Esperanza
This foretells that a bad omen will befall Esperanza.
What is a thorn from a rose?
Miguel and Alfonso hide Esperanza in this when they left Aguascalientes.
What are guavas in the wagon? (p. 60)
This is a reason the strikers are protesting.
What is protesting unfair treatment of immigrants?
This Spanish word translates to "ghost".
What is fantasma? (p. 239)
Esperanza loses this character, and it causes her great grief.
Who is Papa? (p. 20)
Esperanza gives this to Isabel to symbolize moving on from her childhood.
What is her doll from Papa?
Some people were turned away from coming to the US because they did not have this.
What are immigration papers?
The strike occurs during this time period.
What is the Great Depression?
Esperanza argues that in Mexico, her and this character stand on "different sides of the river".
Who is Miguel? (p. 18)
This is Miguel's dream job.
What is working on the railroad?
Esperanza keeps up with this tradition at the end of the novel.
What is planting roses?
Esperanza reflects on this special memory with Papa and Miguel from when she was a child. Miguel earned this reward for protecting Eperanza's family from a potential break-in.
What is a train ride? (p.63)
This character was making a profit off of people's "bad manners" since some store owners would only sell to white people
Who was Mr. Yakota?
The Spanish translation is: Aquel que hoy se cae, se levantará mañana
What is: He who falls today, rises tomorrow"?
Mama suffers from this illness after spending a few months in California.
What is Valley Fever?
Esperanza shows her quick thinking to use rice water when this happens.
What is the result of the babies eating the plums?
This character took all of Esperanza's money orders to deliver Abuelita to California.
Who was Miguel? (p. 234, 236-239)
This group was responsible for sweeping any of the strikers during the season of asparagus.
Who is La Migra? (p.207)
This form of figurative language represents how "Life has ups and downs like the stitches in a blanket"
What is a simile/metaphor?
The loss of this accelerates this burning reason for Esperanza to leave for California
What is the fire at Rancho de Las Rosas?
This word in Spanish also represents hope and resilience throughout the whole novel.
What is Esparanza?
This character explained to Esperanza that now they were peasants too-they needed to be respectful of those who cared for them because they were now poor too.
Who is Mama?
This theme demonstrates the challenges between those in the US and the migrants who came to live and work in California
What is discrimination?
This theme is symbolism by the changes of crops throughout the year.
What is the cycle of life and renewal?
What is her paycheck? (Money order acceptable)