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ANSWER SHEET:

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

FOR

THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET

 

 

 

Congratulations! You’ve finished reading and discussing The House On Mango Street. Now it’s time to think about what you’ve read.

 

  1. Why do you think that the author tells us about Esperanza’s house before

she tells us about Esperanza’s name? Why is where she lives more important than who she is?

(Answers will vary, but should consist of references to: the house and

the neighborhood seem to define the people that live there, there are

commonalities shared by the family and the residents in the

neighborhood, people are often judged by their homes and

neighborhoods, it is difficult to escape the stereotype of living in a

specific neighborhood, etc.)

 

2. How old do you think Esperanza is? Give evidence from the text to

support your opinion.

(Answers will vary, but should consist of textual references to: a

new awareness of and attraction to boys, the changes that Esperanza’s

body is going through as she grows and matures, her reaction to the

first kiss, etc.)

 

  1. How would you describe the different worlds in which boys and girls

    2. exist in the book? How are the expectations different for boys than for

    girls? How do you think the author feels about this?

    (Answers will vary, but should consist of references to: the freedom

    afforded to boys but not to girls, the domestic responsibilities at home

    that are expected of girls, the different curfews and privileges

    given to boys, the descriptions of females vs. males in the story,

    the role models for females vs. males, etc.)

     

  2. As we read the book, we see that nearly all of the characters dream of escaping. What do they want to escape? Describe ways in which different people try to escape.

    3. (Answers will vary, but should consist of references to: the longing

    to escape a confining home, an overbearing family, a poverty stricken

    neighborhood, the expectations of friends and family, and cultural

    stereotypes. Characters in the book try to escape through drugs,

    marriage, education, crime, celebrations with family and friends,

    use of psychics, etc.)

     

  3. At the end of the book, Esperanza says that she is too strong for Mango

Street to hold her down. What does she mean by this? What makes her so strong?

(Answers will vary, but should consist of references to: she realizes

that she is capable of excellence, she will resolve to overcome

obstacles in order to improve her lot in life, she is intelligent, she

has a vision of what she’d like to accomplish in her future, she will

not be content with the existence on Mango Street, she is able to

look critically at her surroundings, she will not stand for the

status quo,etc.)