Literary Devices/ Writing Strategies
a general topic or idea that is explored through a literary work
What is theme?
not qualified or suited for a purpose
What is incompetent?
Who becomes Esperanza's best friend ?
Sally
Sire
Describe Esperanza's house.
Esperanza's house is red, falling apart, and only has one bathroom. Her house is on Mango Street.
another term for literary device
What is writing strategy?
expressing or involving careful evaluation and judgment
What is critical?
How does Esperanza's relationship with her family change?
She becomes closer with them the longer she is on Mango Street.
What is the main conflict in “What Sally Said”?
Sally's father is abusing her and her sister which leads to Sally making questionable life choices.
Why is Esperanza so upset about her house on Mango street?
She wanted a special dream home that her parents always talked about and she knew it wouldn't ever happen.
a literary device that involves a struggle between two opposing forces
What is conflict?
a tendency to be gloomy and depressed
What is melancholy ?
Whose sister dies?
Why does Esperanza feel angry and ashamed in “The Monkey Garden”?
She witnesses Sally get sexually assaulted and is assaulted herself.
What differences do you notice in Esperanza between the very first and very last vignette? How does she feel about her house?
Esperanza has matured in her understanding of why she has lived on Mango Street.
The process by which the author reveals the personality of a character
What is character development?
a longing for something past
What is nostalgia?
Is Sally a reliable friend?
No, she leaves Esperanza alone. OR
Yes, but she has so many of her own life difficulties that she is not always around when she should be.
After being sexually assaulted at the carnival, who does Esperanza blame or accuse?
Sally
What does Esperanza mean when she says, “I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much. I wrote it down and Mango says goodbye sometimes. She does not hold me with both arms. She sets me free.”?
Esperanza means that Mango Street was a difficult place to live and it has hurt her in many ways, but she has learned from her experiences.
a statement that describes a universal truth (general understanding) that we can learn from reading the text; main message
What is central idea?
show to be right by providing proof
justify
Why are the relationships between boys and girls so complex in The House on Mango Street?
varies
What do we learn about Sally in “Linoleum Roses”?
Sally is in an abusive controlling relationship and gets married before the 8th grade. She doesn't look out the window "on her elbow" and instead has a more oppressive cage.
How does Esperanza’s perspective on Mango Street change from the start to the end of the novel?
Esperanza grows to appreciate where she has lived despite wanting to grow beyond her neighborhood to help her neighbors out.