Abstract: The House on Mango Street is the masterpiece of Sandra Cisneros, a renowned contemporary Mexican American female writer and poet. By comparing and analyzing the diffident characters in The House on Mango Street and the corresponding fairy tale archetypes, this thesis not only reveals the theme of the novel and enriches the study of the connotation inside, but also enlarges the research scope of archetype theory at the same time. The thesis introduces the archetype theory in details, and discusses the application of the archetype theory in depicting the characters in the novel.

Key word: fairy tale archetype theory; Sandra Cisneros; lyrical novel

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

1.1 Introduction to the Writer and Her Work

1.2 Introduction to The House on Mango Street

1.3 Literature Review

2. The Concept of Archetypes4

2.1 Introduction to Archetype Theory

2.2 Archetype in literature

3. Archetypes in The House on Mango Street6

3.1 Rafaela VS Rapunzel

3.2 The Family of Little Feet VS Cinderalla

3.3 The Three Sisters VS The Norns

4. Conclusion

Bibliography

Acknowledgments