Important Terms
the underlying message, universal idea or lesson in literature
What is theme.
Comparison using "like" or "as"
What is a simile
Esperanza's younger sister.
Who is Nenny.
The street Esperanza and her family move to at the beginning of the novel.
What is Mango Street.
This person only knows 3 phrases in English.
Who is Mamacita.
the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities
What is symbolism.
Comparison between two unlike things. Does NOT use "like" or "as"
What is a metaphor.
These two sisters became Esperanza's friend after they bought a bike together.
Who are Rachel and Lucy.
The meaning of Esperanza's name.
What is hope.
Reason behind Sally's young marriage.
What is to escape her father.
a brief episode that focuses on one moment
what is a vignette
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
What is alliteration.
This person goes to university and serves as a role model for Esperanza.
Who is Alicia.
These people will be allowed to live in Esperanza's attic.
Who are bums.
To walk with confidence.
What is to strut.
The story ends where it began, but the character has undergone a transformation.
What is a cyclical narrative
Giving human qualities to an object, animal or abstraction.
What is personification.
This person can only be Esperanza's friend until Tuesday because her family is moving since the neighborhood is going bad.
Who is Cathy.
The location where Esperanza was sexually assaulted.
What is a carnival.
Esperanza's first job was here.
What is a photo-finishers.
A novel depicting someone’s growth from childhood to maturity.
What is a bildungsroman.
purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, movie, or to another work of literature.
What is an allusion.
This is one woman who does not sit by the window. She also dropped out of school because she didn't have nice clothes.
Who is Esperanza's mother.
This is the way Esperanza describes the clouds in "And some More" and hips in "Hips"
What is scientifically.
This is an example of what 2 types of figurative language.
"Rafaela leans out the window and leans on her elbow and dreams her hair is like Rapunzel's.
What is a simile and allusion.