RLA 6.1

The First Job

1. Why do the women at work laugh at Esperanza?

2. What makes Esperanza trust the "Oriental" man? How does he betray her trust?

3. This first job is Esperanza’s first opportunity to experience the world away from Mango Street. What does her first job teach her?

Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark

1. What do the Mexican people do to honor their dead?

2. Why does Esperanza’s papa “wake up tired in the dark”? How does Esperanza feel about her father?

Born Bad

1. What does Esperanza mean when she says, “I think diseases have no eyes.”

2. Why don’t the girls realize their imitations of Aunt Lupe are wrong?

3. What is the impact of Aunt Lupe’s illness on her husband and children?

4. Why do you think Aunt Lupe says to Esperanza, “You just remember to keep writing, Esperanza. You must keep writing. It will keep you free.”?

5. The last line of the chapter reads, “And then we began to dream the dreams.” What kind of dreams do Esperanza and her friends have after Aunt Lupe’s death?

Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water

1. Why do you think Esperanza goes to Elenita, the witch woman, to hear her fortune? What is Esperanza hoping for?

2. What does Elenita predict for Esperanza’s future? How does Esperanza feel about this prediction?

Geraldo No Last Name

1. Support or refute the following statement with incidents from this chapter: Geraldo is the stereotype of an illegal Mexican whose life is of no importance.

Edna’s Ruthie

1. How much of what Ruthie says do you think is true? Why? What evidence is there in this chapter that Ruthie may be mentally handicapped?

2. Why do you think Esperanza likes Ruthie?

The Earl of Tennessee

1. What indications are there in this chapter that Esperanza is still very young and naïve?

2. Why is a white Southerner like Earl living on Mango Street?