Esperanza Rising

1
Esperanza Rising

• Pam Munoz Ryan

2
Setting

• Aguascalientes, Mexico
• Arvin, California
• During the Great Depression

3
Major Characters

• Esperanza Ortega 13 yrs. old main character
  has lived entire life on parents ranch in
  Mexico. When her father is killed, she flees
  with her mother their servants to California,
  and has to live as a poor farm worker
• Miguel son of Alfonso Hortensia, who work for
  Esperanzas family grows up with Esperanza on
  her ranch believes living in America is better
  than living in Mexico because he has the
  opportunity to advance

4
Minor Characters

• Ramona Ortega Esperanzas mother
• Sixto Ortega Esperanzas father
• Abuelita Esperanzas grandmother Romanas
  mother
• Marisol Rodriguez Esperanzas best friend in
  Mexico
• Alfonso Miguels father

5

• Hortensia Miguels mother
• Tio Luis Tio Marco They are Sixtos brothers
  who destroy Esperanzas life.
• Juan Josafina relatives of Hortensia
  Alfonso that live in California help Ramona,
  Hortensia, Alfonso get work

6

• Isabel 8 yr. old daughter of Juan Josafina
  at first annoys Esperanza, but then Esperanza
  learns to lover her.
• Pepe Lupe Isabels twin baby brother
  sister one of Esperanzas duties in California
  is to care for them.
• Marta a girl that is not nice to Esperanza when
  first meeting Marta pushes everyone to strike
  because she believes they are being treated
  unfairly

7
Conflict

• The conflict of a plot is the major problem
  experienced by the protagonist.
• In Esperanza Rising, Esperanza must learn to live
  a new life as a poor immigrant in California
  after her father is killed her lavish home is
  destroyed in Mexico.

8
Protagonist

• The protagonist of a story is the main character
  who traditionally undergoes some sort of change,
  and must usually overcome some opposing force.
• Esperanza must rise above the cruel actions of
  Tio Luis Tio Marco, who have destroyed her
  life. She must learn to adjust to being a
  migrant worker in California when she has always
  been the daughter of a rich powerful family in
  Mexico.

9
Antagonist

• The antagonist of a story is the force that
  provides an obstacle for the protagonist. It
  does not always have to be a single character.
• Tio Luis Tio Marco work together as a single
  antagonizing force. They drive Esperanza and
  Ramona (Mama) to leave Mexico provide a threat
  to Abuelita, who must remain behind.

10
Climax

• The climax of a plot is the major turning point
  that allows the protagonist to resolve the
  conflict.
• The climax of Esperanza Rising occurs when Miguel
  brings Abuelita to California. This proves to
  Esperanza that everything will be all right in
  California because it is a final victory over Tio
  Luis Tio Marco.

11
Outcome

• The outcome, or resolution, occurs in the final
  chapter when Esperanza Miguel listen to the
  earth. This happens a full year after the
  tragedy of her fathers death. Esperanza has
  learned to be rich in being poor.