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Study Guide 4 – Pages ? - ?
"Beautiful & Cruel"
1.
Here is Esperanza at her most confident. She is not like those "who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain." (88)
2.
In this poetic image, what does the word "threshold" signify?
3.
What is the "ball and chain"? What are the connotations of these two terms?
4.
Why does Esperanza emphasize that she will act "like a man"?
5.
What does this signify in this story?
"A Smart Cookie"
1.
Explain the significance of the last sentence: "I was a smart cookie then."
2.
Of what is Esperanza’s mother warning her?
1

"What Sally Said"
1.
What are the dynamics between the father and Sally?
2.
Why does Sally leave home?
3.
Why does she go back home?
4.
Why does her father hit her?
5.
Why does Sally leave home?
2

"The Monkey Garden"
1.
What famous gardens do you know?
2.
Describe the garden when the children first have it.
3.
What happens to the garden as time goes on?
4.
Esperanza asks, "Who was it that said I was getting too old to play the games?"
What is the story about?
5.
What other character is Esperanza being contrasted with?
6.
What are the differences between Sally and Esperanza?
7.
Esperanza witnesses some interplay between Sally and Tito and the boys.
Esperanza becomes angry in a way that seems out of proportion to what is happening. The action between Sally and the boys must represent something more important to Esperanza. What is it?
8.
Esperanza can not explain her anger and her desire to save Sally from the boys.
Can you?
9.
Afterward Esperanza is embarrassed and upset. She wanted to be dead. Did she die?
10.
Is there any way you could think to explain that a part of her died that day? What part might it be and how did it happen?
3

"Red Clowns"
1.
What happens to Esperanza in this chapter?
2.
In what way is she different from Sally?
3.
Why is she different from Sally?
4.
Will she ever become like Sally?
"Linoleum Roses"
1. What is Sally's fate?
"Three Sisters"
At a funeral, Esperanza meets three old aunts at a baby's funeral. They ask Esperanza to make a wish and she does, but does not tell them what it is.
1.
What do you think it is?
2.
The sisters tell Esperanza that the wish will come true but they add an admonition or warning. What is the warning?
3.
Why does the sister repeat Esperanza's name?
4.
How do we know Esperanza will never end up like Sally?
5.
What is this story telling us about the fate of Esperanza?
4

"Alicia & I Talking on Edna's Steps"
1.
Who is Alicia?
2.
What is significant about her and why is she talking to Esperanza?
3.
What is this chapter telling you about the fate of Esperanza?
4.
Who is going to make Mango Street better?
5.
How?
6.
What did you learn about how neighborhoods are improved from this chapter?
"A House of My Own"
1.
How will Esperanza make a house of her own?
2.
What confidence is Esperanza showing?
3.
What is the significance of the simile in the second paragraph?
Where did Esperanza go?
"Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes"
How?
Why?
5

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