eleven essay sandra cisneros

A Summary and Analysis of Sandra Cisneros’ ‘Eleven’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Eleven’ is a short story by the American writer Sandra Cisneros (born 1954). In the story, a girl’s eleventh birthday is ruined when her teacher forces her to take responsibility for somebody else’s sweater. The narrator bursts into tears in front of her classmates and laments the fact that she isn’t older.

Plot summary

The narrator of the story is Rachel, a girl celebrating her eleventh birthday. She says that when you turn eleven, you are still all your previous ages underneath, like an onion or a collection of Russian dolls : so when an eleven-year-old gets scared and goes to sit on her mother’s lap, she is reverting to her five-year-old self – who is still there, below her eleven-year-old surface.

Rachel recounts how on the day of her eleventh birthday, her schoolteacher, Mrs Price, came into class with an ugly red sweater which had been in the coatroom for some time. She asks whose it is, but nobody claims it. A girl name Sylvia, who Rachel suspects doesn’t like her, lies and tells Mrs Price that the sweater belongs to Rachel, and so the teacher gives the sweater to Rachel, who denies it, but Mrs Price doesn’t believe her.

The sweater sits on Rachel’s desk, and she tries to distance herself from the ugly sweater. But when the lesson comes to an end and Mrs Price sees Rachel trying to leave the sweater behind, she forces her to put it on, and Rachel does so, bursting into tears in front of the whole class.

Another girl, Phyllis, remembers the sweater is hers, and Rachel takes it off and hands it to her. But her birthday has already been ruined by the incident with the sweater, and she wants to forget it as quickly as possible.

Cisneros’ short story is about growing up, with her young narrator offering a precociously wise perspective on the arbitrary nature of birthdays. As Rachel observes, when we turn eleven, we don’t become a new person overnight.

And to an extent, we continue to carry around a memory of our younger selves at all times: at one point, Rachel tells us that she points out to her mother, whenever ‘Mama’ feels like crying, that she is becoming her three-year-old self again.

The incident with the ugly red sweater, which is the most important symbol in ‘Eleven’, proves Rachel’s observation correct. The unhappy encroachment of this foreign body into her happy day is all it takes to reduce her to her three-year-old self, with her ‘little animal noises’ and ‘spit’ coming out of her mouth recalling infancy and toddler tantrums rather than the more mature behaviour of the average eleven-year-old.

But the symbolism of the red sweater is more interesting than this suggests. It is at once a catalyst for sending Rachel back into her former three-year-old state and a symbol of coming-of-age, a kind of scarlet reminder of sin and corruption which quickly intrudes on the innocent paradise of childhood and leads us, to borrow William Blake’s terms , to exchange innocence for experience.

Nothing is quite the same after that. Rachel’s eleventh birthday will prove to be an important and memorable day in her development, but not for the reasons she was expecting.

And this is why the colour of the sweater matters so much. Red suggests corruption and sin, and perhaps even (given the bodily connotations of the garment) flesh, blood, and the onset of adolescence which will mark Rachel’s ensuing birthdays.

It is telling that she focuses on the ‘itchy’ nature of the sweater and the ‘germs’ within it as she is forced to put it on: against her will, her body is invaded by foreign elements which make her feel dirty and even violated. (In this connection, even the word for the garment, sweat er, takes on a more disgusting significance.)

It is also significant that Rachel likens the sweater, with its stretched-out arms (outstretched as if for an unwanted hug? it will, after all, offer a grim parody of an embrace when she is forced to don it), to a ‘jump-rope’. Here the childhood connotations of play and games (skipping in a carefree manner) collides with the darker associations of ‘rope’, as a tool for restraint and control.

And this, of course, is also relevant given the portrayal of the teacher-pupil relationship in ‘Eleven’. Mrs Price, whose very name suggests punishment as well as cold materialism (paying the price for one’s actions, but also knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing?), asserts her power over Rachel by forcing her to claim the sweater, even after Rachel has stated that it isn’t hers.

She is merely keen to get rid of a sweaty old garment that has been in her coatroom for too long, and is willing to pass it on to Rachel, even though she knows it doesn’t belong to her. Rachel is growing up but she is still under the control of the adults in her life.

In this connection, even the subject of the class in which this incident takes place takes on significance: it is in the maths class, dominated not by creativity or artistic expression but cold, hard equations and graphs. The regimented nature of the school day (that school bell) is reinforced by the joyless and constrained nature of the class in which Rachel is made to share her desk with the red abomination that is the sweater.

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Sandra Cisneros’ Eleven: Summary & Analysis

• Sandra Cisneros’ Eleven: Summary &…

“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros, uses many literary devices to characterize a complex eleven-year-old. Rachel, the ingenious 1st person narrator, relates the details of her humiliating eleventh birthday.

Although her diction reflects her age, Rachel conveys the difficulty of growing up with adult precision. She is embarrassed and feels helpless, but knows she will soon be home with her parents, and her terrible day will drift away. Rachel’s age is given away not only by the title but by her word choice.

She employs numerous similes, describing crying like uncontrollable hiccups, drinking milk too fast, and little animal noises. Her confidence rattles like “pennies in a tin Band-Aid Box,” and she is always on the edge of lapsing into another session of tears. However, Rachel’s diction does not simply betray her age.

Descriptions like “smells like cottage cheese” are insights into her true personality. She is passionate and curious, almost to a fault. Because she describes things like runaway balloons, she is a believable eleven-year-old.

First-person narration reveals though Rachel’s thoughts are those of a typical eleven-year-old her descriptive ability is more mature. Rachel has an uncanny ability to convey her feelings. However, because she is an ingenious narrator, she sometimes misses the deeper significance of her feelings. Although she twice mentions she is looking forward to cake, her birthday song, and normal birthday things, she does not mention she also needs the comfort of her parents.

On the other hand, unlike most older, or mature, people, she understands enough about life experience to know she does not have enough. Twice she mentions she would like to have the experience of someone who is one hundred and two.

At eleven Rachel realizes that with experience comes confidence, personal strength, and most important to her, knowing what to do in hostile situations. As amazing as those thoughts are, Rachel’s most impressive thought is about age. She understands that people display the characteristics of the ages they have passed.

She understands that although she is eleven, she can still be scared like she is five, or cry like she is three. What she does not grasp is that people can display characteristics beyond their years. Rachel displays that advanced maturity in her thoughts. The only dialogue in the story is between Rachel and her teacher, Mrs. Price.

Every conversation is the same, Mrs. Price does not listen to Rachel and dominates their conversations. Rachel associates being right with being older, so she lets Mrs. Price have her way. Mrs. Price is so dominating Rachel can respond with what she calls her four-year-old voice. She stumbles for a reply, eventually saying only, “Not mine, not mine.”

Rachel is helpless and feels sick inside as she is forced to wear that sweater. So much emphasis is given to what Rachel is thinking, but the dialogue can show her outward personality. Rachel is non-confrontational, timid, and shy. Rachel desperately wants her terrible day to be over.

She wants to be one-hundred and two because then days like this one would be far behind. After she is brought to tears and reluctantly she puts on the sweater and even though she did not have to wear the sweater long, she is changed. She realizes facing challenges is at the foundation of experience. Her old self floats away like a balloon.

Sandra Cisneros’s “Eleven” uses point of view, diction, dialogue, and symbolism to characterize an eleven-year-old’s coming of age. The unique characteristics of an eleven- year old have allowed her to make important discoveries about growing up. Rachel survives her humiliation and becomes smart eleven.

She feels smart eleven, and almost a year sooner than usual. Rachel realizes that people are the sum of their experience. She desperately wants to be one hundred and two but realizes that her experience adds up to eleven.

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Author:  William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

15 Comments

 Psychological lens of the story eleven

I need help with the objective summary.

I need help on her personality traits

Thank you to everyone in the comments for all the help

I love this book but is it really about a girl or is it about you?

The author (Sandra Cisneros) wrote it.

what are the Rhetorical uses in this story?

I need to now the answer of this question please “Which emotions are emphasized through the author’s use of the first-person point of view?” Cite evidence in your answer.

What is the theme of eleven?

Children are frustrated with adults and feel life is unfair because of them. If she had been older she would have known how to respond

Coming of age, sadness and family

How does Rachel feel about the sweater?Include evidence from story to support the answer.

I need help on how`s the characters reaction

i need help on compound, complex,compound-complex sentences in this story??

i dont think this question needs to be answered at this point

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Eleven By Sandra Cisneros Essay

“Eleven” is a short story written by Sandra Cisneros. It tells the story of a young girl’s eleventh birthday, and how her perspective on the world changes after a series of events.

The protagonist, Rachel, is an eleven-year-old girl who is growing up in a poor neighborhood. She is the eldest of three sisters, and her parents are divorced. Rachel is resentful of her younger sisters, who she feels are favored by their father.

On the day of her eleventh birthday, Rachel’s perspective begins to change. She wakes up to find that her mother has left her a gift – a coat that once belonged to Rachel’s grandmother. This gift makes Rachel feel seen and appreciated, and she begins to see her mother in a new light.

Later that day, Rachel’s father takes her and her sisters out for ice cream. While they are waiting in line, a group of older boys begin to tease Rachel and her sisters. Rachel is embarrassed and angry, but her father steps in and defends them. This act of kindness makes Rachel realize that her father does care for her, even if he doesn’t always show it.

By the end of the day, Rachel has experienced a series of small epiphanies that have changed the way she sees herself, her family, and the world around her. Eleven is a coming-of-age story about finding hope and meaning in everyday moments.

“Eleven” is narrated by a character who has an interesting combination of the maturity and immaturity you would expect from an eleven-year-old, which defines the story through the use of figurative language. For example, although it is certainly childish to cry because someone won’t let you wear a certain sweater, she makes points that adults can relate to. After all, even as adults we can still remember what it felt like to be eleven years old.

Eleven is that age where kids are not quite sure if they are still children or if they are on the cusp of becoming adults. This story captures that feeling perfectly.

Sandra Cisneros does an excellent job of creating a vivid picture of what it was like to be eleven through the use of figurative language. The imagery she uses allows readers to feel as though they are right there with the narrator, experiencing everything she does. One example of this is when the narrator talks about how her teacher, Mrs. Price, smells “like stale bread and Gucci perfume” (Cisneros 3). This description creates a very clear image in the reader’s mind and also helps to establish Mrs. Price as a character.

The use of first person point of view also allows readers to feel close to the narrator and understand her feelings and motivations. Eleven-year-olds are not always the best at communicating what they’re thinking or how they’re feeling, but the reader is able to get a good sense of both through the narrator’s thoughts and actions.

Overall, “Eleven” is a well-written short story that does an excellent job of transporting readers back to their own eleventh year. The use of figurative language, first person point of view, and relatable subject matter all contribute to making this a memorable and enjoyable read.

It may appear that the protagonist has trouble mustering up the courage to disclose the truth about her sweater, however, it could just be an internal conflict she’s experiencing. Feeling embarrassed and ashamed of what happened, all she wants to do is forget that it ever occurred. “I only wish I didn’t have to relive this mortifying experience every time I think about it.”

Eleven is a short story written by Sandra Cisneros. In the story, a young girl named Rachel is celebrating her birthday. Eleven seems to be a big deal for her, and she spent the night before her birthday worrying about it.

When Rachel woke up on the morning of her birthday, she found that her mother had left her a present: a sweater. The sweater was ugly, and Rachel knew that her mother had bought it because it was on sale. She also knew that her mother had bought it in the wrong size, so she would not be able to wear it.

Rachel’s initial reaction to the sweater was one of disappointment and embarrassment. She did not want to wear the sweater because she did not want to be seen in it. However, she did not want to hurt her mother’s feelings by telling her the truth. Instead, she smiled and said thank you.

Throughout the day, Rachel struggled with what to do about the sweater. She knew that she could not wear it, but she also did not want to hurt her mother’s feelings. In the end, she decided to tell her mother the truth. She explained that the sweater was ugly and that she would not be able to wear it.

The story ends with Rachel’s mother taking the sweater back to the store and getting a refund. Rachel is relieved that she does not have to wear the sweater, and her mother is relieved that Rachel was honest with her.

The childlike simile of her years being like pennies in a Band-Aid box belies the narrator’s wisdom, as she is able to show through ideas like “When you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five. And four. And three. And two. And one.” Older people know what it feels like to feel all those ages because they have lived them; in this case however narrator expresses a desire for things to be different.

She doesn’t want to be Eleven. The Band-Aid box is a good symbol for Eleven because when you’re little, Band-Aids are amazing. They make everything better. But as you get older, you realize that Band-Aids can’t fix everything. The narrator is at the age where she is starting to realize that.

The story Eleven is about a girl who is trying to find her place in the world. She doesn’t feel like she belongs anywhere. She’s too old to be a kid, but she’s not quite a teenager either.

The story Eleven is about growing up and learning that the world isn’t always fair. But it also shows that growing up can be a good thing. The narrator may not be Eleven forever, but she’ll always remember what it was like to be Eleven.

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Eleven by Sandra Cisneros is a short story about a young girl’s birthday that does not go as planned. Eleven-year-old Rachel feels embarrassed and frustrated when she is treated like a child in front of her friends, and her mother does not seem to understand. However, through the course of the day, Rachel begins to see that growing up is not always what she thought it would be.

Eleven is a coming-of-age story that many readers can relate to. The theme of feeling misunderstood is something that many people experience at some point in their lives. Cisneros captures this feeling perfectly through the character of Rachel. In the end, Rachel learns that growing up comes with its own challenges and rewards, and that it is not always easy. This is a lesson that many people need to learn, and Cisneros does it in a way that is both relatable and enjoyable.

Children feel that life is unjust at one time or another, and it’s usually due to grown-ups. Sandra Cisneros, the award-winning Mexican-American novelist, poet, short story writer, and essayist, captures this in her famous short tale ‘Eleven,’ which explores universal childhood anger with adults. The poem by John Donne has been translated into 5 languages – French (1525), Spanish (1529), Italian (1574), English(1709) and Dutch (1823).

The story is narrated by a young girl named Esperanza, who is Eleven years old at the time of the events. Esperanza’s family has recently moved to a new home in a poorer neighborhood, and she is attending a new school. She is having trouble making friends at her new school, and feels out of place because she is one of the only Mexican-Americans there. One day, when Esperanza is walking home from school by herself, she gets lost in the unfamiliar neighborhood.

A large man approaches her and asks for directions. Esperanza doesn’t know how to answer him because she doesn’t know where she is, so he grabs her hand and leads her home. When Esperanza’s mother sees her coming in with the man, she becomes angry and starts to scold her. Esperanza doesn’t understand why her mother is so mad, since she was just trying to help.

Cisneros’ story deals with the universal themes of childhood innocence, confusion, and frustration with adults. Esperanza is a relatable protagonist for all children who have ever felt lost or misunderstood. The story is written in simple, lyrical language that will appeal to young readers. Cisneros also includes Spanish words throughout the text, giving readers a taste of bilingualism. This story can teach young readers about the importance of being kind and helping others, even when they don’t know how.

Rachel’s thoughts are revealed to be those of a typical eleven-year-old, despite her mature descriptive skill. Rachel has an amazing talent for communicating her sentiments. She may, however, overlook the deeper meaning of her sentiments because she is an ingenuous narrator. Despite claiming that she looks forward to cake, her birthday song, and regular birthday activities, she does not state that she also wants the warmth and comfort of her parents.

This can be seen in her observations about Mrs. Price, the teacher who yells, and Mr.Lesniak, the man with one arm. Rachel begins to understand there is more to life than what she has experienced when she sees how people like Mrs.Price and Mr. Lesniak have had to endure so much more pain than she has ever felt. Eleven by Sandra Cisneros is a short story about an eleven-year-old girl’s birthday, told from the first person point of view of Rachel.

Eleven seems like just another normal day for Rachel until she starts reflecting on her age. She begins to think about all of the birthdays she has had up until this point and how each year has brought new realizations and changes. One change that Eleven highlights is Rachel’s realization that she is no longer a little girl. She is now officially a pre-teen and has to start acting like one.

This new found realization leads to an internal conflict for Rachel because on one hand, she wants to act like the mature pre-teen she now is, but on the other hand, she still feels like a little girl who just wants her mommy. Eleven is ultimately a story about growing up and the changes that come with it, told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old girl.

Twice, she expresses a desire to have the experience of someone who is one hundred and two. At eleven, Rachel understands that with experience comes confidence, personal power, and most importantly, knowing what to do in hostile situations. Rachel’s most remarkable notion is about age. She understands that people display the traits of the ages they’ve lived through. She knows that even though she is only eleven years old, she can still be scared or cry as if she were five or three years old.

This thought is important to Rachel because she Eleven by Sandra Cisneros is a short story about a young girl’s birthday and the events leading up to it. Eleven-year-old Rachel feels grown-up and responsible when she is left home alone for the first time, but her childish fears return when she must defend her family’s honor.

Sandra Cisneros’ Eleven brings to light some of the trials and tribulations that children face as they are growing up. In this story, Rachel is celebrating her eleventh birthday, but she doesn’t feel as though she is really grown up yet. She still has childish fears, like being afraid of the dark or of dogs.

However, she also has to with more adult situations, like being left home alone for the first time or defending her family’s honor. In the end, Rachel learns that she is still in the process of growing up and that it is okay to have both childish and adult fears. This story provides a unique perspective on what it means to be eleven years old.

Much emphasis is placed on Rachel’s thoughts in this scene, but the conversation may also show her exterior demeanor. Rachel is non-confrontational, timid, and reserved. Rachel wants to be over one hundred years old so she can put this horrible day behind her.

She’d want to be 102 because then days like today would be long gone. She begins crying after being forced to wear the sweater against her will and puts it on despite not having to keep it for a long time; as a result of doing so, she changes. She understands that meeting obstacles at its core is part of the adventure .

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“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros analysis

“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros, uses many literary devices to characterize a complex eleven-year-old. Rachel, the ingenuous 1st person narrator, relates the details of her humiliating eleventh birthday. Although her diction reflects her age, Rachel conveys the difficulty of growing up with adult precision. She is embarrassed and feels helpless, but knows she will soon be home with her parents, and her terrible day will drift away. Rachel’s age is given away not only by the title, but by her word choice.

She employs numerous similes, describing crying like uncontrollable iccups, drinking milk to fast, and little animal noises. Her confidence rattles like “pennies in a tin Band-Aid Box,” and she is always on the edge of lapsing into another session of tears. However, Rachel’s diction does not simple betray her age. Descriptions like “smells like cottage cheese” are insights into her true personality. She is passionate and curious, almost to a fault. Because she describes things like runaway balloons, she is a believable eleven-year-old.

First person narration reveals though Rachel’s thoughts are those f a typical eleven-year-old her descriptive ability is more mature. Rachel has an uncanny ability to convey her feelings. However, because she is an ingenuous narrator, she sometimes misses the deeper significance of her feelings. Although she twice mentions she is looking forward to cake, her birthday song, and normal birthday things, she does not mention she also needs the comfort of her parents. On the other hand, unlike most older, or mature, people, she understands enough about life experience to know she does not have enough.

Twice she mentions she would like to have he experience of someone who is one hundred and two. At eleven Rachel realizes that with experience comes confidence, personal strength , and most important to her, knowing what to do in hostile situations. As amazing as those thoughts are, Rachel’s most impressive thought is about age. She understands that people display the characteristics of the ages they have passed. She understands that although she is eleven, she can still be scared like she is five, or cry like she is three.

What she does not grasp is that people can display characteristics beyond their years. Rachel displays that advanced maturity in her thoughts. The only dialogue in the story is between Rachel and her teacher, Mrs. Price. Every conversation is the same, Mrs. Price does not listen to Rachel and dominates their conversations. Rachel associates being right with being older, so she lets Mrs. Price have her way. Mrs. Price is so dominating Rachel can respond with what she calls her four- year-old voice. She stumbles for a reply, eventually saying only, “Not mine, not mine. Rachel is helpless and feels sick inside as she is forced to wear that weater.

So much emphasis is given to what Rachel is thinking, but the dialogue can show her outward personality. Rachel is non-confrontational, timid, and shy. Rachel desperately wants her terrible day to be over. She wants to be one-hundred and two, because then days like this one would be far behind. After she is brought to tears and reluctantly she puts on the sweater and even though she did not have to wear the sweater long, she is changed. She realizes facing challenges is at the foundation of experience.

Her old self floats away like a balloon. Sandra Cisneros’s “Eleven” uses point of view , diction, dialogue, and symbolism to characterize an eleven year old’s coming of age. The unique characteristics of an eleven- year-old have allowed her to make important discoveries about growing up. Rachel survives her humiliation, and becomes smart eleven. She feels smart eleven, and a almost a year sooner than usual. Rachel realizes that people are the sum of their experience. She desperately wants to be one hundred and two, but realizes that her experience adds up to eleven.

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

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Repetition , the recurring use of words and phrases, is a literary device that shows emphasis. Repetition is used in “Eleven” to showcase Rachel’s anxiety and to indicate immaturity. When she thinks about how the sweater does not belong to her, she thinks, “not mine, not mine,” and reminds herself that she is “eleven, eleven,” and that everyone will sing “Happy birthday, happy birthday to you” (Paragraph 12). The repetition here—in the text’s the rising action—highlights Rachel’s immaturity, as childish chants are the only way she can articulate her distress.

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Pride & Shame

House on Mango Street

By sandra cisneros, house on mango street summary and analysis of meme ortiz-and some more.

In this chapter we meet the new inhabitant of Cathy's house, Meme Ortiz. Esperanza describes Meme's sheepdogs and, as homes are important to her, paints a verbal picture of Meme's family's new, ramshackle home. Esperanza then focuses on the property's one crowning glory: a giant tree which is both home to a family of squirrels and the sight of the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest, which Meme won at the cost of two broken arms.

Meme and his pets are described with humorous similes: "like a man dressed in a dog suit" and "limbs flopping all over the place like untied shoes." So too, Meme's house is given a personality of its own through Esmeralda's original depictions such as its twenty-one steps "jutting like crooked teeth."

This image is compared with the metaphor Esperanza uses to describe her own house "with its feet tucked under like a cat." Indeed, Esperanza sees her home not only as a source of shame, but through an aura of respite and comfort. Just as cats instinctually find their way home, so too will Esperanza.

Louie, His Cousin and His Other Cousin

This chapter introduces us to the Cordero boys' friend, Louie, whose cousin Marin from Puerto Rico lives with the family and cares for Louie's little sisters. Louie has another cousin, and although Esperanza cannot remember his name she can never forget the one time she met him. This cousin once pulled into Mango Street in a brand new yellow- and stolen- convertible and takes the neighborhood for a joyride. The sound of sirens soon approaches and Louie's cousin crashes while trying to flee. He is taken into custody as the neighborhood wave him goodbye.

This chapter plays upon the theme of finding the best parts of everyday life or an existence of hardship to enjoy. This is why the neighbors enjoy the ride in the Cadillac without questioning its origins. The fun shared emphasizes too, that the neighborhood functions as a large extended family. Esperanza uses deadpan irony to describe the cousin's crash- "the nose of that yellow Cadillac was all pleated like and alligator's"- and hauling off to prison- "and we all waved as they drove away."

This irony reveals two themes: first, that Mango Street and its inhabitants are weathered to the sights of crime. Secondly, extreme poverty allows people to understand a different side of a situation. Instead of focusing on the theft in her narration, for example, Esperanza tells of the fleeting joy produced by the arrival and ride in that car. Indeed, the moral of this chapter is to take nothing- from the luxuries of a car to an opportunity for fun and laughter- for granted.

This chapter is about Marin, Louie's cousin and a much older and wiser girl in Esperanza's eyes. Marin makes the girls promise not to tell that she is going to marry her boyfriend in Puerto Rico once he gets a job, and seems to have no qualms with leaving her options open and letting her eyes wander while she is in the States. Esmeralda admires Marin's knowledge of beauty and boy secrets, but she does not make her a role model. Already, Esperanza recognizes Marin's making her limited possibilities even smaller by waiting for a man to rescue her.

This chapter explores the theme of the waiting woman, but in this case also offers a perspective on how women are not always completely the victims. Marin's desperation to better her lot in life leads her to manipulative action in her dealings with men. For example, Esperanza's tone of pity lets the reader know she finds Marin's dream of working downtown so she can meet a rich man on the subway very hypocritical.

Indeed, Esperanza sees the irony in Marin's thwarted quests for a man, which is evident in her sarcastic tone and choice of examples. For example, after describing Marin's dream to be taken away to "a big house far away," Esperanza states in a deadpan tone: "But next year Louie's parents are going to send her back to her mother with a letter saying she's too much trouble." The recurring theme of a home of one's home is given a new twist here, as Marin's success or failure at attaining her dream house is determines by the actions of others- her boyfriend, her Aunt, the rich man she has yet to meet. Thus, an ironic contrast is made with Esperanza's dream, which is to find, forge and inhabit a house of her own, all by her lone self.

An important metaphor used in other parts of the book to describe ones trust in chance is "a star to fall." Indeed, Marin's falling star is the car that will stop and take her away, the man who will "change her life." Esperanza recognizes the futility of placing all ones hope in a dream savior that most likely does not exist. So too, she seems to question the ways in which Marin has chosen to sell herself. From standing outside at night armed with a short skirt and a cigarette, to figuratively "dancing by herselfŠsinging the same song somewhere", Marin puts herself on display like a commodity for sale. Esperanza's somber tone of conviction- "I know"- manifest that Marin's falling star of fortune will never fall to earth.

Those Who Don't

In this chapter, Esperanza describes how strangers who accidentally stumble into her neighborhood are afraid of its inhabitants, as if "we will attack them with shiny knives." She admits that security comes from being surrounded by people of ones own race. When she ventures into a neighborhood of a different color, her knees too shake in fear.

Esperanza's observations that security comes from seeing "all brown all around" criticizes both sides of a fear that often results from segregation. No matter who you are, you feel at risk in an unfamiliar neighborhood or if you are the racial minority. "That is how it goes and goes" says Esperanza, indicating that as long as economic and social injustice relegate people to stick with their own for support and safety, then the cycle of fear and prejudice will continue with her generation.

There was an Old Woman

This chapter is about the wild Vargas kids, for whom their poor, single mother cannot completely provide nor care. The children's daredevil antics show that they have no respect for their neighbors nor themselves. After a while, the neighborhood begins to ignore the Vargas kids and treat them as a lost cause because of their rude treatment of those who make the effort to help them.

This chapter is a criticism of closing ones eyes to people in need, even to those who refuse to be helped. Through her poignant imagery, Esperanza hints at the dangers of failing to see others as human beings. The "day Angel Vargas learned to fly" is euphemistic imagery symbolizing a fall to his death. Esperanza evokes the image of failed chance that she used for Marin- "a fallen star." The tragedy of his death is how nobody seemed to care, not even the child himself who "exploded down to earth without even an 'Oh'." Indeed, this chapter ends in the tragedy of a child's death; the fact that it happened when people stopped caring is a strong social criticism.

Alicia Who Sees Mice

This chapter describes Alicia's fear of the mice she sees when she wakes up early in the morning to prepare the lunchbox tortillas. As her mother is deceased, Alicia performs her domestic duties as well as studies at the university. Although she fears mice, Alicia fears her father more and obeys him. He says a woman's place is rising "with the tortilla star." Alcia does not sleep, however, but studies all night and endures a long commute because "she doesn't want to spend her life in a factory or behind a rolling pin."

Alicia's treatment by her father is an example of the machismo stereotypes that would keep Alicia a servant in her own home like the mother before her. Her father's suggestion that her existence should be sleep and housework manifest the sexist ideal that a higher education is wasted on a woman. Alicia, however, resists the limited possibilities offered to her- symbolized by her inheritance of "her mama's rolling pin and sleepiness"- by studying. The admiration Esperanza has for this "good girl" is immense, for her friend is juggling the dual roles of fulfilling duty to family while pursuing her own dreams.

Darius and the Clouds

Darius is considered a very stupid boy by his peers. While he generally acts like a fool and torments the girls, one day the clouds show another side of Darius. He points to a cloud next to a cluster of "popcorn" and calls it "God."

This chapter shows that everyone has their own inner spirituality, and that God can be found in the simple things that even the poor have, such as sky. This chapter is another example of the theme of making "the best of it." They sky is a metaphor for the life's best and most elusive offerings- comfort, beauty, and spirituality. To Esperanza, sky can make you "drunk" with happiness and "keep you safe when you are sad." Sky is a natural defense, and she feels that her neighborhood does not have as much protection as others: "here there is too much sadness and not enough sky." But as Darius points out, even Mango Street, has what it needs- a spirit of protection above them.

And Some More

In this chapter we witness the banter normally exchanged by the Esperanza, Nenny, Lucy and Rachel as they hang around the neighborhood together. A random discussion about different names- for people, snow, and even clouds leads into a war of words in which the weapon is wit.

The most important symbol in this chapter is the clouds, which we already know have spiritual meaning for Esperanza. Indeed, the clouds fill many functions, and in this case they are a source of entertainment. Nenny's refusal to stop naming the clouds as the other three match wits maintains a level of friendliness, and the fight is ended when the clouds provide the answer to the retort "Who's stupid? Rachel, Lucy, Esperanza, and Nenny. Indeed, in this chapter the plethora of clouds are a metaphor for the girls' own erratic behavior, as their attitudes and moods are always changing.

House on Mango Street Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for House on Mango Street is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why is Alicia afraid of fathers ?

Although she fears mice, Alicia fears her father more and obeys him. He says a woman's place is rising "with the tortilla star." Alcia does not sleep, however, but studies all night and endures a long commute because "she doesn't want to spend her...

what is Esperanza strengths? what is her weaknesses? why is she important to the story? and a revealing statement from her?

Esperanza is a determined girl. She is able to interpret her surroundings and the people in her community at a very young age. Eventually Esperanza feels it's her turn to take on the responsibility of leading the family,

"Esperanza felt...

A Smart Cookie

Espernaza's mother;

Yup. she says disgusted, stirring again. I was a smart cookie then.

Study Guide for House on Mango Street

House on Mango Street study guide contains a biography of Sandra Cisneros, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About House on Mango Street
• House on Mango Street Summary
• Character List
• The House on Mango Street-Gil's Furniture Summary and Analysis
• Related Links

Essays for House on Mango Street

House on Mango Street essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

• The Home and Family in The House on Mango Street and Cry, the Beloved Country
• Leaving Mango Behind
• Representations of Identity on Mango Street
• Esperanza: The Hero Who Broke the Cycle
• Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street: Redefining Patriarchal Space

Lesson Plan for House on Mango Street

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to House on Mango Street
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• House on Mango Street Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for House on Mango Street

• Introduction