Sections 1-3
How do we start the book?
The narrator and her family move into a house on Mango Street
What's the narrator's name?
Esperanza
Who owns "the junk store" the narrator and her sister visit?
Gil; a black man
Who is Marin?
Babysitter for Meme Ortiz' family, an influence on the narrator, big sister
What are some topics/themes addressed so far in THOMS?
Identity, racism, growing up, community, friendship
We know the narrator's name from the beginning
True or false?
False
Who did the narrator inherit their name from?
Great-grandmother
Who moves in FIRST to Cathy's house?
Meme Ortiz and his family
What does Marin want?
She wants someone to take her away to a better life
How do we know the age of the narrator?
Because of the way she talks and tells the story "innocently"
How many people live with the narrator and who are they? (names)
6: Mom, dad, Nenny, Kiki, Carlos, narrator
Who is the narrator's first friend and for how long?
Cathy; until she moves out on Tuesday
Who lives with Meme Ortiz?
His family; then a Puerto Rican family
What does the fact that Louie's other cousin gets arrested imply about him?
He has done illegal/criminal things to obtain his nice car
Why are the chapters called "vignettes"?
The story is non-linear, some chapters are just background information, fragments
What does the narrator reveal in the chapter "Hairs"?
She wants to have a best friend
Why do we assume that the narrator likes Rachel and Lucy better than Cathy?
They are like her (race), they do not laugh at her name
What does the narrator say about her and her sister in "Laughter"?
They don't look alike but they are alike
What topics does the chapter "Those Who Don't" addresses?
Racism, outsiders
What is the narrator's tone?
Hopeful but cynical, innocent, childish, sometimes sad, maybe playful
The narrator describes her mom's hair in a nice and tender way;loves her.
Book's structure
What is the implication of Cathy's character?
She's moving out because neighborhood is getting bad, she's white, undertones of racism
What is the chapter "Meme Ortiz" creating for the setting?
What does the chapter "Those Who Don't" explain about the narrator's feelings about the neighborhood?
Outsiders are afraid because they don't know any better, the narrator would also feel scared if she was in a different place with different people
Describe the narrator's style of writing
Poetic, she uses a lot of figurative language and imagery