Intro to The House on Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros

Essential Questions What role does our family, culture, and community play in shaping us? How can reading the stories of other help us to find our own acceptance and purpose? How can a writer use figurative language and creative writing techniques to express point of view and voice?

About the Author Sandra Cisneros Born in Chicago December 20, 1954 The only daughter in a family of seven children High school teacher and counselor

The House on Mango Street First published in 1983 A collection of vignettes American Book Award in 1985 Sold over 2 million copies since its initial publication

What is a Vignette? A short, well written sketch or descriptive scene. It does not follow a specific plot which would make it a short story, but offers extremely descriptive scenes.

The Setting Early 1980’s Narrator: Esperanza Cordero Point of View: First-person present tense

Fundamental or universal topics or ideas explored in a literary work Themes Fundamental or universal topics or ideas explored in a literary work

Identity Innocence Esperanza’s struggle to mesh together her ethnic, gender, cultural, sexual and economic identity How can growing up disperse the fog of innocence?

Otherness Set in a society where gender roles are very defined Set in a Latino community in America

Motifs Recurring structure, contrasts, literary devices that help to develop the text’s major themes Names Falling Women by Windows

Symbols Shoes/ feet Trees Poetry Symbols are objects, character, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts Shoes/ feet Trees Poetry

Final thought: “I am the sum of all stories that pass through me Final thought: “I am the sum of all stories that pass through me.” -Sandra Cisneros