Discussion Questions

“The House on Mango Street”

1.Where did the narrator live before she moved to The House on Mango Street? 

2.How were her previous homes different?

3.In what kind of house would she like to live?

"Hairs"

1.Who are the members of Esperanza's family?

"My Name"

1.After whom was Esperanza named? 

2.What does her namesake's story tell you about the status of women in Mexican society?

"Cathy Queen of Cats"

1.Why is Cathy's family about to move?

"Our Good Day"

1.How does Esperanza make friends with Lucy and Rachel? 

2.What makes them better friends than Cathy?

3.What did Esperanza buy?

4.How did she go about buying it?

"Marin"

1.Who is Marin? 

2.Why is she unable to leave her house?

3.How does she plan to change her situation? 

4.Why do Esperanza and her friends admire her?

5.Where is Marin going in a year?Why?

"Those Who Don't"

1.How do outsiders see Esperanza's neighborhood? 

2.How does Esperanza feel when she visits other neighborhoods?

"There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do"

1.Why does Rosa Vargas cry every day?

2.What does Esperanza say the Vargas children don’t have?