The House on Mango Street

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 44 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. How does Esperanza feel about the house on Mango Street, and what does she wish for instead?
2. In “Hairs,” what do the different descriptions of hair show about Esperanza’s family?
3. Why does Esperanza think boys and girls live in separate worlds, and how does this affect her friendships?
4. What does Esperanza’s name mean to her, and why might she want to change it?
5. What do we learn about Cathy in this chapter, and why do you think she acts the way she does?
6. How does Esperanza’s “good day” with Lucy and Rachel change how she feels about Mango Street?
7. What does Esperanza notice about her laugh and Nenny’s laugh, and what does this show about sisters?
8. What is Gil’s store like, and how does the music box make Esperanza feel?
9. How is Meme Ortiz’s house different from Esperanza’s house, and what does this tell us about the neighborhood?
10. What happens with Louie’s cousin, and how do the children react to it?
11. What does Marin dream about for her future, and what does her dreaming tell us about her character?
12. Why do some people feel afraid in Esperanza’s neighborhood, and how does Esperanza see things differently?
13. What challenges does Rosa Vargas face with her children, and how does the neighborhood respond?
14. Why does Alicia work so hard at school, and what is she trying to escape or change?
15. How does Darius surprise Esperanza when he talks about the clouds, and what does this show about him?
16. Why do the children argue about names for snow and clouds, and what does this scene show about their imaginations?
17. How do the girls feel when they wear the high-heeled shoes, and what lesson do they learn from the experience?
18. Why does Esperanza want to eat in the canteen at school, and how does she feel when her plan does not work?
19. What makes the dance in “Chanclas” important for Esperanza, and how do her feelings change during the chapter?
20. What do the girls learn as they talk about hips, and how does Esperanza use words to understand growing up?
21. How does Esperanza’s first job turn out differently than she expected, and what does she learn from it?
22. How does Esperanza’s father act after his father dies, and what new responsibility does Esperanza feel?
23. Why does Esperanza feel guilty about what happened to Aunt Lupe, and what does this chapter teach about kindness?
24. What does Esperanza hope to learn from Elenita, and how does the visit leave her feeling?
25. Why is Geraldo remembered as “no last name,” and what is the author showing about people who are not well known?
26. What is Ruthie like, and why might Esperanza feel both interested in her and sorry for her?
27. What do the children imagine about Earl, and why do you think they make up stories about him?
28. How does Esperanza feel about Sire, and what does this chapter show about curiosity and growing up?
29. Why does Esperanza compare herself to the four skinny trees, and what strength does she see in them?
30. How does Mamacita feel about living in a new place, and why is language so important in this chapter?
31. What does Rafaela want when she is locked inside, and how does the chapter show her longing for freedom?
32. How does Esperanza describe Sally, and why do you think Esperanza is drawn to her?
33. What do Esperanza and Minerva have in common, and how do poems help them share their feelings?
34. Why does Esperanza think about bums in the attic of her future house, and what does this show about her hopes?
35. What does Esperanza mean when she says she has decided not to grow up tame, and what kind of person does she want to become?
36. What lesson does Esperanza’s mother share in “A Smart Cookie,” and how might it guide Esperanza’s choices?
37. What does the chapter “What Sally Said” reveal about Sally’s life, and how does it help us understand her better?
38. How does the monkey garden change for Esperanza, and what does that change mean to her?
39. How does Esperanza feel in “Red Clowns,” and why is it important that she tells the truth about her feelings?
40. What do the “linoleum roses” suggest about Sally’s new married life, and why might Esperanza see it as disappointing?
41. What advice do the three sisters give Esperanza, and why is it important for her future?
42. What does Alicia mean when she says Mango Street is part of Esperanza, and how does Esperanza respond?
43. What kind of house does Esperanza dream of having, and why is it so important to her?
44. At the end of the book, how has Esperanza’s understanding of Mango Street changed, and what does she promise to do?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

Why does Esperanza compare herself to the four skinny trees, and what strength does she see in them?

I think Esperanza compares herself to the four skinny trees because they are stuck in a hard place, just like she feels stuck on Mango Street. The trees do not have much room or good soil, but they keep growing anyway. Esperanza sees that they are strong because they do not give up. This helps her believe she can be strong too.

What lesson does Esperanza’s mother share in “A Smart Cookie,” and how might it guide Esperanza’s choices?

Esperanza’s mother tells her that she could have done more with her life if she had kept learning and believed in herself. I think she wants Esperanza to use her chances and not quit. This lesson might help Esperanza work hard in school and follow her dreams. It also shows that her mother wants a better future for her.

At the end of the book, how has Esperanza’s understanding of Mango Street changed, and what does she promise to do?

At the end, Esperanza still wants to leave Mango Street, but she understands that it helped make her who she is. She knows she cannot forget the people who live there. She promises that if she leaves, she will come back for the ones who cannot leave. I think this shows she is growing up and thinking about others, not just herself.