Literary Terms
A topic in the text that the author develops a viewpoint about.
What is theme?
Her family is from Mexico.
Where is Esperanza from?
She is Sandra Cisneros.
What is the author’s name?
The chapter about home.
What is the theme of “The House on Mango Street”?
“I am tired of looking at what we can’t have.”
Something that represents an idea.
What is symbolism?
She lives in Chicago, Illinois
Where does Esperanza live now?
She was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Where was the author born?
The chapter about identity.
What is the theme of “My Name”?
“When you leave you must remember to come back for the others. A circle, understand?”
The arrangement of two or more ideas side-by-side.
What is juxtaposition?
This translates to mean hope.
What does Esperanza mean in Spanish?
Imagistic style of writing.
What is the author’s known style of writing?
The chapter about growing up, or puberty.
What is the theme of “Hips”?
“She says she is in love, but I think she did it to escape.”
What is Sally's marriage?
The German word for coming-of-age.
What is a bildungsroman?
The Four Skinny Trees.
What is one symbol of Esperanza’s ‘deep-rooted’ culture?
A las Mujeres
(To the Women)
To whom is The House on Mango Street dedicated?
The chapter about waiting for someone to make your life perfect.
What is the theme of “Marin”?
“I have begun my own quiet war.”
What is Esperanza's fight against machismo?
The act of expressing an opinion on the nature of society.
What is social commentary?
To raise the children.
What is one role of women in Latino society as shown in the novel?
The PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature.
What is one award that the author has won?
Belonging, heritage, and home.
What are the three themes repeated throughout the end of the novel?
“They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out.”
What is Esperanza's desire to return after achieving success?