Finding Home: The House on Mango Street
Lesson 11
Objective
Explain how Cisneros develops and contrasts characters’ perspectives on the world around them.
Readings and Materials
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Book: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros pp. 65 – 75 — Focus on “Geraldo No Name” and “Four Skinny Trees.”
Target Task
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Writing Prompt
Marin and the hospital workers/police view Geraldo very differently. Select two sentences from the text that develop the idea that their perspectives are different and explain how these sentences demonstrate this difference.
Key Questions
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- How is the perspective of Geraldo No Last Name different from other vignettes in this book? Consider who is and is not present in the scene.
- Think about the following characters: Ruthie, Esperanza’s great-grandmother, Marin, Aunt Lupe. How do these characters represent the options available to women and the ability to achieve their goals? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer.
- How does the vignette “Four Skinny Trees” develop the reader’s understanding of Esperanza’s character and her perspective? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer.
- Discussion: How did you feel while reading the story “Geraldo No Last Name”? What is Cisneros suggesting about the experience of being an immigrant in this country?
Lesson Guidance
Notes
- If time allows, have students discuss Esperanza’s changing attitude toward boys, especially as related to her description of Sire.
- Be mindful that today’s reading deals with the topic of (undocumented) immigrants and racism toward/discrimination against them. This is a sensitive topic, and students may have strong points of view on this.
Homework
- Read The House on Mango Street, pages 76–85. Read and take notes. Think about how Cisneros describes the women in Esperanza’s life and the choices they have in their own lives.
Enhanced lesson plan
Enhanced Lesson Plan
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Coming Soon:
January 2021
Common Core Standards
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RL.7.6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.
