At first glance Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street seems to be a charming collection of vignettes about a young Latina's observations about the people in her Chicago neighborhood. Developing questions that prompt readers to think deeply about the many connections among the vignettes and the themes Cisneros develops can be a challenge. This guide does just that. It asks readers to consider what Esperanza says carefully, doesn't say, and implies. A must-have for any discussion of the narrative.

Concepts

literary analysis, american literature, sandra cisneros, novels, fictional narratives, narratives, chicano literature, racism

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Ask groups to create a reader's theatre script for a story about the girls observing clouds, and after the presentations, have the teams describe what clues they used to identify the different speakers

Classroom Considerations

• A protocol must be in place to permit a safe, sensitive discussion of domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, and racism

Pros

• The carefully crafted questions may be used for class discussion, journal topics, and or writing prompts

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.6.10 RL.7.10 RL.8.10 RL.9-10.10a RL.9-10.10b RL.11-12.10a RL.11-12.10b