Transcript Cisneros and Mango - AJSmith

Cisneros and Mango
Before we start…
• Listen to this…
– Why?
• “Americana has welcomed Cisneros like a
cool drink of water on an hot Chicago day.”
• “Sandra Cisneros is one of the most brilliant
of today’s young writers. Her work is
sensitive, alert, nuanceful, rich with music
and picture”
• What does this quote imply about Cisneros and her style
or text content?
Sandra Cisneros
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1954-present
Mexican/American
Born in Chicago
Grew up in poverty
Only girl in a family
of seven
• Family moved
around a lot
How did this affect her
as a child? What was
the impact these
things had on
Cisneros?
Cisneros became a quiet,
careful observer of the people
and events around her. She
recorded her feelings
through secret writings at
home.
The format
• Narrated in voice of young girl, but should be
internalized
– "You, the reader, are Esperanza . . . You cannot forget who
you are” says Cisneros
• Book of vignettes
– Sometimes not full stories, but snapshots of a time, place,
people
• Stories add up to tell one big story
– Cisneros says it is “to tell one big story, each story contributing to the
whole – like beads in a necklace“
• No “revelation” at the end
– no “AHA! Now I understand!” moment--very similar to life
• In order to help you understand the purpose of each story, you
will keep a chart of notes (handout)
What is it about?
• Book about culture, racism, poverty,
prejudice, childhood, identity, shame,
anger, growing up, humanity, love,
acceptance, identity
• …and much, much more!
The Low Down
• HoMS is quite simple, and it provides us with an exciting
opportunity to see and hear how others react to the exact
same thing you are reading. The great thing about
humans? Not a single one of us are the same... talk about
diversity!
• The books allows us to see how others perceive the same
literature that we are reading…to see it through their
eyes, and then to respond in our own individual ways.
• So what’s it all about? It’s about relating to others; it’s
about learning to see through different eyes; it’s about
growing up and learning to survive in the world around
you. It’s a book you will never forget.
• Essentially, we are going to spend a lot of time in the
next few weeks just talking. Hooray!
YOU!
• This unit will focus on YOU!
• Goal: for you to think about and write about
your own experiences:
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your house,
your family,
your neighbors,
your dreams and disappointments,
the way you relate to others,
your fears,
your future
Reading Schedule
• The focus of this text is to critically read it . Look
for solid observations while you read. Keep your
brain active. There is a LOT of deep stuff here,
but you have to be cognoscente to recognize it!
– That means we will move slowly and think
deeply…get ready to do a whole different kind of
work!
Reading Process
1. You will have a journal of personal, not
textual, questions to answer for each
section of reading
2. Reading Chart: You will need to come up
with at least one genuine question for
every vignette.
You will record your thinking on your
chart
This chart will be collected and will be used for
you to write an in-class essay at the end of the
unit