RLA 5.1

Darius & the Clouds

1. Sometimes Cisneros rhymes the phrases in her sentence like stanzas in a poem might rhyme. Find a sentence in this chapter which illustrates these rhyming phrases. Do you notice any rhythmic pattern or personification used to create images in this chapter?

2. What do you think the sky represents in the following sentence? “You can fall asleep and wake up drunk on the sky.”

3. Support or refute the following statement: Esperanza believes God is looking down at the people on Mango Street and supports their hopes and dreams for the future.

And Some More

1. What evidence is there in this chapter that Rachel and Lucy are learning to be prejudiced against people with dark skin?

2. In the beginning of this chapter the girls are talking about the many different names for snow and clouds. What do you think Cisneros is saying about names in this chapter?

3. Cisneros is well known for her unusual style of writing. Besides the poetic structure of the sentences, what is usual about her style of writing in this chapter? Why are the conversations between the girls sometimes difficult to understand?

The Family of Little Feet

1. Support or refute the following statement: Feet are a symbol for growing up in this chapter.

2. Why do you think Esperanza seems to be surprised the girls “have legs”?

3. What motivates the grocer to threaten the girls with the police if they don’t take off their high heels? '

4. Why do you suppose “no one complains” when Lucy’s mother throws away the shoes?

A Rice Sandwich

1. Esperanza tries to convince her mother to let her eat lunch at school by saying “You would see me less and less and like me better.” Her mother writes in the note to the nun, 5 “As you can see she if very skinny. I hope to God she does not faint.” What do these two statements suggest about the similarity between Esperanza’s personality and her mother’s personality?

2. What evidence is there in this story that Esperanza is ashamed of her house?

3. What do you think Esperanza learns about life when she finally gets to eat her rice sandwich in the canteen?

Chanclas

1. If feet are a symbol for growing up, what do the brown-and-white school shoes mean in this chapter?

2. What is the significance of Esperanza’s first adult dance occurring at a baptism?

Hips

1. Why does Esperanza think Nenny belongs to a world she, Rachel, and Lucy don’t belong to anymore?

2. How old do you think Esperanza is at this point in the story?