Vignette Titles
This is the title of the first vignette, where Esperanza describes her new home.
What is The House on Mango Street?
This is the name of Esperanza’s younger sister, who Esperanza is responsible for.
Who is Nenny?
The house on Mango Street has broken bricks and this color of paint.
What is red?
In My Name, Esperanza feels like her name is a symbol of this theme.
What is identity?
"We didn't always live on Mango Street." Who says this?
Who is Esperanza?
In this vignette, Esperanza talks about feeling shame for her old house when a nun points to it.
What is A Rice Sandwich?
This is the name of the neighbor boy who is brave enough to confront the sky in "Darius & the Clouds."
Who is Darius?
In the vignette Our Good Day, Esperanza buys this to gain two new friends.
What is a bike?
In Boys & Girls, Esperanza talks about how boys and girls live in different worlds, touching on this theme.
What is gender roles?
"In English, my name means hope. In Spanish, it means too many letters." What does Esperanza mean in Spanish?
What is hope?
This vignette is where Esperanza compares herself to a balloon tied to an anchor.
What is Boys & Girls?
This character is a young boy who wants to run away from home but gets in trouble for doing so.
Who is Meme Ortiz?
In My Name, Esperanza explains that her name means this in Spanish.
What is hope?
In Cathy Queen of Cats, Cathy represents this theme, as she and her family plan to move out when new families move in.
What is racism/classism?
"You can never have too much sky." Which character says this in Darius & the Clouds?
Who is Darius?
This vignette introduces us to Esperanza’s name and its meaning.
What is My Name?
This girl in the story dreams of leaving Mango Street but is told she has to wait for a man to do it.
Who is Marin?
The "clouds" in Darius & the Clouds symbolize this for Esperanza and her friends.
What is imagination/escape?
Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin highlights this theme, as Louie's cousin steals a car to have a taste of wealth.
What is poverty and dreams of a better life?
"But I know how those things go." This character says this about her hopes and dreams of leaving Mango Street.
Who is Marin?
This vignette is about a girl named Marin who dreams of being rescued by a man.
What is Marin?
This character lives in the basement of Meme Ortiz’s house and takes care of his sick mother.
Who is Louie?
The house Esperanza dreams of in The House on Mango Street symbolizes this.
What is independence/freedom?
In Darius & the Clouds, the clouds represent this theme, showing how imagination helps the children escape their reality.
What is hope/imagination as escape?
"They are wearing shiny Sunday shoes without socks. It makes their bald ankles all red, but I like them." Who is Esperanza describing?
Who are Lucy and Rachel?