Which vignette is your favorite? Why is it stimulating for you? (Even if you do not enjoy Cisneros's book, surely one vignette resonates with you.)
If you comment here, the definitions you seek will appear at my plans page, perhaps in time for you to study them before the quiz.
64 comments:
My favorite vignette was Darius and the Clouds because it showed me that there is more to someone than what you THINK you know about him/her. I think that it was kind of ironic that one of the wisest quotes Esperanza mentioned throughout the whole book was from a 'punk'. It also made me want to know more about who this Darius kid was outside of school.
I personally like the vignette called Four Skinny Trees. Esperanza feels a connection between the trees and can relate to them. I'm sure almost everyone has had an experience when you dont fit in. Sandra Cisneros explains describes the trees with personification such as: "They grow up and they grow down and grab the earch between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger" (74.) Esperanza looks at these trees to lift her up when she is down. It is nice if you have someone or something to turn to if you are in a sticky situation.
Extra credit for both of you. Bravo! And check the site for some definitions. More will show as more people blog more and more...
I like vignette is Born Bad. It made me think to be careful what you say about someone and think twice before to say something that will hurt someone.
"My Name" is my favorite. You'll all write about/in the style of this vignette today (test) on the back of the scan sheet. I've done this with my simple name, Matthew Stark Christensen, and have come up with so many things I would never have thought of. This novel makes meaning out of nothing. My name matters; I can consider so much more thanks to Cisneros. Without her example, I don't think I could ponder the way I do about life and just things. Undoubtedly, I'll keep teaching this book because most students think at least a little more than they would have without reading this text. It is an experimental fiction form, so it can be challenging and puzzling at times. Yet, we need to be challenged and puzzled--that is when we learn the most sometimes. That is when we grow and adapt and expand, when we are forced to. I'll just have keep thinking of better ways to help students "know" this novel in better, more scholarly ways.
My favorite vignette is "Bums in the Attic". This vignette is stimulating for me because I like the way Esperanza thinks differently than everyone else. Once she has a house of her own, she wants to open up her attic for bums to live in. Other girls her age would never let homeless strangers live in their house. I just like how Esperanza wants to go out of her way to help people and how she doesn't care what other people think about her.
I like the vignette "and some more". It is not for any certain reason I like this vignette, I just feel the confusion it makes parallels the style of the novel. It is the only one in the entire novel that I truly have no idea as to what is happening or what the main purpose of it was.
Period 1
I personally like the vignette "A House of My Own" because she talks about having a house that is quiet as snow. She wants to have a house all to herself, she doesn't want a flat or apartment but a whole house of her own. Esperanza doesn't want it to be a "Man's house" or a "Daddy's" either. She wants to be on her own and live a simple life with her books, and flowers and with no one to pick up after. I really like this because I can relate to her on the fact that I want the same thing one day. I want a house all my own, a flat or apartment would be nice but a house, now that's something grand to be proud of having to myself. This way I can do what I want and have the house the way I want it. I will have as much freedom as I want.
My favorite vignette is the "Four Skinny Trees". I like the symbolic meanings behind a very common object that is seen in everyday life. Normally you don't spend time looking at trees and seeing how they relate to how your feeling, in a way, everyone has something they can relate to. It may be easier than you think. Something can give you comfort even if it doens't have humanistic characteristics.
Period 1
The vignette that interested me the most was Geraldo No Last Name. When Geraldo died no one really cared and when Marin was questioned she just wanted to hurry it up. She met him earlier at a dance and that is the way the police thought she knew him. Geraldo's family in another country will probably never know what happened no him. Also the book never fully told how he died that was interesting as well
1st period
I would have to agree with nicole on the "four skinny trees". I am glad that we live in such a small town where there is room for grass and playgrounds. Not just concrete everwhere. I like living in a small town, but i hate it too because there is not that much to do in B-town, haha.
Pd. 1st
I'd have to say my favorite vignette would have to be "Four Skinny Trees." Esperanza appreciates nature and can relate to being rooted down in bad conditions like the trees. She has the potential to escape her conditions, but like the trees, they are rooted down and Esperanza is rooted down as well due to her race, sex, and poverty of her family. She also explains that if the tress forget to keep growing and keeping that they would droop and die. If Esperanza were to quit trying and forget her dreams, then she would never have a chance to escape her conditions and get her dream house she wants.
period 1
My favorite vignette is "The Earl of Tennessee". I like this one because the girls think that Earl has a different looking wife everytime he comes home,and i find that quite funny. When really he is actually bringing home a prostitute.
Pd: 1
i liked the vignette A Rice Sandwich. This vignette mad me think to myself why would anyone want to stay at school if they could go home and eat at home..if i had the option i would go home everyday and eat lunch at home...
pd.1
I agree with nicole like she said common objects in very day life could mean more then you think. For an example flowers, thier are so many different kinds and they are all unique. Just like humans, we are all different thier is so many of us but we are all unique in our own way.
My favorite vignette is "Four Skinny Trees." I like the way she can take something as simple as a tree and turn it into a motivation for Ezperana to continue to grow and to keep reaching.
Period 1
I liked the vignette entitled "Those Who Don't". During this half-page writing (begins on p. 28), Esperanza talks about the stereotypes of her neighborhood. Cordero begins by stating how people "who don't know any better come into our neighborhood scared." She even says in the short section, "All brown all around..." just to give the reader an image of their neighborhood, and of the possible prejudices. I think a lot of people in this school, or even around the area can relate to the racial stereotypes. Not that everyone is a biggot, but I know plenty of people with racial prejudices.
I also enjoyed the vignette "Four Skinny Trees", because it gives humanistic qualities to non-living objects. Esperanza looks to the trees for strength when she doesn't have any. The trees help her to not give up when she wants to the most. They are an important part of her life at this time in her life. She desperatly wants to fit in and be like everyone else, and the trees give her strength to keep going day-to-day. I just think it is a great vignette and it adds to the whole narrative in a large way.
period 1 ^^
Period 3
I enjoyed reading the vignette "Four Skinny Trees." I wish I could relate to nature the same way Esperanza does. If I did, I think life would be easier to understand. I'm a tree hugger but I still don't have the same vision as her.
period 1
I liked the vignette about how she had to get a job so she could contibute to her family so she could go to catholic school. Most of us get jobs for extra spending money or little bills of our own that aren't that big of a deal. But she had to, she had to go to a catholic school. And she also had to pay for it. I know many of us wouldn't want to pay for our education because that's money that we could use for something we would rather buy and plus we don't have to pay if we go to public school. It's a free education.
My favorite vignette is "Four Skinny Trees", Esperanza finds motivation to keep going in something as simple as nature. Esperanza does not just simply see the trees as part of the landscape, she sees them as a deep symbol of strength.
My favorite vignette is "Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes." This is my favorite vignette because Esperanza talks about leaving Mango Street and going somewhere with her life. She talks about leaving with her books and papers which tells me she is going to get her education. Esperanze know people will wonder where she went, what she is doing, and why she left. But what they do not know is she left so she could come back for those she left behind; for those who could not escape by themselves.
3.
One of my favorite vignettes was "Our Good Day". I enjoyed this vignette because it shows how innocent kids can be. An example of this is how when Lucy and Rachel asked Esperanza to help pay for the bike it was split three ways, but Esperanza was actually paying for half of it. It turned out to be an even split because Nenny pitched in too. I also loved how they all rode together and were all the attention of the block. This vignette also showed how simple it is for children to become friends.
3.
My favorite vignette is "Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes" because it shows that no matter where you grow up you are going to have great memories that stay with you forever. It shows that even when you leave there will always be a part of you that is connected to your hometown. Even when you leave there will always be something that is comfortable and that brings you back to where you started.
Period 3
My favorite vignette is Bums in the Attic. I liked this one because it shows that Esperanza is always there to help other people. She is not set on her self, she wants everyone to have a home. Esperanza knows what life is like living with little to no money. She will offer her own attic for bums. Experanza wont worry about what other people think when they find out she has bums in her attic. She will just tell her guests there are bums in that attic and she will be happy.
period 3
I would have to agree with Jake E. because throughout that vignette, Esperanza seems oblivious to what Earl is really doing. She doesn't understand that Earl is not married. Personally, this vignette has no real purpose besides showing that Esperanza is still a small girl that doesn't understand much about life.
One of my favorite vignettes in the novel was, "Those Who Don't". The reason I liked this vignette, is probably because it was the one I could most understand and relate to. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I know the feeling of being safe around the people you know, but once you are surrounded by people you don't, it's easy to be scared. It is hard to gain the trust of people enough to feel safe around them. In a way, this relates to my job at a daycare. It is probably the hardest part of a young boy's life to leave his mom and go to daycare, at least from my experience it seems that way. It is similar to Esperanza's view because the boys at the daycare must leave their comfort [mom], and trust the complete strangers [workers] without knowing them at all. I can understand why it is so hard for them to feel safe and comfortable, without the prescence of thier parents or people they know. In a way, these boys are traveling to a strange, unknown [neighborhood], and being expected to trust all the new people they meet. It is hard, and they all cry alot. But, the more they come the easier it becomes each day. This is the same way in the novel, and in our lives.
3
My favorite vignette is "Papa Who Wakes Up Tired". In this vignette, Esperanza has to take the reigns during this situation and be strong for her father. I enjoy how she explains how her father let his guard down and cried to her and showed his true emotions. It shows people that even the father who are usually strong can melt down to a pile of mush in a time of need. This certian vignette also makes me think how I would react to my father crying and if I would have to be strong and comfort him. Esperanza has to tell her siblings about their grandfathers death, which expresses her responsibility within her family.
I like the vignette "My name" because it shows uniqueness in everyones name. Everyone has a different story on how they got their name or how its spelt. It makes everyone different. Some people have the same name but that doesn't make them the same. The names may be spelt differently. In this vignette Esperanza talks about how she was named after her great-grandma but she does not want to be in the same place as her grandmother. She also talks about how she would like a new name, a name for the real her. One that nobody sees, like a nickname.
5
My favorite vignette is "the Earl of Tennessee". I thought it was funny when Esperanza thought that the women who kept going to his house was his wife. That is why she seemed to change every day. Everyone thought that it was his wife and they would each have there own comments on what she looked like. She was a prostitute. That is why she changed every night.
5
My favorite vingette was "My name" because it showed Esperanza's way of thinking out of the box. It shows that just because you are named after someone doesn't mean you have to be just like them. She talks about how she wants to baptize herself with a new name. She also says how she can never get away from her name, unlike her sister who has a nickname when she gets, she is always Esperanza. This is why I like "My name" the best.
5
My favorite vignette is "Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes." I think its good that Esperanza finally realizes that even though she doesn't like Mango Street on the outside.. deep down she really does. She knows that once she leaves her house on Mango Street she will remember all the good times and friends she made there. She will always be connected to that house.
To be "fenced in" like Esperanza's grandmother would be miserable. Thankfully, women today have more opportunities and, generally speaking, experience better treatment from men than ever before.
I like the vignette "Four Skinny Trees" because it is simple and to the point. Esperanza describes to us how she relates to the four skinny trees. She says, "their strength is secret," i think she says this because her strength is secret too. She is going to be a strong woman someday and she is waiting to burst out into the world. The trees grow despite the concrete and Esperanza is growing despite her living conditions and area that she is growing up in.
5th Period
My favorite vignette is "Boys & Girls". I have a brother who is six years older than me, and when we were growing up it seemed like he never wanted to be seen with me outside of our house. Inside of our house we joked around and watched movies together, and, as we got older he even helped me with my homework. The minute we'd walk out of the house or a friend of his would come over, I became the annoying little sister that always wanted to tag along. :( Now that we are older he's back to being one of my closest friends. I can tell him things I don't want to tell my parents and I know he wont rat me out to them.
5
My favorite vignette was "My Name". Esperanza talks about how she would like a new name that is more like the real her. She says she does not want to be like her great-grandmother because she sat her sadness on an elbow for the rest of her life. Esperanza wants to experience life to its fullest and she doesn't want to be tied down like her great-grandmother. Esperanza acts like her name determines who she is.
My favorite vignette is Four Skinny trees because esperanza describes them perfectly and shows ways she can relate to them very well. They are the reason she keeps motivated and she thinks someday maybe she will get out of Mango Street. Noone else sees the trees like Esperanza does Nenny just thinks they are stupid. The fact that they grow out of the cement shows strength and Esperanza belives that if the trees can grow out of cement with no soil you can do anything.
5th period
I really like the vignette "My Name." I like it because she really analyzes her name, and she explains in great detail how she doesn't like her name and how she wishes it could be something better. I just really like how she is having such a deep thought about something as simple as her own name.
Period 5
I would have to agree with Chase D. My favorite vignette was the one titled "Geraldo No Last Name" because it shows the disconnection of feelings to people we don't know. Because Marin had only met the Geraldo that night she didn't want to and couldn't help out the police too much. She shows her lack of caring by wanting to just get home. She doesn't know about his family back home or that he sends home money orders, and she doesn't care because it doesn't concern her. If this had happened to a loved one of Marin's she would have wanted to talk to the police and give them information without complaining.
5
I agree with Brittany F. I find it interesting that Esparanza can relate to a few raggedy trees. Esparanza understands how the trees grow even though there are so many different things that hinder them. The Trees, I think, teach Esparanza to be stronger and to never give up.
I dont necessarily like the vignette named "Papa who wakes up in the dark" but I can relate to what happens in the vignette. I was once in the same scinario, but not to the extent that Esperanza has to deal with. I know what it feels like to not be able to do something during the day instead just mourning someone close who was lost, or in my case was extremely ill (was just fine in the end). I have never had to explain to a young one, but i was once explained to by my older sister and it is not a plesent feeling at all. Especially since
that was really Esperanza's closet freind listening to her poems and all.
Pd. 5
My favorite one would also have to be the one Four Skinny Trees. Esperanza connects with the trees just like most of connect with something non-human. She thinks outside the box and looks at nature to dream.
5
I agree with Mr. C in that my favorite vignette is "My Name". I say this because it really made me think about my own name and all of the different things I could come up with.
#5 My favorite vignette is Louie, "His Cousin a His Other Cousin". It's my favorite because when Louie's cousin crashes into lamppost and is arrested for stealing the Cadillac, they act like nothing happened. It really shows how their life is in their neighborhood. They just act like it was another part of their day.
pd.5
My favorite vignette is No Speak English. This vignette stands out to me because the mother is trying to hold on to her Spanish roots. She’s not yet willing to let go and learn English herself. It saddens her that the boy is speaking English it downright breaks her heart. She is very homesick and doesn’t leave her apartment. She submerges herself in her own Spanish world in America.
5
Mango says Goodbye sometimes proved to be interesting in my opnion not because its the last vignette of the book. Esperanza finally realizes that in order to have a better life than she has now she must leave Mango Street and start over again, she and her family had been through alot so it makes sense she needs to travel and meet new people. She is more mature than she was in the beginning of the book (she dressed up like a prostitute) so that shows something right there
7
I liked the vignette "His Cousin and His Other Cousin." I liked this because it showed how adjusted the kids in Esperanza's neighborhood are to Louie's cousin crashing a stolen Caddilac and being arrested. It shows how bad crime has gotten this day in time. In my opinion it will cause kids that grow up in those kind of areas to believe that such illegal acts are accptable.
7
My favorite vignette is "Bums in the Attic." I love how even thought she doesn't have any money at this point in her life, she still has hope for the future that she will live in her dreamhome. I really identify with her hospitality too. When bums pass by, she'll let them stay in her attic and she won't care what others think of her when she does so.
7
Four Skinny Trees is my favorite vignette because when she is talking about her strength comming from her roots I can relate to. The roots are your family where you can always turn to they make you a stronger person. The stronger one is the more they are able to accomplish in life. I find this very true in my life because I personally turn to my mother for support for anything I'm trying to accomplish.
7- My favorite vignette is "Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin" because it shows what things people take pride in. When Louies cousin stole the car everybody thought it was cool and liked it not knowing how he got it. Also this vignette makes it so you can relate to getting into mischeif. Everybody at some point in thier childhood has done something wrong and tried to get away. Some were just more serious than others.
7
My personal favorite vignette would have to be "Hips". The reasoning for this is because it is a sort of childish wonder as to how the body changes as you age. They are unsure of exactly the meaning of having hips and make up random reasons to explain such a change in the formation of thier bodies. Personally I find thier way of expaining the meaning of hips rather humorous.
My favorite is "Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes" because in this vignette she talks about one day leaving and getting on with her life but taking her papers and such with her from her time on Mango Street, but also coming back one day. I would like to think someday I would leave this town but bring things with me that will help me to never forget, and of course I would always return for those who did not leave.
It would be selfless to return to improve things wherever you were. Yet, it would be awfully hard to do, with new responsibilities in a new place. In America, aren't we always wanting something bigger, faster, and better? To stop our "progress" for others would be "un-American," wouldn't it?
My favorite vignette was the one called "The First Job". This vignette could easily be related to because everyone has gone through their day at their first job. Its very comforting knowing other people go through the same stress of having a new job. Esperanza talks about what exactly she has to do and how she has no idea why she is doing it. She also talks about the fact that she has to find a way to meet new people because she does not want to eat alone. This is ironic because she has moved a couple times in her life and most likely has a lot of experience in meeting and talking to new people.
period 3
My favorite vignette is the chapter titled "Geraldo No Last Name". It was interesting because no one really knew who he was or cared about him after he died. Geraldo's family at home will probably never know what happened to him. I think he died by a hit-and-run accident, but the book never says how he died.
If you are returning to a familiar place i think it would be completely different because the enviroment could give inspiration and the people may still remember you and do you mean that being selfless is being "un-american"?
Some people throughout the world prejudge Americans as being selfish, arrogant, greedy, and ignorant. Doesn't the American Dream include acquiring and hoarding?
yes, but all Americans are not that way, so is their a way to acheive the american dream without being selfish arrogant and greedy?
I'd like to think/hope so, Nick. I love this country and always will. The best in the world. Perfect?--no, but improving. I'm afraid, though, that a lot of the rest of the world sees the American Dream as selfish, arrogant, and greedy. We send billions of dollars in aid to hundreds of places, don't we? We do a lot for other people around the world, don't we?
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