The House on Mango Street
by Sandra Cisneros

The House on Mango Street: Imagery 2 key examples

Definition of Imagery

Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After Apple-Picking" contain imagery that engages... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After... read full definition
Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines... read full definition
Chapter 2: Hairs
Explanation and Analysis—Hair:

Esperanza uses a series of similes to describe her and her family's hair, culminating in rich imagery that conveys the sweet smell of her mother's hair:

My Papa’s hair is like a broom, all up in the air. And me, my hair is lazy... my mother’s hair, like little rosettes, like little candy circles all curly and pretty because she pinned it in pincurls all day, sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it, is the smell when she makes room for you on her side of the bed still warm with her skin, and you sleep near her, the rain outside falling and Papa snoring.

Chapter 28: Sire
Explanation and Analysis—Little Pink Toes:

Cisneros paints a vivid picture of Lois, the girlfriend of Esperanza's first crush, describing in detail how her toes appear: 

And once when she was standing next to me at Mr. Benny’s grocery she was barefoot, and I saw her barefoot baby toenails all painted pale pale pink, like little pink seashells, and she smells pink like babies do. She’s got big girl hands, and her bones are long like ladies’ bones, and she wears makeup too. But she doesn’t know how to tie her shoes. I do.

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