Introduction to Latina and Latino Literature/Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros

Brief Biography

Sandra Cisneros was born on December 20, 1954 in Chicago Illinois. Cisneros is a Hispanic American, who is known for her focus on writing about the “Chicana” (Mexican American) culture. Sandra Cisneros is well known for her short stories, essays and novels. ^[1]

Sandra Cisneros received a bachelor's degree from Loyola University in 1976 and her Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa in 1978. She spent her time giving back to teens at the Latino Youth Alternative High School in Chicago. Cisneros was a college recruiter and a guidance counselor for students of minorities at Loyola University of Chicago. Cisneros was the literature director at the Guadalupe Culture Arts center in San Antonio, Texas. Cisneros spent time in Vence, France as an artist in residence at the Foundation Michael Karolyi. Sandra Cisneros uses a very personal approach in her writings. Cisneros writes about the struggles and disadvantages of growing up in a lower class neighborhood. Cisneros writes about the people she grew up with in Chicago. In The House on Mango Street, Cisneros focuses on the realistic struggles that woman and teens dealt with. Cisneros uses her diverse background and upbringing in her writings.

Source#1:http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/cisneros/bio.htm Source #2: w.unc.edu/~dcderosa

Place In Latina/o Literature

Sandra Cisneros writes about women’s struggles in a male dominated world during the late 1900’s. She is one of the most famous “Chicana” writers and the first female writer to have publications. Her genre of feminist literature focuses on gender inequalities amongst woman.

Analysis Of Text

The House on Mango Street was first published in 1983. In Sandra Cisneros's short story "The House on Mango Street," she talks about Esperanza Cordero. The House on Mango Street is the story of a young Latina girl, Esperanza Cordero who is growing up in Chicago, much like the life of Sandra Cisneros. "The House on Mango Street" is a story about becoming of age and teenage problems growing up in a poor area In Chicago, much like Cisneros.

Another major text by Cisneros is Woman Hollering Creek, which was first published in 1991 as a collection of short stories. The book Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories focuses on the description of Mexicans who have crossed the border. Most of the women in these stories are mistreated and abused by men.

Comparison to Other Latina/o Authors

Estela Portillo Trambley, was born in 1927 and died in 1998, is a Chicana writer. Estela Portillo Trambley themes are very similar to Sandra Cisneros writings. Estela Trambley writes about women’s struggles and woman who fight against abusive men. As in Cisneros writings these woman are living in a male dominated society.

Trambley also focuses on writing short stories. In the short story “Paris Gown” we can see similarities in the writing style of Sandra Cisneros, Woman Hollering Creek. We can see a woman who is stuck in a male dominated society rebel against society and a man.

Sandra Cisneros also has a writing style very similar to the styles of writers,Maxine Hong Kingston, Toni Morrison, Louise Erdrich, and Helena María Viramontes.

Literary Criticism by PBS

Ray Santisteban from PBS states: "Cisneros is a novelist, poet, short story writer, and essayist whose work gives voice to working-class Latino and Latina life in America. Her lyrical, realistic work blends aspects of "high" and popular culture. Her novel THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET (1983), a series of vignettes told from the perspective of a young girl growing up in Chicago, is required reading in schools across the country."

In this literary Critic of Cisneros we see a positive review of her work. We can see that santiseban believes that Cisneros relates to the lower class in a positive manner. We can also see that Ray Santisteban talks about all of the awards of Cisneros.