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The House on Mango Street
Discussion Questions
The House on Mango Street
1. Why is the house on Mango Street an improvement over the narrator’s other homes? In
what ways does it fall short of her “dream” house?
2. How large is the narrator’s family? What is their religion? What do you think the
following quotation says about the narrator’s feelings about her home?
“I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to.”
3. What do you think is the significance of the “four little elms the city planted by the
curb”?
Hairs
Rosettes- little roses
1. What character traits are suggested for each of the following family members by the
narrator’s description of each one’s hair?
Papa
Carlos
Nenny
Kiki
2. What does the following quotation suggest about the quality of the narrator’s home?
“The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.”
3. About how old do you think the narrator is at the beginning of the novel?
Boys & Girls
1. What qualities does the narrator want in a best friend?
2. In what way can it be said the narrator has “mixed” feelings about her sister Nenny?
3. This novel is writing in a poetic style. What do you think is the meaning of the following
metaphor: “Until then I am a red balloon tied to an anchor.”
My Name
Chandelier- a holder for several candles or electric lights
1. Why is it bad luck for a woman to be born in the year of the horse?
2. Why does Esperanza say that she has her grandmother’s name but doesn’t “want to
inherit her place by the window”?
3. What does Esperanza dislike about her name? Why do you suppose she wants to be
called Zeze the x?
