The Life of Esperanza in "The House on Mango Street"
Why is Esperanza initially excited to receive shoes from her neighbor in "The Family of Little Feet"?
She asked for shoes like these, but her parents can't afford them.
Which quotation from "The Family of Little Feet" best shows how the girls' feelings about the shoes changes by the end of the vignette?
"These are the best shoes. We will never go back to wearing the other kind again."
Which of the following sums up a theme of "The Family of Little Feet" that could be supported by the text?
All of the above
Why does Esperanza want to eat lunch at school in "A Rice Sandwich"?
She sees the kids who eat lunch at school as "special."
Which line from the text best reveals Esperanza's feelings of inadequacy or shame in "A Rice Sandwich"?
"Yes, I nodded even though I knew that wasn't my house and started to cry."
Why does Esperanza feel uncomfortable at the baptism party in the vignette "Chanclas"?
She is wearing a hand-me-down dress that doesn't fit.
Which best describes the internal conflict that Esperanza faces in the vignette "Chanclas"?
Esperanza feels like she is not quite a child anymore but not quite an adult, either, so she feels awkward at the party.
In the vignette "Hips," why does Esperanza say that Nenny "doesn't hear me. She is too many light-years away. She is in a world we don't belong to anymore"?
Now that Esperanza is a teenager and Nenny is still a child, their age gap seems more significant.
Which of the following quotations related to Esperanza's first day at work best reveals that she is very young and naive in the vignette "The First Job"?
"I ate real fast standing in one of the washroom stalls and had lots of time left over, so I went back to work early."
Based on the vignette "The First Job," what does Esperanza lack most?
Confidence in herself
Answers:
1- Option C, 2- Option C, 3- Option A, 4- Option A, 5- Option A, 6- Option B, 7- Option A, 8- Option A, 9- Option C, 10- Option A.
Explanation:
The House on Mango Street is a novel about a young girl, Esperanza. It encompasses a year in her life portrayed through short vignettes that serve as chapters of the novel, and each vignette consists of an independent short story.
In "The Family of Little Feet," Esperanza is initially excited to receive shoes from her neighbor because they symbolize adulthood and beauty to her, as women like Marin wear them. This excitement eventually evolves into a realization that some aspects of adulthood that seem glamorous to a child are not actually as glamorous as they appear.
Throughout the novel, Esperanza experiences emotional, artistic, and sexual development as she navigates through friendships, family dynamics, and societal expectations. The vignettes shed light on her evolving perspectives and struggles.
The themes of adolescence, identity, family, and societal pressures are explored through Esperanza's interactions with her neighbors and her reflections on her own experiences. The vignettes offer a poignant and thought-provoking portrayal of Esperanza's journey towards self-discovery and empowerment.
For further insights into the story of Esperanza and her experiences, refer to "The House on Mango Street" for a comprehensive understanding of the character's growth and challenges.