The House on Mango Street

1
The House on Mango Street Focusing on the My
Name vignette

• Your name affects your overall pattern of
  thinking including mental strengths
• and weaknesses.
• What does Esperanzas name mean? What do you
  think it says about her?
• Your name is extremely important as to how you
  identify yourself.
• How does Esperanza identify herself?
• A name is the unique part of language that is
  attached and given to you by your
• parents and relatives.
• Who is Esperanza named after? How does she
  feel about this?
• Share stories of our names.

2
THE POWER OF NAMES

• Names can affect the way people behave and how
  they feel about themselves
• - Can you think of any prestigious last
  names? What are some possible
• effects of having those last names?
• Names affect peoples judgments and first
  impressions.
• If I had a nickel for every time I was told
  by one of my tables that
  
• because they were told Billee would be
  right with them, they were
• expecting a male server (Id be rich!)
• The most important aspect of personality
  affected by names is
• self-concept
• - Messages sent by everyone around us all
  contribute to our
• developing concepts of self
• - Desirable names have positive feelings
  associated with them
• undesirable names have negative feelings
  associated with them.
• What gender is more commonly given unusual
  names?
• - Our culture permits greater flexibility
  and freedom in the names of
• FEMALES.

3
Consider these names.

• John Baker
• Simplest and least formal has plain folks
  appeal
• John William Baker
• Says the person wants to be noticed
  suggests seriousness
• John W. Baker
• Shows maturity and a solid, conservative
  personality middle initial implies the
• fullness and completeness without the
  flamboyance of using the middle name in
• full style used by half of the men in the
  U.S. and many women.
• J. W. Baker
• Creates a sense of mystery appears
  reserved and standoffish a favorite of the
• British offers no hints about gender
• J. William Baker
• Suggest high self-opinion and vanity,
  especially when the middle name is
• uncommon sometimes a happy solution for
  juniors

4
MOBILE DIRECTIONS (See The House on Mango Street
mobile lesson plan)

• ON THE FRONT
• The title of the vignette
• An important quote - including page number
  where it was found.
• An image representative of the vignette. Use
  your imagination!

• ON THE BACK
• Tell me 3 things about your vignette
• - What is the authors message?
• - What do we learn about Esperanza?
• - Is there symbolism present?
• - Use context clues to give your
  interpretation
• Byand then your names.

Remember to start typing at least 1/2 inch down
from the top of your paper so theres room to
punch a hole and hang it from the mobile
5
This is the first vignette of the book and the reader is introduced to some of the narrators dreams, expectations, hopes and desires. We learn the narrator can relate to poverty and disappointment and that her house on Mango Street is what she identifies with. Her understanding of what her parents really mean when they say temporary shows her maturing and sets the stage for this coming-of-age story. The House on Mango Street I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isnt it. The house on Mango Street isnt it. For the time being, Mama says. Temporary, says Papa. But I know how those things go. Pg. 5
6
The House on Mango Street mobilecreated with
10th graders at Gross High School March 2009