Characters
This girl is the main character of the story.
Who is Esperanza?
This story begins on a ranch in this country.
What is Mexico?
Esperanza and Papa use this to feel the land's heartbeat.
What is a stick?
This Spanish word means “hope.”
What is Esperanza?
Esperanza feels this emotion when Papa does not come home.
What is worry?
He is Esperanza's kind and hardworking father.
Who is Papa (Sixto Ortega)?
Papa and Esperanza walk through these fields while holding hands to feel the earth.
What is the grape vineyards?
This happens to Papa that changes Esperanza's life forever.
What is Papa killed by the bandits?
A large farm or estate, like the Ortegas’, is called this in Spanish.
What is a rancho?
Mama shows this quality when she decides to move to California.
What is bravery (or courage)?
This woman takes care of Esperanza and is like a grandmother figure.
Who is Abuelita?
In the first chapter, Papa explains that the earth's heartbeat can be felt by lying on this?
What is the ground (land)?
After Papa dies, the uncles want Mama to do this.
What is marry Tio Luis?
Esperanza learns about the land’s heartbeat through this tradition.
What is listening to the earth (la tierra)?
The burning of the house represents this big change in Esperanza’s life.
What is loss (or starting over)?
These two brothers are unkind and want to take over the ranch.
Who is Tio Luis and Tio Marco?
Esperanza's family's ranch is called this.
What is El Rancho de las Rosas?
When Mama refuses, the uncles do this terrible act.
What is they burn down the house/ ranch?
A wealthy landowner in Mexico during this time was sometimes called this.
What is a patrón?
Abuelita’s advice about the blanket teaches Esperanza this lesson.
What is patience and hope?
This character is Esperanza's best friend.
Who is Marisol?
After tragedy strikes, Mama decides they must travel here.
Where is California (The United States)?
Esperanza must leave behind this important person when they flee.
Who is Abuelita?
The quilt Abuelita is making is made up of these smaller pieces.
What are squares or patches?
One important theme in the first chapters is this—life can change in a single moment.
What is change (or loss and resilience)?