Jhon Dilan

Ms. Shaffer
English 1 GATE
20 September 2016
The House on Mango Street Essay
Have you ever wondered why Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street,
uses figurative language or characterization to communicate to the reader her point to writing the
book? Why would you spend your time reading The House on Mango Street? First of all, this
book is written in vignettes. In these vignettes, the narrator, Esperanza, goes through a hard time
defining herself. Esperanza wants to leave her new home because it is not something she would
want tell people about. Throughout the book, she self defines herself through poetry and
experiences throughout the book. Towards the end of the book, she says that the latino
community and her family are her biggest responsibility. Cisneros reiterates the central idea of
self-definition by using figurative language and characterization to describe how Esperanza did
not want to belong in the house that her parents bought and how she now wants to have her
latino community her responsibility by the end of the book.
To confirm that central idea, Sandra Cisneros writes plenty of quotes to support this
claim. In The House on Mango Street, Cisneros writes, In English my name means hope. In
Spanish it means too many letters (pg. 10). This quote shows that Esperanza is defining her
name, her identity, and where that name came from. This corresponds to the central idea to the
central idea because Esperanza is defining her name, her identity, and where that name came
from because it is who she is and she comes to accept it throughout the book. Sandra Cisneros
uses figurative language and characterization through this topic because she writes,Until my

great-grandfather threw a sack over her head and carried her off. Just like that, as if she were a
fancy chandelier (pg. 11). In this quote she uses simile because she uses like or as using two
different topics.
My second piece of evidence is when Sandra Cisneros writes, All brown all around, we
are safe. But watch us drive into a neighborhood of another color and our knees go shakity-shake
and our car windows get rolled up tight and our eyes look straight (pg. 28). This quote shows
that Esperanza, her family, and the people in her community find safety and comfort in the
people in her neighborhood when or ethnic groups drive past by or are in the community. By
examining this evidence, this is significant to the possible central idea because esperanza knows
that she cannot change the fact that she is Mexican. She self defines herself as a true mexican at
heart in this quote.
Lastly, my last piece of evidence was when Sandra Cisneros writes, You just remember
to keep writing, Esperanza (pg. 61). This quote shows that she defines herself by writing poetry.
This is significant to the possible central idea because she writes about her feelings throughout
the storyline and in her life. She copes with having to live in a big household with one bedroom.
Sandra Cisneros uses characterization and figurative language to describe whats happening
between Esperanza and her aunt. For example, Esperanza read her poetry to her aunt before her
death.
To conclude, Sandra Cisneros writes the book with the central idea of self-definition.
In fact, the author writes plenty of sentences and words that describe the central idea such as the
three pieces of evidence I have stated. All of which have described how Esperanza coped with
the problems in her life. So why did you read this essay about The House on Mango Street? The
central idea connects to your life and my life in many ways. People like me and you use self-

definition to describe ourselves. We sometimes have a hard time doing that like Esperanza.

Rubric rating submitted on: 10/2/2016, 12:02:56 PM by ashley.shaffer@salinasuhsd.org

2

Hook
Your score: 2

Present

Partially Present

Absent

Background Evidence
Your score: 2

Present

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Absent

Thesis
Your score: 2

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Absent

Topic Sentence 1
Your score: 2

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Absent

Says 1
Your score: 2

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Means 1
Your score: 1

Present

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Absent

Matters 1
Your score: 1.5

Present

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Absent

Topic sentence 2
Your score: 0

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Says 2
Your score: 2

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Means 2
Your score: 1

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Matters 2
Your score: 2

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Topic Sentence 3
Your score: 0

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Absent

Says 3
Your score: 2

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Means 3
Your score: 1

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Matters 3
Your score: 2

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Restate Thesis
Your score: 2

Present

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Absent

Review Evidence
Your score: 1

Present

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Absent

Universal Connection
Your score: 2

Present

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Absent

Evidence
Formatted/Cited
Correctly
Your score: 1

Present

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Absent

Evidence Clearly
Connects to Thesis
Your score: 2

Present

Partially Present

Absent

Comments:
M.U.G.: 7/10