The House Flashcards, test questions and answers
Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about The House and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on The House and get quick solutions for your test.
What is The House?
The House on Mango Street, written by Sandra Cisneros, is an important work of literature that has had a profound impact on readers. It tells the story of Esperanza, a young Hispanic girl growing up in Chicago’s Latino neighborhood and her struggle to navigate her identity in an unfamiliar world. Through poetic vignettes, the novel explores topics such as poverty, family dynamics, gender roles, community relationships and social justice.Esperanza’s journey begins with her move to Mango Street a house that she views as inferior compared to the suburban dream homes she often saw while riding the bus with her mother. As she tries to make sense of her new home and its inhabitants, Esperanza struggles to fit into a culture that seems foreign yet strangely familiar at times. Her interactions with other characters like Sally who dreams of escaping Mango Street; Marin whose innocence is stolen when she’s raped; Meme Ortiz who lives without hope for his future; and Aunt Lupe who teaches Esperanza about resilience demonstrate how powerful stories can be used to convey complex issues within a diverse community. Through these personal narratives we learn about injustice experienced by minorities especially women in America’s inner cities. We discover how poverty affects children’s education opportunities or lack thereof and how adults must often choose between earning enough money for their families or pursuing their own dreams in life. We also see how stereotypes shape people’s perceptions of one another which can have devastating consequences if not challenged regularly by those with different experiences than our own. By writing The House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros gives voice to individuals living in marginalized communities across America and encourages us all to think critically about our role in creating more equitable societies free from oppression.