The House on Mango Street Playlist Project

My students and I were reading Sandra Cisneros' "The House on Mango Street" in Survey of English Literature class. We explored theme, story, and character. As a way to demonstrate our understanding of the book, our class put together play lists for our book.

The students are listed on the side.

Jeremy Hunter

The House on Mango Street Playlist

Song #1: Story

“The House On Mango Street”

Quote From The Book: “They told us that one day we would move into a real house, one that would be ours”.

The Mail Theme Of The Story: “ Esperanza wants to move into a home where she can fit in. A home that suits her to her best needs and interest. She is tired of always moving from house to house. She just wants to move forward and be herself”.

“Move Along” by: The All American Rejects

Quote From The Song: “When all you got to do is keep it strong move along move along like I know you do, and even when your hope is gone move along, move along, just to make it through, move along!”

“Move Along” by The All American Rejects is about moving on without stopping or giving up. Always keep following what you want and never let anyone or anything stand in the way and stopping you from doing just that.

I picked this song because it goes great in to the book “ A House On Mango Street”. It matches up on how much Esperanza is tired of moving and staying and she wants a home that fits her. So she keeps moving on day by day until she reaches that goal.

Song #2: Character

Esperanza: “ I knew then that I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to temporary, but I know how things would go”.

Quote From The Book: “They always told us that one day we would move into a house that was our own”.

Esperanza is a girl who wants to stop moving from place to place and find one home that fits her style. A house that she blends into. A house where she knows that she is in her own.

“ It Ends Tonight” By: The All American Rejects

Quote From The Song: “When darkness turns to light. It ends tonight, it ends tonight. Just a little and some will make it right. It’s to late to fight. It ends tonight”.

“It Ends Tonight” by The All American Rejects is about never giving up or letting go from what you want. Always believing in what you want might just actually help or give you the extra push that you need.

I picked this song because Esperanza wants to go to a home where she is herself and not just a home that she has to olive in because she and her family are steady moving from left to right. Esperanza wants to find a home and is never going to give up on it.

Song #3: Book Theme

Quote from the book: "One day I’ll own my own house, but I won’t forget who I am or where I came from.”

One of the major themes in this book is how Esperanza wants a home and not just any home, but a home that represents her. A home that is her own and a home that suits and fits her. Also, how she wants a name that fits her. She wants to change her name into something that fits her and her personality.

Book Song: “Changing” by Alex Wolff

Quote From The Song: “And I’m waiting, I’m slaving for this moment. I just can’t wait anymore”.

This song is all about a boy who wants to finish what he has started. He can’t wait for it to happen. He wants it to happen as fast as possible so that he can make the change that he has been dying to make.

I chose this song because it shows how Esperanza has been waiting for such a long time to find that house that she has been dying to make. It also shows how Esperanza wants a change to her self. She wants to change her name to something that suits her at a great deal.

Jada Kimble

The House on Mango Street Playlist

Song#1: Story

"The House on Mango Street"

Quote from the book: “for the time being, mama says. Temporary said papa. But I know how those things go.” Pg.5

The main theme of the story “The House on Mango Street” is Esperanza and her family are looking for a house where they belong. A house where she can point at, a house that fit the family of six and a place she can call home.

Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood

Quote from the song: “Another new mom and dad, another school, another house that will never be home.” When people asked him how he likes the place he looks up and says with a smile upon is face and says this is my temporary home it’s not where I belong.”

The song “Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood is trying to get across in the song is that the little boy that is a foster child feels as if he don’t belong and the home he live in is just not the home for him the same thing Esperanza is trying to get across in the story is that the house on mango street is not a home for her it’s just temporary place for her family it would never be a home for her.

Song#2: Character

Esperanza-“Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”

Quote from the book: “One day I will pack my bags of books and papers.” One day I would say goodbye to Mango Street.” “One day I will go away.”

Esperanza is a little girl who is in a family of six that trying to find where she belong and things that if she changes the some things about herself that it would make people see her for the person she is. She feels as if Mango Street is not the place for her and she belongs and another different world with people that can understand her and wont judge her.

“Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson

Quote from the book: “I write down and Mango Street says goodbye sometimes. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever. One day I will go away.”

“Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson is about a girl who tells a story about one day she would go away to something better. A place where everything is good, a place where she belongs just as Esperanza is trying to say. I picked this song for this is because it matches the theme the author is trying to get across in the story “mango says goodbye sometime.”

It also compares to what Esperanza is saying and what Kelly Clarkson is saying in her song. Another reason is because it connects on so many different levels with what she is saying in the song to what Esperanza is saying in the book

Song#3: Book Theme

Book Theme: Love yourself for who you are and what you look like

Quote from the book: "And all I hear is the clapping when the music stops. My uncle and I bow and he walks me back in my thick shoes to my mother who is proud to be my mother.” Pg.48

Another quote from the book: “I am an ugly daughter. I am the one nobody comes for.”

Love yourself for who you are and what you look like is a major theme throughout the book. It's because Esperanza could describe how other people were and what she liked about them but when it came to herself she always felt as if she was ugly and the person who worries about people judging the way she looks or talk about the things that made her feel as if she didn’t belong. The two stories “Beautiful & Cruel” and “Chancels” helps get the main theme across. Throughout the book Esperanza is a low self-esteem person who has no confidence about herself and also the person who tried to find a place where she belong, but everywhere she went she was always judged by many people or felt left out.

Book Song: "I am not my hair” by India Arie

Quote from the song: “I am not my hair. I am not my skin. I am a soul that lives within.”

This song tells about women with low self-esteem and low confident who thinks more on what people thinks about her than what she really is. Someone who cares about people judging the way her hairs look same as Esperanza care more on what people might say negative about her then what she thinks of herself.

I chose this song is because it tells the story of how Esperanza felt about herself how she used to call herself ugly and cared more about what people thought. It connects to the theme to love yourself for who you are and what you look like.

Shacara Edwards

The House on Mango Street Playlist

Song #1: Story

“Hips”

Quote from the book: “Skip, skip, snake in your hips, wiggle around, and break you hips." Pg.51

The main theme of the story “Hips” is that your hips could be your biggest body part that some people hips stick out and are to wide.

“Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira

Quote from the song: “All the attraction, the tension, don’t you see baby this is perfection?"

“Hips” by Shakira is about how all the attraction she gets is because of her hips. And she doesn’t care what people think because she feels good about her hips.

I picked this song because both the song and the story have something to do with hips and about how they love their hips and doesn’t care what nobody thinks.

Song #2: Character

Esperanza –“Hairs”

Quote from the book: Everybody in our family has different hair. My Papa’s hair is like a broom, all up in the air. And me, my hair is lazy.

Esperanza is a girl who is very different from her family when it comes down to their hair. She explains how her family hair is crazy, or just right.

“I am Not My Hair” by India Arie”

Quote from the song: “ I am not my hair, I am not my skin, I am not your expectations.”

“I am Not My Hair” is about a girl who wears different types of hairstyles and most people think other things about her. But what she is trying to say in this song is that just because she wears her hair a certain way doesn’t means she acts a certain way. Like if her hair was crazy and all over the place, hat doesn’t mean he is crazy and all over the place.

I picked this song because in the story she tells how her family has different hairstyles and how they may be wild, but they are not their hair.

Song #3: Book Theme

Book Theme: Never Say You Don’t Like Something You Never Tried Out

Quote from the book: “And so she trudged up the wooden stairs, her sad brown shoes taking her to the house she never liked." Pg.109

One of the major themes in this book is not to judge people before you know them. To not judge things before you do them. To try things and then see if you like it because you never know until you try it. In the story Esperanza doesn’t like her house when she sees it but doesn’t know how she would like it in the meantime.

Book Song: “A House is Not a Home” by Luther Vandross

Quote from the song: “A house is not a home when there is no one there.”

“A House is Not a Home.” By Luther Vandross is about how a house is not a home but how would you know this if you never tried it or if no ones in the house.

I picked this song because it is similar in different ways. It is different because in the song he talks about how a house is not is home, but in my opinion I think it is similar because you don’t know if a house is not a home if you never lived in it.

Britny Perkins

The House on Mango Street Playlist

Song # 1: Story

“THE HOUSE on MANGO STREET”

Quote from the book: “We had to leave the flat on Loomis quick. The water pipes broke and the landlord wouldn’t them because the house was to old. We had to leave fast.” Pg.4

I believe the main theme of the story is home. Their want to have their home comfortable, someday, But for now they have to settle with what they can afford.

“Temporary home” by Carrie Underwood

Quote from the song: “This is not my home, it’s not where I belong. Windows and walls we’re passing through."

"Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood is about how this home on earth is merely temporary till we die. We’ll move on, so make the best of your home now.

I chose this song for it’s depth, and Esperzanza hopes, the house on Mango street is Temporary. Not to mention you can’t stay there forever.

Song #2: Character

“Minerva Writes Poems”

Quote from the book: “Minvera cries because her luck is unlucky”

She is always sad with many troubles her husband being one.

Song: “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart”

Quote from song: ‘Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart, well you you can try sleeping in my bed lonely, nobody ever shut me down like you.”

"Try sleeping with a broken heart" is about a girl who can’t be with the one she loves, for what ever reason, and how much it hurts when she tries to sleep.

I chose this song to go with Minerva because, she also is in a lot of pain brought on by the one she loves. While she believes she is helpless to do any thing about it, but sleep.

Song #3: The book’s theme

“Mango Says Good Sometimes”

Miley Cyrus “The Climb”

Lyric from the song: "There is a sliver lining in every cloud is the theme of the book in my opinion."

The song means life is always hard, bu it’s our decisions that make it easier. I believe this goes with the song and story because, Esperanza’s life always had to climb, but eventually she made it across. That is why I chose this song.

Darius Clay

The House on Mango Street Playlist

Song # 1: Story Theme

“Red Clowns”

Quote from book: “Sally, you lied to me. It wasn’t what you said at all. What he did”. Pg. 99

The main theme of the story “Red Clowns” is that Sally lied to Esperanza about meeting her at the Red Clowns, and Esperanza was upset. She felt like she got backstabbed.

“Backstabbers” by The O’Jays

Quote from song: “I’m sick and tired of hearing all about my life from other people with all of your lies”.

“Backstabbers” by The O’Jays is about people who lie and setup their own friends. They talk about lies and gossip in the song.

I picked this song because basically Sally backstabbed Esperanza. It show similarity to the way Sally lied to Esperanza.

Song # 2: Character

Minerva -- Minerva writes poems

Quote from book: “Her mother raised her kids alone and it looks like her daughters will go out that way too. She has too many troubles, but the biggest one is her husband who left and keeps leaving." Pg. 84/85

Minerva is a single parent who has three daughters. Her husband who left her and comes back every now and then. Her mother raised her and her siblings by herself. She cries and prays every single night.

“Keep Ya Head Up” by 2pac Shakur

Quote from song: And uh to all the ladies havin babies own they own, I know its kinda rough and ya feelin’ all alone. Daddy’s long gone and he left ya by ya lonesome.

The song “keep ya head up by 2pac Shakur is about the struggles that black females have to deal with. He describes why and how kids grow up without a daddy.

I picked this song because it shows the struggles that Minerva and her kids went through. And it also shows what most blacks go through, and they were similar.

Song # 3: Book Theme

Quote from book: They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours for always so we wouldn’t have to move each year. Pg. 4

One main theme in the book is the house on Mango street. Esperanza and her family’s new house is theirs, they have no landlord. But the house just doesn’t fit Esperanza.

“A House Is Not A Home” By Luther Vandross

Quote from song: “But a room is not a house and a house is not a home.

“A House Is Not A Home” By Luther Vandross is about the difference between a house and a home. He’s saying that you need someone to care and love you in a house before you can have a home.

I picked this song because it shows Esperanza’s feelings about their new home.

Mr. Shakur

Abdel Shakur

Song #1: Story
"The House on Mango Street"

Quote from the book: "They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours for always so we wouldn't have to move each year." p.4

The main theme of the story "The House on Mango Street" story is that Esperanza and her family are looking for a home that fits there family. They are tired of renting houses because the landlords don't take care of them.

"A House is Not a Home" by Luther Vandross

Quote from the song: "But a chair is not a house and a house is not a home. When there's no one there to hold you tight. And no one there you can kiss goodnight"

"A House Is Not a Home" by Luther Vandross is about the difference between a house and a home. Vandross is saying that you can't actually have a home until you have someone who will love you and hold you tight. I picked this song because it shows how important it is for Esperanza and her family to have a place where they can love each other and make into a home.


Song #2: Character

Rosa Vargas -- "There Was An Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What To Do"

Quote from the book: "Rosa Vargas' kids are too many and too much. It's not her fault you know, except she is their mother and only one against so many."

Rosa Vargas is a mother who is living in a home trying to raise a bunch of kids all by herself. The story says that the children's father left her without " a dollar for bolgna or a note explaining why". She is tired all of the time and wants the children's father to return.

"Dear Mama" by 2Pac Shakur

Quote from the song: "Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids. And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama. When things went wrong we'd blame mama"

"Dear Mama" by 2Pac Shakur is about a man who is looking back at all the hard times that his mother had to go through. He describes how the mother suffered because she was trying to raise "bad" kids on her own.

I picked this song because it showed how the struggle that Rosa Vargas went through and the struggle that 2Pac's mother went through were similar.


Song #3: Book Theme

Theme: Love Yourself for Who You Are

Quote from the book: "And all I hear is the clapping when the music stops. My uncle and me bow and he walks me back in my thick shoes to my mother who is proud to be my mother." p.48

One of the major themes in the book is how important it is to love yourself, no matter what. This quote comes from the story "Chanclas" where Esperanza dances with her uncle Nacho, even though she doesn't like the way her feet look. Throughout the book Esperanza feels like she's not as pretty as other girls, but by the end she knows that she has to love herself for who she is.

Book Theme Song: "I Am Not My Hair" by India Arie

Quote from the song: "I am not my hair. I am not this skin. I am a soul that lives within."

This song is all about a woman who tries to change her hair to fit what other people think it should look like. By the end of the song she realizes that as long as she is happy with her hair, than that is good enough.

I chose this song because it showed how Esperanza felt about her body at first, but in the end she found out she was good enough no matter what she looked like.