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Thursday, April 06, 2006

Mango Street-“Four Skinny Trees”

The House on Mango Street
Journal Guide for Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Four Skinny Trees”


Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Questions
1. In what ways does Esperanza identify with the four skinny trees?
2. What does Esperanza learn from the trees?

Quotes
Explain the significance of the following quotes.

Four raggedy excuses planted by the city.

Their strength is secret. They send ferocious roots beneath the ground. They grow up and grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger. This is how they keep.

Let one forget his reason for being, they’d all droop like tulips in a glass, each with their arms around the other.

When I am too sad and too skinny to keep keeping, when I am a tiny thing against so many bricks, then it is I look at trees.

Four who reach and do not forget to reach.
Four whose only reason is to be and be.

Themes
The theme of finding beauty in everyday things is continued in this chapter. What beauty does Esperanza find in the trees? What do the trees teach her? What is the irony in what the trees teach her?

Style
Cisneros has a poetic style. She incorporates both vivid imagery and spare prose. She uses both to create a picture of the narrator’s world.

1. How does the description of the trees correspond with Esperanza’s description of herself?
2. How do these words used to describe the trees create the sense of tenacity that is an essential part of Esperanza’s life?

Personal Response
Nature has always been an inspiration for writers. Esperanza identifies with four skinny trees. With what element of nature do you identify? Why?

11 Comments:

At 11:35 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Questions
1. Esperanza identifies with the trees because she feels they are both misplaced on Mango street.
2.Esperanza learns from the trees that she has to keep reaching for what she wants.

Quotes
Explain the significance of the following quotes.

The trees are only there because the city feigned concern for the street.

Trees are silently angry and the way they grow is a reflection of their rage.

If you forget what you're striving for then you might as well give up on life.


When you need inspiration just look to where you know you will find it.

Their purpose might be minimal but they keep on because that is what they are meant for.

Themes
Esperanza finds the beauty of willpower and perserverance in the trees and they teach her to reach for what she wants.

Style

1. She and the trees both are reaching for something.
2. The way she describes them grabbing and trying to get ahold of something show how she is trying to get a grip herself.

Personal Response
I don't exactly know how I would identify with a forest scene, but I know being in serene green place is a lot more comfortable to me than being in the middle of the ocean or a volcano.

 
At 9:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

VCalderon
p.1

Questions
1.Skinny necks and pionty elbows like hers.

2.That matter how you look there is a reason to be and be what you are.

Quotes
That no matter what force the trees respond as in wanting to be on this planet.

Like trying to hold on there for pulled from their enviorment.

That when she has a problem she looks and the tree ya that skinny tree.

Those that want to be like eveyone else.And not just themselves.

Theme
That it's kind of like her skinny but that she still has a purpose on earth.

That they try to kind away to be on earth.

Style
1. That she is like the trees in a way.Four skinny trees with skinny necks and pionty elbows like mine.

2.That even the little things is life matter.

Personal

That the world has a big meaning well I mean plants.Thatthe things ave a big meaning

 
At 9:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Questions

1. The skinny trees are like her skinny legs and elbows.
2. She learns that she needs to be strong so she can "keep" like the tree's

Quotes

1. The trees were planted by the u=ity so the citizens wouldn't complain about their being no plants on Mango street.
2. If one tree dies the others would die with it.
3. When she feels weak she looks at the trees and remembers to stay strong.
4. The trees only reason for being there is to live and survive there

Themes

1. The trees represent the beauty of surviving, and they teach Esperanza to stay strong and to "keep"

Style

1. Esperanza says that the trees are like her skinny legs and elbows.
2. It creates tenacity by saying that the trees survive only to survive, they have no purpose.

Personal Response

The part of nature that i correspond
with is they sky because the sky is the best part of nature and i like the sky the most.

 
At 6:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

J Calderon p. 1
Questions
1. She says that the trees have skinny necks and pointy elbows like hers, and they don't belong there but are there.
2. She learns to "keep keeping", which is to keep reaching for her goals in her case it is to get her own house and leave Mango St.
Quotes
1. They are two trees who aren't supposed to be there but are still put there.
2. The trees strenght is quiet it isnt Loud,but when they want to they can be.
3. If the trees, or metaphorically Esperanza, let their goal slip out of their mind they would just be there.
4. When she is sad and weak because of obstacles in her life she looks at the trees to see that something small can become something bigger.
Themes
1. The trees teach esperanza to keep fighting for what she wants out of life. The yr eassure her that soemthing small can become something bigger.
Style
1. She says the trees are as skinny as her.
2. They started out small and keep growing, and espernaza is just a little girl but she will become something bigger.
Personal Response
1. I wouldnt know what element of nature i would compare myself to becasue i never really stop to appreciate the beuty of nature, i would maybe guess the wind because its seems to be care free, and flows the way it wants to not where they make it go.

 
At 6:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

J Calderon p. 1
Questions
1. She says that the trees have skinny necks and pointy elbows like hers, and they don't belong there but are there.
2. She learns to "keep keeping", which is to keep reaching for her goals in her case it is to get her own house and leave Mango St.
Quotes
1. They are two trees who aren't supposed to be there but are still put there.
2. The trees strenght is quiet it isnt Loud,but when they want to they can be.
3. If the trees, or metaphorically Esperanza, let their goal slip out of their mind they would just be there.
4. When she is sad and weak because of obstacles in her life she looks at the trees to see that something small can become something bigger.
Themes
1. The trees teach esperanza to keep fighting for what she wants out of life. The yr eassure her that soemthing small can become something bigger.
Style
1. She says the trees are as skinny as her.
2. They started out small and keep growing, and espernaza is just a little girl but she will become something bigger.
Personal Response
1. I wouldnt know what element of nature i would compare myself to becasue i never really stop to appreciate the beuty of nature, i would maybe guess the wind because its seems to be care free, and flows the way it wants to not where they make it go.

 
At 9:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Roy Ortiz
Per.1

Four skinny trees

Questions:
1.They both want to leave their mark on earth.
2.They just want to be and be kept.

Quotes:
1.They are four old teers planted by the city.
2.There roots are big and they are strong and kept.
3.If poeple don't keep them and notice them they will die.
4.She compars herself to the trees.
5.The trees only perpose is to live.

Theme:
The trees have big roots that grab the earth.The trees teach her that she is not the only one that has is bad.

style:
1.They both have the same skinny neck and elbows.
2.I don't know what tendency means.

personal response:
I identify with a lion becuase thats my sign.

 
At 8:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

NEnsastegui-p1
Four Skinny Trees
Questions:
1.Esperanza identifys the four skinny trees as skinny necks and pointy elbows just like hers.
2.Esperanza learns from the trees that the inter beauty is more important than the outer beauty.

Quotes:
1.Four trees planted in the city to keep nature living in even the less expected places.
2.The trees don't seem so powerful in the middle of the city, but their force that they have withi is more powerful than anything.
3.If the trees were to be cut down all of them would fall together.
4.When Esperanza feels that she doesn't belong she looks at the trees for comfort, since the trees dont belong where they are either.
5.Four trees who don't belong but still keep their roots growng and letting it be seen.

Themes:
Esperanza finds inter beauty in the four skinny trees. Even though they might look insignificant in the middle of the city, they are actually very powerful and beautiful even if no one can see it.The trees teach her that even though she thinks she doesnt belong where she is, she is wrong and shouldn't care what other people think because she is beautiful on the inside.

Style:
1. Esperanza describes the trees with skiny necks and pointy elbows just like hers.
2.Esperanza uses the words as if she were comparing herself to something that is so similar to her but at the same time cant move and can only breath.

Personal Response:
I identify myself with a flower. They are always really charming when taking care of, but if you don't nurcher it and treat it like you should it drys and dies. I am very sensible and if a person treats me bad i feel just like a flower.

 
At 8:54 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Four Skinny Trees
Period 1
SVielma
Questions
1. Esperanza says that the trees are the only ones who understand her because they both feel misplaced and that they have skinny necks and pointy elbows just like hers.
2.She learns from the trees that she has to have strength and not stop until she gets what she wants.
Quotes
1. The trees are just there and no one stops to appreciate them.
2. The way the trees grow is a sign of their anger.
3. If you give up what your purpose is then you might as well not go on.
4. When you need something to inspire you look to something or someone that will help you.
5. Your purpose might not be the gretest but thats why you are here.
themes
She finds beauty because they teach her that she must have strength to reach for what she wants.
Style
1. She says they have skinny necks and pointy elbows just like her.
2. They are described the same as the way she is trying to get a hold of herself.

 
At 9:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

“Four Skinny Trees”

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Questions
1. That they are skinny and tall.
2. That they have a secret strength.

Quotes

That Esperanza was born with out planning.

That they grow up and gets stronger.

That they show their beauty.

That she get happy when she looks at the trees.



Themes
As she grows up her true beauty will sow.

Style


1. That they are both tall and skinny.
2. That they are similar.

 
At 9:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

KMolter Per1

1.Esperanza identifies wit hthe four sknny tress because she is also skinny which the trees are and has pointy elbows which the trees are pointy also.

2.That matter how you look there is a reason to be who you are and your made to look the way you are for that reason.

Quotes
That no matter what the trees are they represent so much more to Esperanza she see's them as people in a way.

The trees are trying to hold onto there enviroment and keep safe and beautiful.

That when Esperanza is having a bad day to think about the trees and to forget everything and do care about the trees.

Some people wan't to look like others and wish many things and do stuff to change but you can't.Because you are who are you be thankful.

To be who you are no matter what people tell you your beautifl.

Theme
That it's kind of like her skinny but that she still has a purpose on earth. The trees teach her she is beautiful in everyway.The irony is to believe in yourself and who you are.

Style

1. That she is like the trees in a way.Four skinny trees with skinny necks and pionty elbows like mine.

2.That even the little things matter in life.

Personal Response
I identify myself with the ocean in never ends, it's free, it's beautiful, and it's peaceful. That's how I want my life to be.

 
At 5:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

SteeleD Per 4

1. She identifies the trees because they look so out of place inside the city.

2. She learns to keep going no matter how the odds are stacked against you.

QUOTES

1. Compared to all the other trees in the area, these are the smallest.

2. Although thay appear petite, underground they are strong enough to break through the earth and concrete.

3. Like the flowers inside of the vase, they have no life or reason and die.

4. No matter the odds, keep going.

5. Never stop reaching for the best you can be.

THEMES

1. She find strength in trees, they teach her to keep going no matter the cost.

Style

1. She appears to be weak on the outside, yet underneath she is a strong woman.

2. She wants to appear stronger on the outside as well

 

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