Literary Terms
My Papa's hair is like a broom, all up in the air. Which literary device is this an example of?
Simile
Esperanza is named after this person.
Who is her great-grandmother?
A girl whose name means "Hope."
Who is Esperanza?
Works most of the time and is rarely home.
Who is Papa?
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
What is Esperanza's biggest concern in the first vignettes? What does she seem to care most about?
Where she lives/her house
Embarrassing little sister.
Who is Nenny?
The character who can sing opera
Esperanza's mother
The story takes place in this city.
What is Chicago?
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
How does Esperanza feel about her sister, Nenny?
She is too young to be her friend.
She feels like Nenny is her responsibility.
A strong-willed, smart woman who has hair that smells like bread.
Who is Mama?
The character who tells Esperanza "You are Mango Street"
Alicia
The author of The House on Mango Street.
Who is Sandra Cisneros?
Esperanza says, "I am a red balloon." Which literary device is this an example of?
Metaphor
Why does Cathy say her family needs to move?
The neighborhood is getting bad.
Esperanza's brothers
Carlos and Kiki
A wild horse of a woman, so wild that she wouldn't marry.
Who is Esperanza's great-grandmother?
A short, vivid piece of writing that means "little vine"
What is a vignette?
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
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.
Esperanza's first "friend" who moves away.
Who is Cathy?
The sisters who live across the street and are "raggedy as rats".
Who are Rachel and Lucy?
What does Esperanza plan to do at the end of the novel?
Take her books, get an education, come back to help others.