House on Mango Street Journal Prompts
“House on Mango Street” (3-5): Have you ever had to move? How long had you lived in your house? What were your fears? What were your hopes? Did either your hopes and/or your fears prove true? If not, what happened instead?
“Hairs” (6-7): In this vignette, Esperanza reflects on the differences in hair of all of her family members and the associations she has with each person’s hair. Are there any facial or physical features that vary in similar ways among your family members? If not physical differences, what makes each person in your family unique?
“Boys & Girls” (8-9): Do you have a sibling like Esperanza’s little sister Nenny who you feel responsible for or felt stuck playing with growing up? Do you think that feeling will ever go away or will you always feel responsible for him/her?
“My Name” (10-11): What does your name mean? Are there any family or historical stories associated with it? Did you ever wish you had a different name? Why? What would you/did you want to be called instead?
"Cathy Queen of Cats” (12-13): In this vignette, Esperanza’s friend announces that she is moving because “the neighborhood is getting bad” and Esperanza says they will have to move a little farther in from Mango St., a little farther away every time people like us keep moving in” (13). Did you ever develop friendships with kids whose parents prevented your friendship because they did not approve of “people like you”? Do you feel like there are areas of Orange County where people like Cathy’s family avoid living? Is that fair? How do you think it feels for people who may or may not be forced by financial circumstances to live in neighborhoods others avoid?
“Our Good Day” (14-16): In this scene, Esperanza chooses to ignore her friend Cathy when she tells her some other kids aren’t cool enough to play with and ends up having a fun day biking and laughing. Do you have any memories of a fun day like this? Have you ever stood up against peer pressure and been rewarded later like this?
“Laughter” (17-18): Families share similarities that go beyond physical similarities, as Esperanza explores in “Laughter” when she talks about the similar laughs she and her sister have and their common understanding of what houses in Mexico look like. What things do you share with your siblings that go beyond physical similarities?
“Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold” (19-20): Recall a memory you have of a time when you saw something in a store that you just had to have but never got, perhaps because your parents thought it was silly. What had you envisioned doing with the object and how did you feel when you were forced to realize you couldn’t have it?
“Meme Ortiz” (21-22): In this vignette, Esperanza describes her neighbor’s house and his dog, which looks a lot like him. Describe a place where you have spent a lot of time or a pet that you think is similar to its owner.
“Louie, His Cousin, & His Other Cousin” (23-25): In this vignette, Esperanza shares a memory of her interaction with someone who is trouble in the law, trying to share something special he bought with his family before getting caught and arrested by the police. Do you have any experiences with criminals that helped you learn they can be regular people with families, too? Or do you have a frightening encounter with police and/or criminals you want to write down?
“Marin” (26-27): Marin is an older teenager in the neighborhood, a little boy crazy, who seems to be someone Esperanza looks to for knowledge about other things: “She is the one who told us how Davey the Baby’s sister got pregnant and what cream is best for taking off moustache hair and if you count the white flecks on your fingernails you can know how many boys are thinking of you and lots of other things I can’t remember now” (27). They also seem to admire Marin when she responds to boys asking for the green apples in her eyes by just looking “at them without even blinking and is not afraid” (26). Have you ever had someone who gave you insights into things you didn’t know because you were too young and grown-ups weren’t telling you? What kinds of things did this person tell you (appropriate, please)? What was that person’s dream? Were they also “waiting for a car to stop, star to fall, someone to change [their] life” (27)?
“Those Who Don’t” (28): Have you ever been judged unfairly for your appearance or race? What happened? How did you feel?
(Sandra)“There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children…” (29-30): In this chapter we hear about the Vargas kids “who [were] too many and too much” (29). Have you ever met kids that were so poorly behaved that “after a while you get tired of being worried about” (30) it? Is there someone you know about who has been “left without even a dollar for bologna or a note explaining how come” (29)? Do you think misbehavior is linked to poor circumstances at home?
(Daniela): “There was an Old Woman…..”(29-30): In this vignette, there is a woman who has many children and always cries about “the man who left without even leaving a dollar for bologna or a note explaining how come ”(29). Have you or someone around you felt like this person, trapped and have too many responsibilities? Do you ever feel like you need to get away from your responsibilities or problems?
Anthony “Alicia Who Sees Mice” (31-32): In this chapter, Alicia stays up late to study while the rest of the family sleeps, and then, because her mother has died, she is the one who is expected to rise early in the morning to make breakfast for the family. When she complains to her dad about mice, he says she’s only imagining it. Have you ever told your family or friends about something that they dismissed and told you not to worry about? How did that make you feel? Do you have responsibilities at home that you have inherited that ever seem unfair? What did you have to do and why?
(Tuyen): “Darius & the Clouds” (33-34): In this vignette, Darius sees God in the clouds. What things in the world around you remind you of a power greater than yourself? Have you ever spent some time looking at the clouds? What were some shapes you saw? Have you ever imagined actually being in the clouds? How do you think that would be?
(Jocelin): "And Some More" (35-38): In this vignette, Esperanza tells Nenny, "And clouds got at least ten different names, I say. Names of clouds? Nenny asks. Names just like you and me?" (36). Is what Esperanza tells Nenny. In this vignette, Esperanza compares clouds with people by telling Nenny that though clouds look alike, they have different names like people do. But Rachel tells Nenny that all clouds are cumulus and are going to be cumulus tomorrow as they have been every day before; they all look alike and have the same name. Have you ever been treated unfairly because of the stereotypes based on your heritage or ethnicity? What are the stereotypes? How do you feel about those stereotypes? Do you think people should believe the stereotypes that may say that a specific ethnic group should be smart, lazy, dumb, and etc.?
“The Family of Little Feet” (39-42): In this vignette, the girls gain new confidence from wearing high heels for the first time. Have you ever worn something that made you feel like a different person? What did it look like? How did it change the way you felt?
OR…Another darker aspect of this vignette is how these high heels prompt men to make advances on the girls in the street in a way that makes them uncomfortable and makes them not want to wear the shoes anymore. Have you ever been mistreated because of something you were wearing? Did the mistreatment change the way you thought when you put on clothes from then on? Why or why not?
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