Plot Overview

A young Esperanza and her family finally

moves out of their apartment. Though
Esperanza doesnt seem happy about the
house on mango street, it is a start to a
new beginning. Throughout the story,
Esperanza matures and emotionally and
has new learning experiences along the
way. She learns to cope with death and to
cope with the feeling of having a house
that wasnt intended to be bought.

About the Author

Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago,
Illinois in 1954. She studied at Loyola
University of Chicago and the University
of Iowa. Cisneros worked as a teacher
and counselor to high-school dropouts.
She taught creative writing She was a
visiting writer for UC Berkeley and the
University of Michigan.

The House on Mango

Street
Sandra Cisneros
Jhon Dilan
September 13, 2016
-

Essential Quotes
"I knew then I had to have a
house.
From Chapter 1, Page 5
"Everything is holding its breath
inside me.
From Chapter 28, Page 73

Historical Context
There were many latinos in Chicago.
Chicagos latino culture was increasing.
The latino voice in the U.S. after the The
House on Mango Street was published.

Reflections
When Esperanza said that she
wanted to live in a house that
made her feel good to point at, I
knew how she felt. I know a lot of
people who dont want to tell
people where they live. I dont
really agree with she said because
all of the houses on mango street
seem like they are houses made

Character Analysis

Themes

Motifs and Symbols

-Esperanza is a young latino that tries to

age to quickly with sally by her side. She
develops a feeling of responsibility toward
many of the people in her community. At
a young age, Esperanza wished to leave
them all behind and get a house all on
her own. Soon, she finds that the people
in her community have become a
responsibility to her, including her family.
She doesnt want to leave them all behind
just as she wished a while back.
-Sally, Esperanzas friend early in the
story, was the daughter of an abusive
father. She finds safety and comfort
through relationships with boys that she
doesnt have with her father. As Sally
befriends Esperanza, Sally becomes an
important figure in Esperanzas life.
- Nenny is the younger sister of
Esperanza. Her real name is Magdalena
but is called Nenny throughout the story.
Esperanza finds her annoying because
she has to keep her away from a few
people that would give off negative vibes
to Nenny and because she can be
troublesome to Esperanza.

Some of the major theme in The House

on Mango Street was that it was a the
struggle of self-definition. This was one of
the themes because she must define
herself as a woman and artist of poetry
through every encounter she goes
though. She had to accept that she
couldnt change her name, her heritage,
and her place in the latino community.
Another one of the themes is the power
of language. Esperanza wrote poetry as a
coping mechanism because she couldnt
define herself as a women and accept
her place in the latino community.

Names are one of the Motifs and

Symbols in The House on Mango Street
because Esperanza uses her real name
inside her house and outside of her
house. Other characters use nicknames
and some do use their real names. For
example, Magdalena uses Nenny, and
Esperanzas Aunt Lupes real name is
Guadalupe. Trees are an example of
symbols because she narrates about
how the trees werent where they were
supposed to be. Just like how Esperanza
thought that she wasnt supposed to be in
the latino neighborhood.