.
How can you fix this fragment into a complete topic sentence: "The house on Mango Street"?
“The house on Mango Street represents Esperanza's feelings of shame.”
In the final chapter Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes, Esperanza says she will leave Mango Street one day. Why does she promise to come back?
For the ones she left behind / For the ones who cannot leave or get out.