Literary Devices
Exam Instructions
Literary Terms
Mango Street Characters
House on Mango Street Plot
100

My Papa's hair is like a broom, all up in the air. Which literary device is this an example of?

Simile

100

If a question asks you to finish a sentence stem ending in because you should...

(example: Esperanza’s family moved to Mango Street because...)

Explain why

100

The woman at the window is an example of ______

A motif

100

Works most of the time and is rarely home.

Who is Papa?

100

The narrator of the story.

Esperanza

200

Esperanza describes her house as having "windows so small you'd think they were holding their breath." Which literary device is this an example of?

Personification

200

If a question asks "Why is this moment significant?"

how do you answer?

Explain how the moment is important to the story in complete sentences. 
200

What is leaving an event or idea open to multiple interpretations; often purposefully unclear

ambiguity

200

A wild horse of a woman, so wild that she wouldn't marry.

Esperanza's Great Grandmother

200

The reason Esperanza's family moved to Mango Street

because they wanted to have a house of their own

 because they had been living in rented apartments

because the pipes in there old apartment broke

300

Esperanza describes her laughter as something that comes "all of a sudden and surprised like a pile of dishes breaking" Which literary device is this an example of?

Simile

300

Name a testing strategy for multiple choice questions.

Process of Elimination

Skip and come back

300

As a girl, she dreamed about having a silent home, just to herself, the way other women dreamed of their weddings. (p. xii)

This quote from Cisneros seems similar to Esperanza's attitude. This is because the novel is ___________

Semiautobiographical

300

An old man who owns a junk store and doesn't talk much.

Who is Gil?

300

How did Esperanza feel when she moved to Mango Street? Why?

the house they moved into wasn’t like the one they imagined Esperanza was not happy with the house

400

"With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunias".  Which poetic device is this an example of?

Alliteration

400

Name two elements you should include in your response to any passage analysis (ie long response)

Example: 

  1. Directions: Choose two of the following excerpts from the introduction. Use the excerpt you choose and references to your choice of vignettes from the novel to draw the comparisons between Sandra Cisneros’s life and Esperanza Cordero’s life.

1. A paragraph with a topic sentence and conclusion

2. Complete sentences with a capital letter and punctuation

3. Evidence from the text/ passages

4. An explanation of chosen evidence.

400

What kind of narration is bolded?

That’s nice. That’s very good, she said in her tired voice. You just remember to keep writing, Esperanza. You must keep writing. It will keep you free, and I said yes, but at that time I didn’t know what she meant.

retrospective narration

400

The sisters who live across the street and are "raggedy as rats".

Who are Rachel and Lucy?

400

Where did Esperanza inherit her name?

her great grandmother

500

Esperanza says, "I am a red balloon." Which literary device is this an example of?

Metaphor

500

How many sentences should you use to respond to this 6pt question?

  1. Explain how the lines below foreshadow the ending of the book. What significant themes are developed in these lines? 



At least 4 :)

500

The image of different shoes repeats throughout the story (because it is a motif). What do shoes represent or symbolize?

Phase of life

500

Real name is Juan. Broke both his arms in the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest.

Meme Ortiz

500

Who is speaking here?

That’s nice. That’s very good, she said in her tired voice. You just remember to keep writing, Esperanza. You must keep writing. It will keep you free, and I said yes, but at that time I didn’t know what she meant.

Aunt Lupe/ Esperanza

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