Beautiful & Cruel/A Smart Cookie
What are some similarities between these two chapters?
What We Thought: We think they are both talking about insecurities. Her mother's are about what career path she could've chosen and Esperanza's are about the way she looks and the way she acts.
What is the relationship between Sally and her father?
What We Thought: We think there is an abusive relationship between Sally and her Father because she comes to school with bruises.
What type of figurative language is used in this chapter? Give some examples.
What We Thought: Similes, metaphors, and imagery are used a lot during this vignette.
What do Red Clowns represent?
What We Thought: We think the red clowns are referring to the clowns at the carnival. She stated that they were watching her when she was in this terrible situation.
What did Sally want to escape from when getting married?
What We Thought: We think she wanted to escape her father because of the way he treated her.
A Smart Cookie: If Esperanza’s mom did not drop out of school what do you think her life would be like right now?
What We Thought: We think she would have a better job and probably a better financial status. She might be happier and more proud of herself.
Do you think people believe Sally when she says she fell?
What We Thought: We don't think people believe her. Esperanza doesn't. In the texts it states "But who believes her."
Do you think the monkey that guarded the garden was real or a metaphor? Why?
What We Thought: We think it was real because the texts says things like "it flashed its yellow teeth". The monkey was given description making it seem like it was an actual monkey. Not a metaphor.
What do you think happened in this chapter?
What We Thought: We think that she was assaulted by the boys at the carnival.
Do you think marrying young had a positive or negative effect on Sally's life?
What We Thought: We think it had a negative impact on her life because getting married took away lots of her freedom.
Beautiful and Cruel: Does Esperanza want to be feminine like the women in the movies?
What We Thought: No. Esperanza said she's "starting her own silent war." and she's going to act like a man. She won't put up her plate of push in her chair.
Why did Sally go back willingly?
What We Thought: Sally went back with her father willingly because he pressured her into feeling bad. He came to her begging and crying.
Why do you think Tito's mother didn't help Esperanza stop the boys from kissing her?
What We Thought: We think Tito's mom thought that the situation wasn't that extreme so she didn't care. She's probably tired of the things Tito's doing and just gave up on teaching him what's right and wrong.
Why didn't Sally help Esperanza?
What We Thought: We thing Sally didn't help Esperanza because "the big boy" took her away and she didn't realize she was leaving Esperanza in a dangerous situation.
Do you think Sally married the guy that took her away at the carnival?
What We Thought: We think yes because both characters want control over Sally and her life.
Beautiful and Cruel: What do you think the meaning of “I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and the chain.” is?
What We Thought: Esperanza doesn't want to wait for a man to come and swoop her off her feet.
How do you think the father’s sisters made the family ashamed?
What We Thought: We think the father's sisters made the family ashamed because they ran off to be with boys instead of staying with their family and helping them out.
What might cause Esperanza to try to commit suicide?
What We Thought: We think Esperanza wanted to commit suicide because her friends weren't really interested in doing the things she liked to do. This made them slowly split apart.
If Sally was in this situation, do you think Esperanza would help her? Why or why not?
What We Thought: We think Esperanza would help Sally because it seems like she cares about her. Sally is also one of Esperanza's only friends. It seems like she thinks of Sally as her role model.
Do you think Sally and Esperanza’s great grandmother were in the same situation? Explain
What We Thought: We think so because they both seemed trapped and controlled by their husbands.
A Smart Cookie: How does Esperanza's mother's situation connect to Ruthie's situation?
What We Thought: Ruthie and Esperanza's mother both had the choice to do something with their talents. Neither of them did and they both regret it now.
Do you think Sally's father abuses Sally because his father abused him?
What We Thought: We think Sally's father abuses Sally because he is worried that she might run off like his sisters. He's afraid of what she might possibly do.
Why did Sally seem mad after Esperanza tried to protect her?
What We Thought: We think Sally seemed mad because she was looking forward to kissing the boys. She didn't want Esperanza to interrupt them.
How do you think this event will impact Esperanza’s future?
What We Thought: We think it might ruin Sally and Esperanza's relationship. It might also make Esperanza more aware of the type of world she is living in.
Was Sally forced to marry by her husband, was she actually in love, or was it just a way to try to escape her father?
What We Thought: We think Sally got married to escape her father. She needed to leave so she wouldn't get abused anymore.