Literary Merit

  The phrase ‘literary merit' to College board refers to a work of literature that withstands time and appeals to a vast variety of audiences. Works of literary merit have relatable qualities and relative concepts, not only to the time period it had been published in but also throughout time. These kinds novels also have in-depth and insightful qualities that go beyond the words printed on the page. To me, these elements greatly contribute to the definition of a work of  literary merit, a work of literary merit also has engaging characters that the readers can be sympathetic to. With the understanding of this definition, the novel The House on Mango Street, written by Sandra Cisneros falls into the category of a work of literary merit. Reading works of literary merit would be beneficial to anyone because it would expose them to insightful novels that will always be relevant. The novel House on Mango a rare kind of book that immediately resonated with me and most likely other readers in this way as well.
  The novel The House on Mango street is relatively short but has a quite relatable nature. In the novel, the Chicana (Mexican-American) protagonist, Esperanza whose name means ‘hope' in Spanish, recounts her days as an adolescent to maturity with struggles along the way. The novel begins with Esperanza and her large family moving into a new house that is an improvement from their previous apartment. Esperanza does not particularly like the house because it is not what she as nice as she dreamed of but she makes do. She matures quickly within the first year of living in the new house. Further down the line, Esperanza endures hardships and begins writing as an escape from the situation and the neighborhood. This in itself is relatable to a wide range of readers. The common and relatable theme of growing up and maturing is something we all experience and people have experienced over time. This specific theme of the novel has and will always withstand time and resonate with readers. While reading the book, I remember a time of my life when I was like Esperanza. I was young and wanted to be grown up in some aspects but not in others, just like Esperanza. I am confident that all readers of The House on Mango Street have encountered or are currently facing. The difficulties the readers may face in life may not measure up to the misfortunes that Esperanza encountered, but the fact that we all, in our adolescence, experienced tribulations creates a sense of sympathy with Esperanza.
  Sandra Cisneros does a good job writing a novel of literary merit that is insightful and in which aspects can be compared to our own lives. The story is told in brief chapters, but Cisneros shows the readers that a novel does not have to have over 200 pages to be considered a work of literary merit. This relatable factor throughout time is what qualifies this novel as a work of literary merit in the definition by College Board and my own.