Literary Terms
Misc. House on Mango Street
House on Mango Street Characters
More Mango Street Characters
House on Mango Street Background
100

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

Simile

100

Esperanza is named after this person.

Who is her great-grandmother?

100

12 year old whose name means "Hope."

Who is Esperanza?

100

Works most of the time and is rarely home.

Who is Papa?

100
The narrator of the story.
Who is Esperanza?
200

Esperanza says her name IS "the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday mornings when he is shaving..." Which literary device is this an example of?

Metaphor

200

What is Esperanza's biggest concern in the first vignettes? What does she seem to care most about?

Where she lives/her house

200

Embarrassing little sister.

Who is Nenny?

200

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

Who is Meme Ortiz?

200

The story takes place in this city.

What is Chicago?

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

How does Esperanza feel about her sister, Nenny?

She is too young to be her friend.

She feels like Nenny is her responsibility.

300

Carlos and Kiki.

Who are Esperanza's younger brothers?

300

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

Who is Gil?

300

The author of The House on Mango Street.

Who is Sandra Cisneros?

400

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

Metaphor

400

Why does Cathy say her family needs to move?

The neighborhood is getting bad.

400

Esperanza's first "friend" who moves away.

Who is Cathy?

400

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

Who are Rachel and Lucy?

400

A term used to describe Mexican-American origins or heritage

What is Chicana?

500

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

500

Esperanza says that she has inherited her great-grandmother's name, but why doesn't she want to be like her great-grandmother?

Her great-grandmother never did all the things she dreamed of. She sat by the window each day, probably regretting the life that she lived.

500

A strong-willed, smart woman who has hair that smells like bread.

Who is Mama?

500

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

Who is Esperanza's great-grandmother?

500

The year that The House on Mango Street was published.

What is 1984?

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