Chapter 1 & The House
What does Esperanza initially believe her family will finally have when they move?
What is a house they can be proud of / a real home of their own?
What does Esperanza want that she currently does not have?
What is a best friend?
What is the meaning of Esperanza's name?
What is "hope?"
When an author shows what a character does, says, thinks, or feels to help us understand that character.
What is characterization?
If a narrator describes a situation using words such as lonely, disappointing, and hopeless, what are you analyzing when you identify the feeling created for the reader?
What is mood?
What does the new house reveal about Esperanza's family's financial situation?
What is they have limited money and cannot afford the home they imagined?
What does Esperanza notice about the relationship between boys and girls in her family?
What is they live in separate worlds and do not interact openly?
Why does Esperanza have mixed feelings about the meaning and sound of her name?
What is she feels that the name represents both hope and the difficult history connected to her great-grandmother?
Esperanza describes her new house as disappointing and says it is not the “real house” she imagined. What does this reveal about Esperanza?
What is she has expectations for her future and feels disappointed when reality does not match them?
If an author uses words that reveal their attitude toward a subject, what are you analyzing?
What is tone?
When the nun reacts negatively to Esperanza's home, what does Esperanza begin to feel about where she lives?
What is embarrassed / ashamed / self-conscious/ disheartened?
Esperanza compares herself to something that can fly but is held down. What does this comparison suggest?
What is she feels trapped, lonely, or unable to fully become herself?
How does the comparison of Esperanza's name to “silver” affect the way the name is presented?
What is itt gives the name a softer, more positive connotation in Spanish?
Marin dreams about getting a job, wearing beautiful clothes, meeting a man, and moving into a big house. What does this reveal about Marin's characterization?
What is she is motivated by the possibility of a different life?
In the sentence, “She was as quiet as a mouse,” what literary device is being used?
What is a simile?
Which tone best describes Esperanza's description of the house: hopeful, disappointed, or celebratory?
What is disappointed?
How does Esperanza's description of Nenny contribute to our understanding of their relationship?
What is Esperanza cares about Nenny but feels that Nenny cannot replace the kind of friend she wants?
What does the story of Esperanza's great-grandmother help readers understand about Esperanza's fears for her own future?
What is she fears being trapped in a life where she has little control over her choices?
Esperanza says she has inherited her Great-Grandmother's name, but she does not want to inherit her “place by the window.” What does this reveal about Esperanza?
What is she wants to create a different future for herself instead of accepting the same limitations?
When writing a text-analysis paragraph, why is it important to explain your evidence instead of simply inserting a quote?
What is to explain how the evidence supports the central idea/claim and demonstrates the writing strategy?
How does the description of the house contribute to Esperanza's characterization?
What is Esperanza is sensitive and disappointed by the gap between what she hoped for and her reality?
What does Esperanza's desire for a best friend reveal about her character?
What is she is lonely and wants connection, independence, and someone who understands her?
Why is the idea of choosing a new name important to Esperanza?
What is she wants to create an identity that better represents who she believes she really is?
BONUS (RANDOM) Who is the author of this book?
Who is Sandra Cisneros?
What type of conflict is this? "A character struggles against another character."
What is external conflict? (person vs. person/ man vs. man/ character vs. character)