The House on Mango Street Chapters 1-5

Questions and Answers

Who are the people that live with the narrator?

Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, and Nenny

Contrast the house on Mango Street with the narrator's dream house.

Mango Street: small, red, with crumbling bricks and tight steps. It has no front yard, four elm trees out front, and a small backyard. One washroom, and everyone shares a bedroom. Dream House: large, white, big grassy yard full of trees, no fence, stairs inside, basement, three bathrooms, working plumbing.

How long do the narrator's parents plan to live in the house on Mango Street? How does the narrator feel about this?

Until they have enough money to move somewhere else. They rely on the lottery. Esperanza doubts they will ever move somewhere else.

What does mood mean?

The feeling created from the details, events, and word choices for the audience/reader. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mood created at the beginning of the book?

Sad. Sympathetic for Esperanza. Signup and view all the answers

What does tone mean?

The attitude a narrator/writer takes toward its subject. Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone created at the beginning of the book?

Hopeless. Unsatisfied. Sad. Signup and view all the answers

Describe each of the narrator's family members according to his or her hair.

Papa's hair is like a broom. Carlos's hair is thick and so straight so he doesn't have to comb it. Kiki's hair is like fur. Nenny's hair is slippery, so it slides through the hand. Esperanza's hair is lazy and doesn't stay in hair bands or clips. Her mother's hair is tightly curled and smells like bread. Signup and view all the answers

How does the narrator feel about her mother? Find evidence to support your decision.

Secure and loved. 'When she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe.' Her word choice has positive 'connotations' like candy, curly, pretty, sweet, and warm. Simile of hair to bread (comfort food). Signup and view all the answers

According to the narrator, can boys be friends with girls? Support her opinion with the experience described in the story.

Boys cannot be friends with girls in public. Her brothers like to talk to her and her sister at home, but not outside of the house. Signup and view all the answers

How does the narrator feel about her sister?

Nenny is her responsibility, but not a friend. Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator wish for? Why does she want one?

A best friend who is not her sister. Someone to tell secrets to and laugh at her jokes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the narrator's name and what does it mean?

Esperanza; hope Signup and view all the answers

Who is she named after? What was that woman like?

Her great grandmother, who was a wild and strong woman. Forced into marrying, spent the rest of her life looking out the window. Signup and view all the answers

What is a woman's role in Mexican society, according to the narrator?

Women in Mexican society should be weak and controlled, expected to marry. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Family Dynamics

Narrator's family includes Mama, Papa, brothers Carlos and Kiki, and sister Nenny.
The dynamics reflect love but also responsibility, especially concerning the narrator’s relationship with Nenny.

The House on Mango Street vs. Dream House

The house on Mango Street is described as small, red, and crumbling, lacking basic comforts and space.
Dream house encompasses desires for a large, white home with ample green space, multiple bathrooms, and better living conditions.

Future Aspirations

Parents intend to stay on Mango Street until saving enough money for a better home, which is tied to luck (lottery reliance).
Esperanza feels skeptical about their ability to move, showcasing a sense of hopelessness regarding her living situation.

Mood and Tone

The mood at the book's start is sorrowful, creating sympathy for Esperanza's circumstances.
The tone is depicted as hopeless, underscoring themes of dissatisfaction and longing for a better life.

Descriptions of Family Members

Each family member’s hair symbolizes personality traits: Papa as rigid like a broom, Carlos as effortlessly straight, Kiki as soft like fur, Nenny as slippery, Esperanza as unruly, and Mama’s curly hair evoking warmth and comfort.

Relationship with Mother

Esperanza feels a profound sense of security and love from her mother, associated with comforting imagery and positive connotations reflecting safety and warmth.

Gender Dynamics

Boys in the story are seen as unable to maintain friendships with girls in public settings, indicating societal norms about gender interactions.
Esperanza’s experience highlights a divide between private and public relationships, especially with her brothers.

Sisterly Responsibility

Nenny is perceived as a burden for Esperanza, reflecting a complex relationship where she feels responsible but lacks camaraderie.

Desire for Friendship

Esperanza longs for a best friend outside of her family, emphasizing a need for connection, secrets, and shared laughter.

Meaning of Esperanza

Her name, Esperanza, translates to "hope," symbolizing her aspirations and desires for a better future.

Heritage and Female Roles

Named after a great-grandmother who embodied strength but faced societal constraints; she spent life watching from the window, representing unfulfilled potential.
The narrative indicates that women's roles in Mexican society are typically limited, promoting weakness and control, with an expectation to marry.

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Explore the first five chapters of 'The House on Mango Street' through engaging flashcards. This quiz covers key characters, themes, and contrasts between the narrator's current and dream homes, enhancing your understanding of the text.