“Born Bad”
1. Cisneros uses two powerful personifications in this vignette: “But I think diseases have
no eyes,” and “They pick with a dizzy finger anyone, just anyone” (p.59). Describe what
you think is meant by these personifications.
2. Esperanza’s aunt Lupe tells her “you must keep writing. It will keep you free” (p.61).
What does this mean to you? How and why will writing keep her free?
3. Esperanza says that “at that time I didn’t know what she meant” (p.61). Do you think
that now, after her aunt’s death, she does? Why?
4. Write out the motif of the color yellow on your motif chart; take a note of every time in
the future you see this color used.
“Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water”
1. Esperanza is again wishing for a home, but she is disappointed when Elenita tells her
“Ah, yes, a home in the heart. I see a home in the heart” (p.64). Esperanza then
expresses confusion by saying: “Only I don’t get it./ A new house, a house made of
heart” (p.64). What do you think Elenta meant by this? Think back to the previous
vignette, to the conversations Esperanza had with her aunt Lupe. How do you think “a
house made of heart,” and Esperanza’s conversation with her aunt Lupe relate? Also,
look back to the vignette “The House on Mango Street.”
2. What is the difference between Esperanza’s desired (dream home, white home), and
Elenita’s prediction of a “home in the heart”?
“Geraldo No Last Name”
1. Describe the relationship between Marin and Geraldo.
2. Though this may seem insignificant, this question is one of the more important
questions of your study guide thus far. What did Esperanza give Geraldo? Why is this
important?
“Edna’s Ruthie”
1. Esperanza says that “there were many things Ruthie could have been if she wanted to”
(p.68). Explain two instances (examples) in this vignette that show Ruthie not taking
important and necessary steps to better her life.
a. Does this theme also relate to other characters in the novel? When? Where?
Why?
1
2. Do you think that Esperanza has learned anything from Ruthie’s lack of initiative?
What?
“The Earl of Tennessee”
No questions.
“Sire”
**This vignette truly shows Esperanza growing up, read this vignette for signs of her
maturity, and how she has matured since the beginning of the novel.
1. In this vignette Esperanza begins to experience a new type of independence and a new
sense of identity; explain how Cisneros expresses these themes in this vignette.
2. What role do the trees play in this vignette?
“Four Skinny Trees”
1. This vignette is an extended metaphor. Explain the extended metaphor. Who and
what are being compared? What do the trees symbolize?
2. What does Esperanza impose of her own character on the trees, and what does she take
from the trees?
5. Describe the trees in this vignette. Where do they grow? What do they look like?
What is unique about them? What is their moral lesson?
“No Speak English”
1. Notice the motif of windows in this vignette. How does this window relate to other
windows in this novel?
2. Describe the theme of “home” in this vignette. What is “home”?
“Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays”
1. Why is Rafaela “locked indoors?”
2. Compare Rafaela to Esperanza’s great-grandmother in the vignette “My Name.”
3. Take note (on your motif chart) of the window. What does the window symbolize?
2
“Sally”
There is no simple way to explain this vignette, for it is replete in both dramatic
monologue and interior monologue.
DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE
A literary work which consists of a revealing one-way conversation by a
character or persona, usually directed to a second person or to an imaginary
audience. It typically involves a critical moment of a specific situation, with
the speaker's words unintentionally providing a revelation of his character.
1. What does Esperanza want Sally to teach her?
2. In this vignette, Esperanza, acting as the narrator, speaks to Sally as if she were
present. On the bottom (final paragraph) of page eighty-two through eighty-three,
Esperanza asks Sally a series of questions, almost in the form of rhetorical questions. Do
you think Esperanza is really addressing Sally? Explain.
3. What does this vignette say about “home”?
4. Take note of the motif of the window. What does the window symbolize?
5. What does the sky represent/symbolize? Think about this in relation to “Darius & the
Clouds.”
6. Take note of the motif of trees? What do the trees in this section of this vignette
symbolize?
7. Take note of when Esperanza says, “because you never belonged here” (Cisneros 83),
as this is a very important phrase that will occur again soon.
8. What do you think of Sally based on this vignette? What is your impression of her?
“Minerva Writes Poems”
1. Compare Minerva to Marin and Mr. Cordero. What similar traits do they all have?
2. Cite one example of simile in this vignette, and explain how Esperanza’s use of poetic
devices and similes have changed since the beginning of this novel.
3. Why do you think that it is important that poetry is again here explicitly mentioned?
What do you think the writing of poetry means to the characters in this novel?
3
“Bums in the Attic”
**This vignette is a type of “climax” in the novel, for Esperanza has been changing
significantly: in the vignette “Sire,” Esperanza is shown to have been maturing in
one way, and now, in this vignette, Esperanza’s aspirations are changing. Before
this vignette, Esperanza was selfish (in a sense, though not a bad one, for did she
know any better? Had anybody taught her different?) and only wanted a house, in
particular, her white dream house. In this vignette, Esperanza’s dreams have added
a new dimension—In this vignette, Esperanza is sounding more confident about her
success, and she has added an altruistic or selfless side to her dream.
Altruistic: -Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to
the welfare of others( opposed to egoistic)
-The principle or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of
others.
-The philosophical doctrine that right action is that which
produces the greatest benefit to others.
1. How is Esperanza “altruistic” in this vignette?
2. In this vignette Esperanza speaks a couple of times about the theme of “houses.”
Describe the theme of “houses” in this vignette.
3. What is Esperanza ashamed of? What is explained about her character and sense of
identity through this expression of shame?
4. Esperanza says, “One day I’ll own my own house, but I won’t forget who I am or
where I came from” (p.87). What do you think Esperanza means by this? How does this
quotation relate to the themes of “home” and “identity” expressed throughout this novel?
6. In this vignette, Esperanza begins to loose faith in empty hopes and pointless dreams;
she begins to realize that if she wants change, she will have to make the change happen
herself. In what ways does she do this?
7. Why does Esperanza want to house “bums” in her attic?
4
“Beautiful & Cruel”
1. How does Esperanza describe herself in this vignette?
2. Esperanza says, “But I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their
necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain” (p.88). These quotations are very
figurative in their meaning—explain what “threshold” signifies (think about motifs in this
novel, for this is another example of one that you have been documenting).
3. Why does Esperanza emphasize that she will act “like a man”? What does this signify
in this novel?
4. What is Esperanza’s “quiet war”?
5. Identify an example of personification in this vignette.
“A Smart Cookie”
1. To me this vignette is very sad and forlorn. How do you view the mood of this
vignette? Explain.
2. What do you think Mrs. Cordero means when she says, “Got to take care all your own”
(p.91)?
3. Why does Mrs. Cordero say “Shame is a bad thing”?
4. How are both Mrs. Cordero and Esperanza similar? What role does “shame” play in
the creation of their identities? Cite specific examples/quotations of Esperanza expressing
a similar sense of “shame” elsewhere in this novel.
5. Compare Mrs. Cordero and Ruthie.
“What Sally Said”
1. Esperanza fully extends her had of friendship and protection to Sally in this vignette.
How does Esperanza do this? ***This is very important when comparing this vignette to
a vignette soon to come.
2. Briefly summarize this vignette.
5
“The Monkey Garden”
**This vignette is one of the deepest in symbolism, figurative meaning, literal morals,
and overall complexity. Read it very carefully, take note of things (for a lack of better
words) that are not asked of you in this study guide.
1. The setting of this vignette is a deeply symbolic setting. First of all, the garden could
be understood as an allusion to another garden. In the biblical garden, the associated
symbolism is “loss of innocence.” Could this garden symbolize the same? How? Why?
2. This vignette has an example of foreshadowing, for early on, Esperanza says: “This is
where I wanted to die and where I tried one day but not even the monkey garden would
have me. It was the last day I would go there” (Cisneros 96). Cite how this quotation
foreshadows future events in this vignette.
3. How is the relationship between Sally and Esperanza different from what we saw in
the previous vignette, “What Sally Said”? Is Sally still a good friend to Esperanza?
Why? Why not?
5. At one point in this vignette, Esperanza is embarrassed and upset. She said that she
wanted to be dead. Did she die? Is there any way you could think to explain that a part of
her did die that day? What part of Esperanza might have died that day and how did it
happen?
6. Esperanza says, “I looked at my feet in their white socks and ugly round shoes. They
seemed far away. They didn’t seem to be my feet anymore. And the garden that had
been such a good place to play didn’t seem mine either” (Cisneros 98).
-Remember that the shoes that Esperanza is referring to are the same shoes from
the vignette “Chanclas.”
a. In the context of this novel, what do the shoes symbolize?
b. Why do her feet not seem to be her feet anymore?
c. Why is the garden no longer Esperanza’s?
d. What is the conflict in this vignette?
7. Do you think that the relationship between Sally and Esperanza will be the same after
this vignette? Why? Why not?
“Red Clowns”
As this vignette is very sensitive and emotionally charged, there will be no study guide
questions. However, this vignette is an example of dramatic monologue, so I ask that
you relate this vignette to the definition of dramatic monologue.
6
“Linoleum Roses”
1. Did Sally truly escape?
2. Is Sally happy? Why or why not?
3. Notice how many times the words: “Except,” “doesn’t,” and “because” are used. What
do these words mean in the context of this vignette and freedom?
“The Three Sisters”
1. Describe the three sisters.
2. The motif yellow occurs again in this vignette. Think about the other times Cisneros
uses the motif yellow in this novel; what does the motif yellow symbolize in this novel?
3. About the sisters, it is said, “They must have known, the sisters. They had the power
and could sense what was what” (p.104). Compare this to the vignette “Elenita, Cards,
Palm, Water.” Do they truly know something that Esperanza does not know?
4. What did the sisters know?
“Alicia & I Talking on Edna’s Steps”
1. In this vignette, Esperanza and Alicia discuss the theme of home. Explain what you
think Esperanza means by, “But me I never had a house, not even a photograph . . . only
one I dream of” (p.107).
2. Explain what you think Alicia means by saying, “Like it or not you are Mango Street,
and one day you’ll come back too” (p.107). What does this say about identity? About
home? About Esperanza?
3. Compare the events and themes of this vignette to when Elenita says: “A home in the
heart, I was right,” and “A new house, a house made of heart” (p.64), and to what the
Three Sisters tell her about her future.
4. What is this vignette telling you about the fate of Esperanza? Who is going to make her
life better? Mango Street better? How?
5. Take note of Esperanza, herself, now pointing to the house that she is “ashamed of.”
What is significant about this?
“A House of My Own”
1. What confidence is Esperanza showing in this vignette?
7
2. Take note of how Esperanza now mentions books and stories in this vignette, as this
will become clear in the next vignette.
3. What is the significance of the simile in the second paragraph? Notice “snow” and
“clean as paper before the poem.” Could you relate this to a motif in the novel? Her
dream house, perhaps? White? What does it all mean?
4. Cite an example of anaphora.
“Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”
1. What poetic device does Esperanza use to describe her shoes? How does she describe
her shoes?
2. In this vignette, everything begins to come together, everything begins to make sense.
Esperanza says, “I like to tell stories. I am going to tell you a story about a girl who
didn’t want to belong” (p.109). How has the book as a whole been a reflection of this
quotation? In what ways has Esperanza shown that she “didn’t want to belong”?
3. Esperanza says, “I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much. I
write it down and Mango says goodbye sometimes. She does not hold me with both
arms. She sets me free” (p.110).
a. Compare this section of this vignette to what her aunt tells her in “Born Bad.”
b. In “Born Bad,” Esperanza says that “at that time I didn’t know what she meant”
(p.61). Do you think Esperanza now understands? Do you think Esperanza now
knows what she meant? What did she mean? What does Esperanza now
understand?
c. What do you think “the ghost” is?
4. Explain what you think Esperanza means at the conclusion of this vignette, at the
conclusion of this novel, when she says, “They will not know I have gone away to come
back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out” (p.110).
a. Why does she end with an incomplete sentence, and incomplete thought?
8