Finding Home: The House on Mango Street
Lesson 3
Objective
Explain how Cisneros develops and contrasts Esperanza’s point of view with that of other characters.
Readings and Materials
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Book: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros pp. 17 – 25
Target Task
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Writing Prompt
What does the chapter “Gil’s Furniture Bought and Sold” reveal about the differences between Nenny and Esperanza and their perspectives? Pull out specific sentences that demonstrate the differences between the sisters and explain how they support your ideas.
Mastery Response
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Key Questions
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- How does Cisneros develop the idea that Nenny and Esperanza’s perspective of the world is different from Rachel and Lucy’s? Provide evidence from pages 17 and 18. Why is it different?
- What is Esperanza’s perspective of Gil’s Furniture Store? What specific words and phrases does Cisneros use to help develop her perspective? Provide at least two pieces of evidence from pages 19–20.
- How and why does Esperanza’s perspective on Louie’s “other cousin” change from the beginning to the end of the chapter “Louie and His Cousin and his Other Cousin”? Provide two pieces of evidence from the text to support your answer.
- Discussion: One of the literary techniques Sandra Cisneros uses often is imagery. Consider today’s reading. What images create the clearest pictures in your mind of Mango Street?
Lesson Guidance
Standard and Literary Concepts
- One of the most compelling aspects of The House on Mango Street is the way that author Cisneros develops Esperanza’s narrative voice. The reader is invited into Esperanza’s world, to see things through her eyes, and to understand events through her unique perspective.
- Authors develop point of view using techniques that show, rather than tell, the characters’ points of view in the text. Readers notice how an author uses dialogue, internal monologue, actions, (and stage directions) to communicate a character’s perspective. Often, comparing the point of view of multiple characters can be helpful in better understanding each character individually.
- Point of View/Perspective (used interchangeably in these lessons): A character’s opinion or feelings about a specific topic/idea/event or their view of the world more generally. Thoughtful readers also consider how a person’s life experiences, beliefs, and identity shape their point of view.
Notes
- Make sure students take note of the fact that Marin is expected to be inside babysitting while the male cousins are able to spend time outside doing whatever they like.
Homework
- Read The House on Mango Street, pages 26–38. As you read, take notes and pay attention to how Sandra Cisneros describes the lives and emotions of female characters in the text.
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.
