This document provides an introduction and context for Sandra Cisneros' novel "The House on Mango Street". It discusses key concepts like the experience of being an outsider and literary elements in the novel such as it being an autobiographical narrative and the author's purpose. It defines literary devices like paradox and motif that are present in the text. It provides an example of a paradox from the novel and explains that motifs are recurring images or symbols that express a central theme. Finally, it discusses analyzing an author's perspective and provides prompts to analyze tone and cultural values revealed in a short excerpt.
1. A Nation of Immigrants Introduction to our study of Sandra Cisneros’ novel The House on Mango Street
2. TEKS Reading Comprehension / Fiction analyze the effects of diction and imagery (e.g., controlling images, figurative language, understatement, overstatement, irony, paradox) in poetry.[3A] analyze how authors develop complex yet believable charactersin works of fiction through a range of literary devices, including character foils.[5B] analyze the way in which a work of fiction is shaped by the narrator's point of view.[5C]
3. Key Concepts Experience of the “Outsider” Literary Elements: Autobiographical narrative Author's purpose Paradox Motif
4. What is a Paradox? A statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true It’s a certain kind of irony
5. What is a Paradox? A statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true For example: “…but what I remember most is Mango Street, the house I belong but do not belong to.”
6. What is a Motif? A recurring literary element through which an author expresses a dominant idea or central theme
7. What is a Motif? A recurring literary element through which an author expresses a dominant idea or central theme A recurring / repeating image or symbol Be aware of repeating images or symbols as we read through selections from the novel.
8. What isAuthor’s Perspective? An author’s perspective is the set of values they bring to their writing. It’s shaped by several factors. Let’s do this tutorial together…
9. Vignette: My Name Esperanza Page 616 in the textbook. Go to that page now.
10.
11.
12. (lines 47 – 50) What tone does Cisneros’ word choice convey? Explain your answer.