The House on Mango Street: Study Questions
House on Mango Street Study Question Key
“The House on Mango Street” (section 1)
1. Esperanza is the narrator of this story. What is her attitude toward the house on Mongo Street?
-She does not like the house. It is not their dream house. It is falling apart. The family owns this house, so they are no longer subject to the whims of landlords, and at the old apartment, a nun made Esperanza feel ashamed about where she lived. The house on Mango Street is an improvement, but it is still not the house that Esperanza wants to point out as hers.
2. What is the dream house that Esperanza describes? What does it show about her?
-A house with stairs, running water, rooms for everyone. The dream house shows that Esperanza and her family wish for something more.
3. Why does Esperanza want a real house?
-Because it was her Papa’s dream to provide a nice house for his family. She wants to be able to point to a house where she is proud to live.
4. How does Esperanza’s environment affect her?
-She is angry, sad, and embarrassed of her family’s situation.
5. Why does Cisneros begin her novel with a listing of the problems faced by the family?
-To show the financial and social problems the family faces. The novel is not going to be a fairy tale. We see how society views the family with the situation with the nun. We learn from Esperanza that the family moves around a lot.
“Hairs” (section 2)
1. In what way does Esperanza’s mother influence her?
-Caregiver a safe place
2. Describe:
a. Esperanza’s hair: lazy hair, never obeys barrettes or bands
b. Carlos’s hair: thick and straight
c. Mother’s hair: little rosettes, like candy circles, warm smell of bread
d. Papa’s hair: like a broom, all up in the air
e. Nenny’s hair: slippery- slides out of your hands
3. Why does Esperanza focus on her hair? What do we learn about the family members by descriptions of their hair?
-The hair represents the personalities of each of the
“The House on Mango Street” (section 1)
1. Esperanza is the narrator of this story. What is her attitude toward the house on Mongo Street?
-She does not like the house. It is not their dream house. It is falling apart. The family owns this house, so they are no longer subject to the whims of landlords, and at the old apartment, a nun made Esperanza feel ashamed about where she lived. The house on Mango Street is an improvement, but it is still not the house that Esperanza wants to point out as hers.
2. What is the dream house that Esperanza describes? What does it show about her?
-A house with stairs, running water, rooms for everyone. The dream house shows that Esperanza and her family wish for something more.
3. Why does Esperanza want a real house?
-Because it was her Papa’s dream to provide a nice house for his family. She wants to be able to point to a house where she is proud to live.
4. How does Esperanza’s environment affect her?
-She is angry, sad, and embarrassed of her family’s situation.
5. Why does Cisneros begin her novel with a listing of the problems faced by the family?
-To show the financial and social problems the family faces. The novel is not going to be a fairy tale. We see how society views the family with the situation with the nun. We learn from Esperanza that the family moves around a lot.
“Hairs” (section 2)
1. In what way does Esperanza’s mother influence her?
-Caregiver a safe place
2. Describe:
a. Esperanza’s hair: lazy hair, never obeys barrettes or bands
b. Carlos’s hair: thick and straight
c. Mother’s hair: little rosettes, like candy circles, warm smell of bread
d. Papa’s hair: like a broom, all up in the air
e. Nenny’s hair: slippery- slides out of your hands
3. Why does Esperanza focus on her hair? What do we learn about the family members by descriptions of their hair?
-The hair represents the personalities of each of the