Characters
Symbols
Mango Street
Read Between the Lines
Miscellaneous
100
These two girls live across the street from Esperanza and become her best friends.
Who are Lucy and Rachel?
100

Esperanza's feelings of shame and embarrassment.

What is a house?

100
This is what the Vargas kids don't have.
What is a father?
100
This is the reason why Esperanza gives us a description about the different hair.
What is to tell the reader about the different personalities of her family members?
100
This is the author of the novel.
Who is Sandra Cisneros?
200
This is Esperanza's younger sister.
Who is Nenny?
200

Esperanza's longing for a sense of community. 

What is a house?

200
This is the city where the novel takes place.
What is Chicago.
200
This is why Cathy moves away from Mango Street.
What is because all of the Mexican people are moving into the neighborhood?
200
This is the English translation of Esperanza's name.
What is hope.
300
This male character works very hard and appears to be less controlling of the women in his life than other male characters.
Who is Esperanza's father, Papa?
300

Esperanza feels grown up when she starts to be noticed by men in her neighbourhood.

What are shoes?

300
Why did Esperanza's family have to leave the flat on Loomis?
What is because the water did not work?
300
This is why Esperanza admires Meme.
What is because he has two names?
300
This is where Esperanza wishes she could eat a rice sandwich.
What is in the canteen.
400
This character has had to take over the role of the female head of household after her mother died. She tends a local university and aspires to work hard in order to better herself.
Who is Alicia?
400

Women are visible, but trapped behind glass that they can not break.

What is a window?

400
This is the color of Esperanza's house.
What is red?
400
This is why Esperanza enjoys dancing with her Uncle Nacho.
What is because she feels pretty and forgets about her ugly shoes?
400
This is where Esperanza will house the bums.
What is in the attic of her home?
500
This is the character that is old, blind, and very sick who listens to Esperanza's poetry and encourages Esperanza to keep writing.
Who is Aunt Lupe?
500

Female characters try to make their lives better by describing the world with beautiful language.

What is poetry?

500
There are three things that Esperanza wants in a new house.
What is 1. To own it 2. running water 3. good pipes 4. real stairs 5. basement 6. 3 bathrooms 7. white house 8. big yard ?
500
This is why Geraldo dies in the hospital.
What is because the surgeon did not value him enough as a person to get to the hospital quickly?
500
This was Esperanza's first job.
What is a worker at Peter Pan Photo Finishers?
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