Sandra Cisneros

1. Sandra Cisneros “I like to tell stories.” “I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn’t want to belong.” http://www.sandracisneros.com/index.php Sandra Cisneros speaking as Esperanza Cordova in The House on Mango Street.

2. Born in Chicago in 1954 • the third child and only daughter in a family of seven children. • fifty-seven years old now, her birthday is coming in December

3. Studied at… • Loyola University of Chicago (B.A. English 1976) and the University of Iowa (M.F.A. Creative Writing 1978).

4. Sandra Cisneros • Poet, Writer • Mexican American Woman • Iowa Writer’s Workshop –Poetry section • First Mexican American to receive a major publishing contract • Nobody’s wife • Nobody’s mother

5. Autobiographical Aspects • Cisneros takes memories/events from her own life and from the life of students she has worked with and creates fictional accounts • Cisneros grew up poor and Hispanic in Chicago. • Her family moved a great deal • She wrote as a child • The “house” metaphor has great significance for her

6. As Esperanza struggles with her identity and direction, she is mirroring the struggle of Sandra Cisneros to find her own authentic voice in a world often hostile to her sex and culture.

7. Worked as a… • Teacher • Counselor to high-school dropouts • An artist-in-the schools where I taught creative writing • College recruiter • Arts administrator

8. Books • Bad Boys Two full-length poetry books • My Wicked Wicked Ways • Loose Woman Acollection of stories • Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories A children's book, • Hairs/Pelitos Two novels • The House on Mango Street • Caramelo • Vintage Cisneros, is a compilation of selections from my works.

9. Sandra’s House • The sun faded her housefrom violet to blue after a few years. • She then painted it Mexican-pink so it can fade into pink, • She built her office in the backyard and painted it Mexican-marigold. • The colors make her happy. 735 E. Guenther St. San Antonio, Texas

10. She lives with many creatures little and large in San Antonio, Texas.

11. Humboldt Park • The “real” Mango Street house at 1524 N. Campbell Chicago

12. Cultural Studies: • Is a critical approach to reading • Study of race, class and gender • Links between text and historical culture • Particular Events and demonstrating parallels KEYWORDS for cultural studies • Ideology (the way somebody views the world) • Power (or lack of) • Empathy –Understanding and entering into another’s feelings

13. Culture and Influence found in House on Mango Street • Blending of Native and Catholic Religion • Family structure • Diversity within the Hispanic Community • Historical Context

14. Plot • Chicano culture is woven throughout the text. The House on Mango Street is, however, essentially about the growing consciousness of Esperanza of her place in the world, her differences and similarities with her family and community, her sexuality, and her dreams.

15. Terms to Know • Metaphor–to allude to a comparison between two dissimilar things • Simile–to explicitly compare two dissimilar things (use words such as “as” or “like” • Vignette–a short, graceful literary sketch

16. Genre? • Autobiographical • Narrative • Coming-of-age • Short Story/Novel • Poetry/Prose • Feminist • Hispanic • Testimonial