HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
The House on Mango Street – Laughter (pp. 3-18)
1. Name the members of the narrator’s family.
2. How was the house on Mango street different than the other houses the family had lived in?
3. Describe the house on Mango Street.
4. Why does the narrator say Nenny is not her friend?
5. What does the narrator want to have someday?
6. What is the narrator’s name? What does it mean in English and in Spanish? After whom is she named?
7. What did Esperanza buy? How did she go about buying it?
Writing prompts:
1. Write about a time you were disappointed in a decision your parents made.
2. In your life, what is it that you are always moving away from?
3. Did you ever blow anyone/anything off for someone/something else?
4. Write about an embarrassing incident.
HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold – There Was an Old Woman (pp.19-30)
1. What did the girls discover in the furniture store that made Esperanza feel stupid?
2. What is special about the tree in Meme’s yard?
3. What happened when Louie’s other cousin visited?
4. Where is Marin going in a year? Why?
5. What matters, according to Marin?
6. What scares the people who come into Esperanza’s neighborhood? What does Esperanza think of them?
7. What does Esperanza say the Vargas kids don’t have?
Writing prompts:
1. Write about a time you wanted something you couldn’t have.
2. What do you think jealousy has done to our society?
3. When has pride made you struggle?
4. What do you think goes on in the ghetto?
HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
Alicia Who Sees Mice – A Rice Sandwich (pp. 31-45)
1. What does Esperanza say about Alicia?
2. What wise thing did Darius say?
3. What happened while the girls were looking at the clouds?
4. Where did the girls get the shoes? What did they do with them?
5. What happened when Esperanza took the note asking if she could stay for lunch?
Writing prompts:
1. Write about what scares you when you go to sleep.
2. Write about someone who has left your family and what you had to do in their place.
3. Write about the God-entity that gives you security.
4. Write about a time you felt embarrassed.
HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
Chanclas – Born Bad (pp. 46-61)
1. Why doesn’t Esperanza want to dance?
2. How does Esperanza describe her feet?
3. To what does Esperanza compare her hips?
4. What information about hips does Esperanza have?
5. Why does Esperanza want to work?
6. What happened to her at her job?
7. What news had Papa received? What does Esperanza do?
8. What did the girls do to Aunt Lupe? Why did they do it? What happened to Aunt Lupe that day? What did Esperanza’s mother say about it?
Writing prompts:
1. Write about a time in your life that you pitied yourself.
2. Write about your thoughts of growing up as you realized you were beginning to mature.
3. If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you regret not having said to someone you know?
4. Write about a time you were mean to someone.
HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water – No Speak English (pp. 62-78)
1. How does Esperanza describe Elenita?
2. Esperanza asked about a house. What was Elenita’s response?
3. Who was Geraldo? What happened to him? How did Marin feel about it?
4. What is different about Ruthie?
5. What does Esperanza think about Ruthie?
6. What do all of the children in the neighborhood disagree on regarding Earl? About what do they agree?
7. Who are Sire and Lois? What did Esperanza notice about Sire?
8. What does Esperanza say about the trees?
9. What broke Mamacita’s heart?
Writing prompts:
1. What one thing would you like to know about your future?
2. Do you believe in love at first sight?
3. Write about one friend you have to watch out for and keep on track.
4. What kind of husband/wife do your parents want for you?
HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut and Papaya Juice on Tuesdays – What Sally Said (pp. 79-93)
1. Why does Rafaela’s husband lock her in the apartment?
2. What does Rafaela like to drink?
3. According to Esperanza, what does Sally want?
4. Describe Minerva’s life.
5. Why doesn’t Esperanza go out with her family on Sundays anymore?
6. What does Esperanza say she will do when she is older?
7. What does Esperanza decide about growing up?
8. What does Esperanza’s mother say about herself? What does she tell Esperanza to do?
9. What happened to Sally?
Writing prompts:
1. What have you done while your parents weren’t looking?
2. In what way can it be considered dangerous to be “too pretty”?
3. Tell about a time you gave up something.
4. What is the silliest thing your parents ever got mad about?
HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
STUDY QUESTIONS
The Monkey Garden – Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes (pp. 94-110)
1. How did Esperanza feel when Sally went into the garden with the boys? What did Esperanza do?
2. What does Esperanza think is the reason Sally got married?
3. What does Sally do all day? Why?
4. What did the three sisters tell Esperanza?
5. How does Esperanza feel about Mango Street?
6. How does Esperanza describe the house she wants?
7. What does Esperanza say she likes to do?
Writing prompts:
1. Write about a friend who turned their back on you.
2. Tell about a time you made a selfish wish.
3. Write about someone you look up to.
4. Explain what home means to you.
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