Suggested Discussion Questions

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1. In "Those Who Don't," Esperanza says of her neighborhood, "All brown all around, we are safe." What does she mean?
    
2. Why are the Four Skinny Trees important to Esperanza?
    
3. Regarding the structure of this novel, are Cisneros' short vignettes more powerful than a traditional linear plot? What does this novel have in common, stylistically, with poetry?
    
4. Why is there so much violence against women in this book? How does the challenge of living in a patriarchal society both hinder and help Esperanza in her growth?
    
5. What experiences are important to Esperanza’s writing? Why does she want to write?
    
6. What is the importance of family in this novel? How do these relationships both hinder and enable Esperanza's development as a person? What about the role of friends? Which seems more significant?
    
7. Why is the idea of a home so important to Esperanza, both as a place of security and as an actual physical space?
    
8. What is the significance of the supernatural in this book? Consider the fortuneteller, the old ladies who read Esperanza's palm, and Darius, who sees God in a cloud.