10th Grade English/Lockhart
Unit 2: What kind of knowledge changes our lives?
Name: __________________________________________________________ Period: _______
THOMS: Pages 76-110 Analysis
Directions: Answer the following questions THOROUGHLY and in complete sentences.
“No Speak English” – pg. 76-78
1. Why is the Mamacita in this vignette sad? Write TWO pieces of evidence from the text to
support your answer.
2. What, according to page 78, “breaks her heart forever”?
“Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays” – pg. 79-80
3. Why is Rafaela locked indoors?
4. What does this tell you about the role of women in this culture? Be specific.
“Sally” – pg. 81- 83
5. Sally’s father says: “To be this beautiful is trouble”. What does this mean? Why is it
unfair?
6. What does a nice, beautiful house symbolize for the women in this novel?
“Minerva Writes Poems” – pg. 84-85
7. Why do you think Minerva writes poems? How is she similar as a character to
Esperanza? How is she different?
8. What connects and links these women from the last four vignettes?
“Bums in the Attic” – pg. 86-87
9. What does Esperanza say that she will own someday?
10. How is Esperanza’s conclusion at the end of this vignette both kind and naïve?
“Beautiful and Cruel” – pg. 88-89
11. Esperanza says: “I have begun my own quiet war… I am the one who leaves the table
like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate.” Why does this signify
a change in Esperanza as a character? How is she different than other female characters
we’ve read about?
“A Smart Cookie” – pg. 90-91
12. Why is this vignette a cautionary tale (a tale written to provide a warning)?
13. Think back to the introduction of The House on Mango Street. How does this vignette
provide some autobiographical information that connects well to Sandra Cisneros’s
mother and her advice?
“What Sally Said” – pg. 92-93
14. What do we learn about Sally’s home life in this vignette?
“The Monkey Garden” – pg. 94-98
15. Summarize the major events of this vignette.
16. Analyze your summary. What is the conflict? Why is Esperanza upset?
17. Pick a symbol from this vignette and explain what it means.
“Red Clowns” – pg. 99-100
18. How does this vignette show Esperanza dealing with the differences between
expectations versus reality?
19. How and why is Esperanza different from Sally?
“Linoleum Roses” – pg. 101-102
20. What is Sally’s fate? While marriage is initially looked at as a way out, what is the
reality?
“Three Sisters” – pg. 103-105
21. What wish do you think Esperanza made?
22. One of the sisters says, “When you leave you must remember to come back for the
others. A circle, understand? You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango
Street. You can’t erase what you know. You can’t forget who you are… You must
remember to come back. For the ones who cannot leave as easily as you” (105). Who are
some of the “others” that the sisters refer to? Why do they need Esperanza to come back
for them?
23. How do you think the knowledge that the three sisters provide for Esperanza will change
her life?
“Alicia & I Talking on Edna’s Steps” – pg. 106-107
24. What does Alicia tell Esperanza about Mango Street?
25. If not the mayor, who is going to make Mango Street better?
“A House of My Own” – pg. 108
26. What kinds of things will be in Esperanza’s house?
27. What is the significance of the simile in the second paragraph?
28. Think back to the introduction of The House on Mango Street again. How does this
vignette connect to Cisneros?
“Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes” – pg. 109-110
29. What is Esperanza’s plan? Write a piece of evidence from the text to support your
answer.
30. What is the major conflict of this book? Explain.