Primero, Sharen Ruzzelle H.

10-B

Activity Packet
“The House on Mango Street”

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is an important novel to include

in the canon of adolescent literature. It is filled with literary concepts that will be useful

for understanding the novel as well as applicable to future forms of literature. It also

deals with subject matter that is very relatable to students at the 10 th grade level, such
as growing up and coming into one’s own.

BIOGRAPHY OF AUTHOR SANDRA CISNEROS

Born December 20, 1954 in Chicago, Sandra Cisneros is an

American novelist, short-story writer, essayist, and poet.

Cisneros is one of the first Hispanic-American writers who has

achieved commercial success. She is lauded by literary

scholars

and critics for works which help bring the perspective of

Chicana (Mexican-American) women into the mainstream of

literary feminism.

Cisneros received her B.A. from Loyola University in 1976 and her M.F.A from the

University of Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1978. This workshop marks an important

turning point in her career as a writer. Cisneros had periodically written poems and

stories while growing up, but it was the frustrations she encountered at the Writer's

Workshop that inspired Cisneros' realization that her experiences as a Latina woman

were unique and outside the realm of dominant American culture. Thus, Cisneros

decided to write about conflicts directly related to her upbringing, including divided

cultural loyalties, feelings of alienation, and degradation associated with poverty. These

specific cultural and social concerns, coupled with Cisneros' feelings of alienation as a

Latina writer, came to life five years later in The House on Mango Street (1983).

In addition to writing, Cisneros has taught at the Latino Youth Alternative High School in
Chicago and has been a college recruiter and counselor for minority students at Loyala

University of Chicago. She served as literature director for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts

Center in San Antonio, Texas, and was an artist in residence at the Foundation Michael

Karolyi in Vence, France. She has been a guest professor at California State University,

University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Irvine, University of Michigan,

Ann Arbor and the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Cisneros is also a member

of PEN and Mujeres por la Paz, a women's peace group which helps organize.

Cisneros was the only daughter among seven children, and her brothers attempts to

make her assume a traditional female role is reflected in the feminist strains of her

writing, glorifying heroines who dream of economic independence and celebrating the

"wicked" sexuality of women. The family frequently moved between the United States

and Mexico because of her father's homesickness for his native country and his

devotion to his mother who lived there. Consequently, Cisneros often felt homeless and

displaced. She began to read extensively, finding comfort in such works as Virginia Lee

Burton's The Little House and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Today,

Cisneros' works give both solace and realistic lessons about feelings which, as a child,

she felt were uniquely hers, namely cultural division, loneliness and shame.

A prime example of how Cisneros' writing speak to the experiences of the forgotten or

invisible of American society is The House on Mango Street. In this work, widely

celebrated

by critics, teachers, adults and adolescents alike, Cisneros introduces the reader to
Esperanza - a poor, Latina adolescent who longs for a room of her own and a house of

which she can be proud. Although Cisneros is noted primarily for her fiction, her poetry

has also garnered attention. In My Wicked, Wicked Ways (1987), Cisneros writes about

her native Chicago, her travels in Europe, and, as reflected in the title, sexual guilt

resulting from her strict Catholic upbringing. A collection of sixty poems, each of which

resemble a short story, the work exemplifies one of Cisneros' acclaimed knack for

combining and crossing the boundaries of genre.

Cisneros' other works include Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories (1991), and the

poetry collections Bad Boys and Loose Woman (1994). She has also written a book for

juveniles, Pelitos (1994). Cisneros has also contributed to numerous periodicals,

including Imagine, Contact II, Glamour, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times,

The Village Voice and Revista Chicano-Riquena. These works, short in titles but great in

fresh literary ideas and cultural resonance, have garnered Sandra Cisneros wide critical

acclaim as well as popular success. By reaching deep into her Chicana-Mexican

heritage and articulating sensations of displacement and longing, Sandra Cisneros has

created a lasting tribute to those who must conquer similar battles as she, and has

thereby left a lasting friend for all who have let their imaginations build a house all their

own.

BOOK ANSWER ME!

CHAPTER
 The narrator describes her mother’s hairs as being “like little
candy circles all curly and pretty.” What does this metaphor and
HAIRS those in the next paragraph suggest about the young girl’s
feelings for her mother?

- The young girl describes her mother in a positive way. She

is showing us her affection towards her mother.

How old do you think the narrator is? What gives you this
impression?
BOYS AND GIRLS
- Based on the story and a little research, The narrator is
around the age of 12-13 years old. Despite the fact that she
needed to lie about her age just to get a job, she still goes
to school and does activities kids her age do. Throughout
the novel, Esperanza strives to develop her own sense of
identity, while searching for the means out of her poverty-
stricken neighborhood just to show that she’s still young
and growing.

What’s In A Name?
1. What is your full name on your birth certificate?

- My full name is Sharen Ruzzelle Hubo Primero

2. How/Why did your parents choose this name?

- The story behind my name is from my grandparents. My first name which is

“Sharen” is from my grandparents from my father's side. My lolo is called “Saryo”
but his real name is Cesar, while my lola’s name is “Carina”. The “Sa '' from my
lolo’s nickname and the “Rin” in my lola’s name were combined and added a few
letters, and that's how they got “Sharen”.
- My second name which is “Ruzzelle” came from my grandparents from my
mother’s side. My lolo’s name is “Santa Cruz” while my lola is “melinda”. The
“Ruz” and the “eli” were mixed together and that’s how they got “Ruzzelle”.
Funny story, My second names originally didn’t have two Z’s and two L’s, they
 just added it to make it unique.

3. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it and how did you get it?

- I have a lot of nicknames, But the one my friends use is “Shawii”. This nickname
was given to me by my old schoolmate when I was still in elementary. My
nickname is from the famous actress Sharon Cuneta. She had the almost exact
nickname as mine. Now my friends and my fans online know me as “Shawii”.
- My second nickname is from my tita. She calls me “Tets”. The story behind this is
quite cute. When I was a kid, I was really chubby, and chubby kids were called
“butet” here where I live. And that is how my tita got the nickname.

4. If you could change your name to any other name, what name would you choose?
Why?

- Growing up, I was insecure of my name since it was a unique name and you
barely know anyone with a name like this. I always wanted a name that could be
more girly or common like “Shane”. It was also starting to get annoying when
people mispronounced my name all the time which added another reason why I
wanted to change my name. But I started to grow and like my name. The reason
why is because I started to join pageants and contests. Everytime I win and my
name is called on stage, it feels so good. Now that I’m older, I love it when
people call out my name.

Cathy Queen of Cats

Describe a neighbor that you may or may not know and
 what you think they might be like based on your
observations or your imagination. Make sure you give
them a unique name such as Cathy Queen of Cats.

- My neighborhood is not that big, that’s why almost everyone knows each
other. But one person really stands out amongst the crowd. Let’s call him
Mr. Dumbledore. I’m calling him Dumbledore because he looks like
him, he has a beard like him and hair like him. He reminds me a lot of
the old man from the book and movie “The little Prince”. His house was
surrounded by plants and signs and other clutter. He teaches kung-fu,
karate and other martial arts. Every morning when we pick up my aunt to
go to school, I would always pass by his house and he would be lifting
weights outside while smoking a cigar and drinking coffee. He doesn’t
have any family members, that’s what I know, but he has a lot of dogs
that he looks out for and takes care of. His lifestyle really caught my
attention since I was a little girl, he is really cool and if I had a chance to
interview him, I would take the opportunity.
 What’s my NEIGHBORHOOD like?
Give a description of Esperanza’s neighborhood as depicted in the
novel. Then, give a description of your own neighborhood.

Description
Esperanza’s Not the house you dreamed of. It was a poor neighborhood
Neighborhoo in Chicago and a populated Latino neighborhood.
d

My Own Quiet neighborhood filled with a lot of big houses. People

Neighborhood
don’t really go outside here where I live so it is really
peaceful.

Role Models
Esperanza is exposed to several female role models
throughout her life experience on Mango Street. After
reading each of the following chapters, identify the
significant event that happened in the life of the
 individual woman described in the chapter and how the
person is a positive or negative female role model for
Esperanza.

Chapter Individual What Happened & How The Person Is A

Role Model

Edna’s Ruthie Ruthie's character shows empathy and

Ruthie understanding for those who struggle to fit into
societal norms or face challenges that make it
difficult for them to fully participate in adult
life.

Rafaela Rafaela Her restricted movement and desire for

Who freedom shed light on the limitations and
Drinks challenges faced by women in the
Coconut neighborhood.

Sally Sally Sally is portrayed as a beautiful but troubled

girl who faces abuse and control in her family.
She becomes a symbol of the challenges and
struggles that women in the neighborhood may
face. Esperanza admires Sally's physical beauty
and initially sees her as a source of escape from
the limitations of Mango Street.

Minerva Minerva Despite facing hardship, Minerva continues to

Writes pursue her passion for poetry and writing.
Poems

Name three of your own role models and explain why they have had a positive
influence on your life.

1. My lola: I grew up not having a mother figure in my life, my lola and my tita’s
basically looked after me. She didn’t finish school and they weren’t rich back then,
but I’m fascinated that she managed to make her children’s graduate from college.
She makes and cooks the best foods and she was the one who made me want to take
culinary courses and become a chef in the future.
2. My cousin: She grew up as my sister. I didn’t have any siblings as well as she, we
both looked alike that’s why people think we are siblings. She graduated BSN and is
now a nurse in the US. Her lifestyle is the dream life I want. She has traveled the
globe, spent her 28th birthday in Paris, managed to buy luxury brands for mom and
buys everything she wants. She influences me to take nursing and go abroad to work
to fulfill the dream life I want for my family,

3. My father: He is the one who supports me in everything I do. He quit his job in
Manila to look after me here in Camiling when I started to go to grade school. He is a
tricycle driver, but he still manages to give me everything I ask him. He is a
hardworking person, and I want to pay back when I grow up. He is diagnosed with a
type of blood cancer and he gets sick really easily, but he still works all the time. I
look up to him for his hard work he has put into our family. He is the glue that holds
my family together.

3.

Escaping Where You Come From

The theme of escape is weaved throughout many of the
stories in “The House on Mango Street” and nearly all of
the residents dream of escaping their neighborhood in
search for a better opportunity and lifestyle.

Book Answer Me
Chapter
Linoleum 1. How is Sally able to leave Mango Street?
Roses - She was linked with a man who was her key to leaving the
neighborhood.

2. Has Sally found the kind of freedom Esperanza is searching for?

Why or why not?
- No, because after her marriage, Sally was not living the life she
was expecting because of her husband who was controlling and
abusive.
 3. What has Sally gained and what has she lost by leaving Mango
Street?
- Sally gained freedom from her family and the constraints of
Mango Street by leaving through marriage.

Three Sisters 1. What does Esperanza wish for?

- She wishes to leave.

2. What did the three sisters mean when they said “you must
remember to come back for the others?”
- Do not forget where you came from.

3. Will Esperanza follow their advice?

- Yes

Alicia and I Why does Esperanza feel like she does not belong in her
neighborhood?
Talking on the
- Her dreams of owning her own house, having a room of her
Steps own, and escaping the confines of Mango Street reflect her
longing for a different, more fulfilling life.

A House of My What is most important to Esperanza? Why?

- The independence she wanted. She always wanted a house of
Own
her own and leave mango street.
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