Literary Terms
The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.
What is theme?
Chicago
Where is Esperanza from?
Sandra Cisneros
What is the author's name?
It is about her old and new house and what she wished it was and about her family.
What is the theme of “The House on Mango Street”?
She wanted to be more than what she already was. She wanted to be more like the people around her.
“I am tired of looking at what we can’t have.”
An action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value.
What is symbolism?
Mango Street, Chicago
Where does Esperanza live now?
Chicago
Where was the author born?
It is about the past of her name and how she wished she was able to change it to something different.
What is the theme of “My Name”?
They want her to come back to her family without hesitation and without forgetting them.
“When you leave you must remember to come back for the others. A circle, understand?”
The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
What is juxtaposition?
What does Esperanza mean in Spanish?
Vignettes
What is the author’s known style of writing?
It’s about them growing up and becoming a woman.
What is the theme of “Hips”?
Girls felt like they needed to marry higher class men to get out of the rough life they lived.
“She says she is in love, but I think she did it to escape.”
A bildungsroman is a story of the growing up of a sensitive person, who looks for answers to his questions through different experiences.
What is bildungsroman?
Her home life
What is one symbol of Esperanza's "deep-rooted" culture?
Her mother
To whom is The House on Mango Street dedicated?
Growing up and getting married either to someone you like or someone who has money.
What is the theme of “Marin”?
She feels as if she is fighting herself and contradicting herself.
“I have begun my own quiet war.”
The act of using rhetorical means to provide commentary on issues in a society.
What is social commentary?
To stay at home and make food for the family.
What is one role of women in Latino society as shown in the novel?
American Book award
What is one award that the author has won?
Her growing up, and what she wants in life.
What are the three themes repeated throughout the end of the novel?
If she lives, its so that she can have a better life than her parents could give her. She wants to live the life her parents could not give to her.
“They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind.
For the ones who cannot out.”