Characters
The narrator and main character of the book.
Who is Esperanza?
The first chapter of the book
What is "The House on Mango Street"?
The number of places where the Cordero family has lived before Mango Street
What is three?
These shoes represent womanhood
What are (high) heels?
Esperanza's younger sister
Who is Nenny?
The chapter where we get background information from another character (not Esperanza)
What is "Cathy Queen of Cats"?
True or false: Esperanza is mostly wary (afraid) of hanging out with boys
What is true?
Esperanza's name means this
What is hope?
An older role model that teaches Esperanza about catching boys
Who is Marin?
What is "The Family of Little Feet"?
Esperanza is conflicted with two main ideas in the book
What are romance and independence?
When Esperanza looks at clouds with Darius, this is what they talk about
What is the clouds represent freedom or hope?
Esperanza's eventual "best friend" that is married by the end of the book
Who is Sally?
The chapter where Esperanza gets more confident in her body and dancing
What is "Chancels"?
Towards the end of the book, this person is Esperanza's main supporter of her independence
Who is Mrs. Cordero (her mother)?
This is how Esperanza and the four skinny trees are alike
What is they both don't belong where they are, but they have strong roots (big goals)?
Esperanza notices that her father is upset because this relative died
Who is Esperanza's grandfather (Mr. Cordero's father)?
Where we get the full story of the Vargas kids
What is "There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn’t Know What to Do"?
Describe the plot of "The Earl of Tennessee"
A man named Earl lives in the neighborhood. He works the nightshift and has a secretive wife. No one can agree on what the wife really looks like.
Explain the meaning of the chapter "The Monkey Garden"
The garden used to be a childhood place of fun. Now, Esperanza realizes that it isn't what it used to be because she is growing up. Ultimately, the chapter represents her understanding of socially transitioning to young adulthood from adolescence.