Esperanza Rising

Setting of the Novel

• The setting of the novel Esperanza Rising is a ranch in Mexico and a farm in California.
• The Mexican Revolution of 1910 is still impacting the setting of the novel.

Introduction to the Novel

• The novel introduces two Mexican proverbs: "Hope is the thing with feathers— / That perches in our Soul—" and "Until the day breaks, / And the shadows flee away."
• The main character's name, Esperanza, means "hope" in Spanish.

Main Character's Background

• Esperanza's beloved father in the introduction is Sixto Ortega.
• The time period in which the novel Esperanza Rising is set is during the 1920s-1930s.

Historical Context

• The Mexican Revolution of 1910 was primarily prompted by the desire for democracy and the overthrow of the authoritarian government of Porfirio Díaz.

Novel Structure

• The chapters in Esperanza Rising are numbered in days, starting from Day One.

Thematic Significance

• The two Mexican proverbs in the novel hint at the themes of hope and the struggle for a better life.
• The meaning of the main character's name, Esperanza, is significant as it reflects the theme of hope throughout the novel.