The House on Mango Street: Study Questions
Study Questions 1-14 – The House on Mango Street
“The House on Mango Street”
Why does Esperanza disapprove of the house on Mango Street?
Esperanza disapproved of the house because she expected the house on Mango Street to be a house with plenty of room, “real stairs,” at least three bathrooms, and a huge yard. But in reality the house was small, crumbling, with no front yard, and only a small backyard. It has apartment-style stairs, only one bathroom, and only three bedrooms, so everyone has to share. It’s not a house Esperanza can point to with pride.
“Hairs"
Why does Esperanza focus on hair?
It distinguishes her from everyone else. She looks around and sees everyone with different types of hair. She admires her mom’s hair because it 's pretty and hates her own because it 's different from all the others girls. The "white" girls and she doesn 't want to be different.
"Boys and Girls"
How does Esperanza regard her responsibility as an older sister?
In the “Boys and Girls” vignette, Esperanza must socialize with her younger sister Nenny, who, Esperanza says, is too young and would not be her choice for a friend if she were not her sister. To make matters worse, Nenny is Esperanza’s responsibility, and she has to make sure that Nenny does not play with the Vargas kids. Esperanza longs for a best friend, so without one she compares herself to a “red balloon tied to an anchor.” So she regards her responsibility as an older sister as a burden.
"My Name"
What do we know about Esperanza from her reaction to the story about her great-grandmother?
In the “My Name” vignette, we learn that Esperanza never met her great-grandmother, but she compares her to a wild horse. She did not want to get married but was forced into marriage and never forgave her husband. She spent her life gazing sadly out the window. Esperanza says that while she has inherited her great-grandmother’s name, she does not want to “inherit her place by the window.” So we learn that she does not want to
“The House on Mango Street”
Why does Esperanza disapprove of the house on Mango Street?
Esperanza disapproved of the house because she expected the house on Mango Street to be a house with plenty of room, “real stairs,” at least three bathrooms, and a huge yard. But in reality the house was small, crumbling, with no front yard, and only a small backyard. It has apartment-style stairs, only one bathroom, and only three bedrooms, so everyone has to share. It’s not a house Esperanza can point to with pride.
“Hairs"
Why does Esperanza focus on hair?
It distinguishes her from everyone else. She looks around and sees everyone with different types of hair. She admires her mom’s hair because it 's pretty and hates her own because it 's different from all the others girls. The "white" girls and she doesn 't want to be different.
"Boys and Girls"
How does Esperanza regard her responsibility as an older sister?
In the “Boys and Girls” vignette, Esperanza must socialize with her younger sister Nenny, who, Esperanza says, is too young and would not be her choice for a friend if she were not her sister. To make matters worse, Nenny is Esperanza’s responsibility, and she has to make sure that Nenny does not play with the Vargas kids. Esperanza longs for a best friend, so without one she compares herself to a “red balloon tied to an anchor.” So she regards her responsibility as an older sister as a burden.
"My Name"
What do we know about Esperanza from her reaction to the story about her great-grandmother?
In the “My Name” vignette, we learn that Esperanza never met her great-grandmother, but she compares her to a wild horse. She did not want to get married but was forced into marriage and never forgave her husband. She spent her life gazing sadly out the window. Esperanza says that while she has inherited her great-grandmother’s name, she does not want to “inherit her place by the window.” So we learn that she does not want to