The House on Mango Street
What is a Vignette? A short, well written sketch or descriptive scene. It does not have a plot which would make it a short story, but it does reveal something about the elements in it. It may reveal character, mood, or tone. It may have a theme or idea of its own that it wants to convey. It is the description of the scene or character that is important. What may be the pro to this text structure? Why would an author choose to compose a text in this fashion? Read the chapter titles and make prediction about what this tells us about the story? What do these titles reveal about the narrator / speaker?
About Sandra Cisneros Born: Chicago in l954, the third child and only daughter in a family of seven children. Occupations: teacher and counselor to high-school dropouts, taught creative writing at every level except first grade and pre-school, a college recruiter, an arts administrator, and as a visiting writer tch?v=0Pyf89VsNmg (story) tch?v=0Pyf89VsNmg
Sandra Cisneros’ Inspiration & Story “I am the sum of all stories that pass through me.” And so are you. What do you know? What can you write about that no one else can write about? Writers block means you’re afraid to say what you really mean to say.
“I am the sum of all stories that pass through me.” Mind Mapping (activity 1.8) You are in the viewing room of your life… Brainstorm a list of as many important moments (stories) in your life. Of that list, find 8 stories that may share a common thread. (need to keep this list for future use)
The House on Mango Street Themes 1. Individual identity and communal loyalty 2. Estrangement and loss 3. Escape and return 4. Lure of romance and the dead end of sexual inequality & oppression
Mango’s Appeal It speaks especially to Latino Americans, but it captures universal pangs (of growing up and finding oneself of) otherness—“the shame of being poor, of being female, of being not- quite-good enough.”
A Deceptive Work 1. Language seems simple but it possesses the richness of poetry. 2. Slang and breaks from grammatical correctness contribute to immediacy. 3. Narrated in a young voice, yet it's convincing because it's the creation of a mature and sophisticated writer. 4. Stories come together to tell one complete story. 5. Apparent randomness disguises an artful exploration of themes. A common misconception with The House on Mango Street is that it is concise and readable, so therefore it must be unliterary. Do not be fooled. Cisneros is sending you a message about what it is like for people growing up in the world.
Think of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Here are some reminders: LRRH’s mother packs her some goodies to take to grandmother’s house She starts on her way She meets the wolf She tells the wolf of her destination and purpose She is told of a shortcut The wolf goes to the house and takes care of grandmother and replaces her LRRH is saved by a woodsman
What messages were being sent to you? Did you get all of them? Ask yourself: The Big AHA: Intelligent and sophisticated people send messages and they are not hidden messages. They are messages that they expect other intelligent and sophisticated people to understand. What is LRRH’s name? How old? Who would send a little girl out into the woods with wolves? What sex is the wolf? Young or mature? Who saves LRRH? In this story, which sex is active and which sex is passive? Why is the dominant color red? What do you think the wolf represents? the path through the woods? What do you think the shortcut is all about? All of these questions deal with the theme. Theme is what the story is about.
Read and Respond “The House on Mango Street” (3-5) “My Name” (10-11) What do we learn about Esperanza ? ???? Your Name? Its meaning? Story behind your name? Nicknames ? Like name? Change it?
Progression of House on Mango Street Vignettes Begins with self & family (comfort), moves to friends (Nenny, unknowingly her closest friend), wanting to grow up, experiences harsh realities (coat room and death), other women and the role they take on, signs from other women that Esperanza should stay strong and be more, and a willingness to get out and give back. (“Chanclas” and “Beautiful and Cruel”)