September 7

Mango Street 2

Choose one golden line from 3 of the vignettes you’ve read so far.   A golden line is one line that stands out to you as significant.  It moved you in some way.  Type the line precisely as it appears in your book.  Place it within quotation marks, and add the page number at the end of the line.  “It should look like this.” (1)    For each golden line, write a short response that answers the following.  Write it in paragraph form.  Why does that line stand out to you? Does it remind you of something in your own experience?  Does it affect you visually?  Can you feel a specific emotion when you read it? You have four responses to write in all.  Once you finish, copy your work, then click “submit”.  Your homework will be found on the Moodle cite tomorrow by midnight.  The due date will be posted on Moodle.  Be sure to check Moodle each day between now and next class to form a habit of checking into your online accounts.

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Posted September 7, 2016 by tashak38 in category Uncategorized

About the Author

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area--Big Up to the East Bay

22 thoughts on “Mango Street 2

  1. Maya Cisneros

    “But what I remember most is moving a lot.” (1)
    This quote stands out to me because It reminds me how much my family has had to move many times before as well. Moving many times I can visualize all the packaging and stress Esperanza’s family has had to go through. Unlike how Esperanza says, “each time it seems there’d be one more of us” it seems my family had less and less belongings each time we moved. When I read this quote I feel like I can relate to her situation because, when a family moves homes the parents always want the best for their children.

    “At school they said my name funny as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth.” (11)
    This quote stands out to me because it explains how kids would make fun of her name the same way kids would make fun of my last two names. It reminds me how I had to learn to accept the names that was given to me. I believe this affects me visually because I think most people grow through a time where they learn how to accept their name as well. When I read this quote I feel bad for the people who are making fun of Esperanza’s name because they are so closed minded that can’t realize how beautiful her name really is.

    “The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don’t have to pay rent to anybody, or share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and there isn’t a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom.” (1)
    This quote stands out to me because I hope my family can have a house of our own as well. How Esperanza expresses their own house it reminds me all the different landlords, neighbors and rules that we have had to deal with throughout the years. This does not affect me visually because I know my family will own a house, where we don’t have to worry about the downstairs neighbors or paying rent. When I read this quote I feel hope full that my family can own a house one day too.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous

    The House On Mango Street
    “We didn’t always live on Mango Street”. Page 3
    This quote stand out to me cause Esperanza is letting us the reader know that she has lived somewhere else before and this isn’t new to her. I remember moving to the neighborhood i grew up in when i was around five, i sometimes ask my sister or mom where did she use to live before me and my twin sister were born. I can feel an emotional withdraws because moving period can be emotional, sentimental to the area or curtain thing in the area can affect you as a person.

    ” I knew then i had to have a real house”. Page 5
    Esperanza felt that by her having a house the way it looked people would judge her an her well being as a human. She was ashamed of where she lived but still wasn’t afraid to make it be known of where she lived cause she told the nun like here i live here saying it with pride but thankful to call it her home.

    Hairs
    “Everybody in our family has different hair.” Page 6
    I can relate cause its the same with everybody in my family as well we all have different hair types but we all have the same mom an dad an even look alike in some ways as well.

    Boys & Girls
    “Nenny is too young to be my best friend.” Page 8
    Esperanza feels that by her having this role of watching over her sister it will be holding her back from doing a lot of things that come her way. Growing up i have a best friend that is my sisters two an only them to i call that cause i know that i can talk to them about anything that needed to be talked about i can come to them about anything.

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  3. ahmad wais nejati

    “I knew them I had to have. A house. A real house. One could point to. but this isn’t it. The house on mango street isn’t it.”[]
    The mango house kites they dreamed big but there dreams never come true. Their parents told them a lot before they move to these always moved to worst places

    Reply
  4. 10892199ms

    “The house on Mango street is ours, and we don’t have to pay rent to anybody, or share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and there isn’t a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom”. (3) This stands out to me because even though I was raised in a home that was ours, I put my self in her shoes because I had to live in an apartment for a few days with my mother but I normally live with my grandparents. I had to be careful every time I was at her home. It doesn’t affect me visually because I haven’t experienced it as much as she has. When I read the quote, it makes me feel like just because I don’t have any struggles as before that doesn’t mean that no one else does.

    “You can’t pick your sisters”. (8) This line stands out to me because even though my sister is a pain, I can’t really exchange her for anything because she is my blood. If I had the chance to I wouldn’t either way. It doesn’t affect me now but maybe if my sister is wasn’t here with me it may affect me in the future. I would feel sad because my sister wouldn’t be with me and it wouldn’t feel the same if I exchange her if I had an opportunity to.

    -Marisela S.

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    “She can’t play with those Vargas kids or she’ll turn out just like them. And since she comes right after me, she is my responsibility,” (8)
    This like made me think a lot about my little Brother. I have 2 brothers and i’m the second to the oldest one so I have to watch out for the little one and help him. I don’t want him to have a bad experience or something bad so its my responsibility to look out and care for him.
    “Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor” (9)
    She knows she is able to reach and go beyond the sky but she feels she is being weighed down. Like most people in the world, people can go beyond what they can do, but they feel like there is something holding them back that will not let them complete what they want to do.
    “I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window.” (11)
    I feel like the author is trying to say that she does not want to become like her grandma because her grandma lived a very painful and suffering life that she wasn’t a choice of her own. I feel like i can connect with this line because its sad to say have we all know someone that makes us say ”I hope i dont become like him/her. We want good for ourselves. the emotions it shows can be a mixture of fear, inspiration, and caring.

    Emmal A.

    Reply
  6. VI TRAN

    Quote one: “ Someday I will have a best friend of my all my own. One I can tell my secret to. One who will understand my jokes without my having to explain them.”
    I use to have friend here, because I find out they are not good for me to play with, then I decided to leave. I find out sometime they have secret and tell bad thing behind me, because of those friend, I have bad time with my family, and I become something that they want me to, not the one I want, then I tell myself that I want a friend who support me, understand me, give me advise and tell me to become good person.

    Quote two: “In English my name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters.”
    Esperanza’s want to become someone that everyone will accept her, see her like everyone else or see her is the success person. Her english name give hope to herself, it is telling her someday she can become someone her want to be.

    Quote three: “I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to.”
    I have been living here for three years now, the first time here with my family, we do not have a house,and we rent a house, place is ok, because the owner live next to our so we not like that, it like living in prison, they tell my family rule to live in that house, but my family pay to live in that house and they just give us the rule to live in there, no freedom. Then I tell myself to work hard that we can have our own house do what we want to do no rule, and don’t have to listen to anyone.

    Reply
  7. Prince Zia

    “Once when we were living on Loomis, a nun from my school passed by and saw me playing out front.
    The Laundromat downstairs had been boarded up because it had been robbed two day before and the owner had painted on the wood YES WE’RE OPEN so as not to lose business.” [4-5]
    The location that the house on mango street family were living on Loomis was not safe location, that location or house was not a safe location the kids didn’t feel safe on Loomis house so mango street family were worry that they will be moving to another house or area, the Loomis apartment had so many problems no water laundry and the apartment was very old and the management wouldn’t fix it but they had no hope, because the mongo street family their life is all moving and moving to places and the situation never get better, and they were a poor family.

    Reply
  8. Jonathan Anabo

    “This was the house that Papa talked about when he held a lottery ticket”… (4)

    My father gambled a lot so reading that her father was holding a lotto ticket in his hands connected me to my father and his relationship with money and gambling. My dad lost his life to gambling. I could only imagine what goes through her father’s head when money is tight and gambling seems like a good play because there’s hopes of coming out on top. My father didn’t come from much and never really had much either so i could see why gambling was appealing to him.

    “The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair smells like bread.” (7)

    This line takes me back to a particular night when I was kid. It was raining hard and I was pinned in between my mom and dad. I was awake listening to the rain and thunder and it really was my mom’s and dad’s snoring and body heat comforting me and help me fall back to sleep.

    “One who will understands my jokes without having to explain them” (9)

    I’m 23 now and that is my philosophy about the people I choose to surround myself with when choosing friends, but I don’t limit myself to that because I know there people come with many stories and energy you just have to get them open, so even if they don’t get me all the way it’s ok.

    “Until then i am a red ballon, a balloon tied to an anchor” (9)

    I had imagine myself as a red balloon tied to an anchor to really understand that line and all of sudden I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I wanted to fly and explore. Tied to an anchor I felt bored and limited to only a few things if not nothing. A balloon’s lifespan is lived on earth then dies in the ski if it’s lucky.

    Reply
  9. lupita santillano

    (first quote)”I knew then I had to have. A real house . One I could point to.”(5)(The House on Mango Street)

    I think esperanza realized, she had to strive herself to have a nice house , so people will not make her feel less.
    I really think that some people do judge other or look at them like if we don’t have the some value as a rich person . society could be cruel .

    (second quote )”She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow.(11)(My Name)

    She could be regretting all the thing she could have done by that time, if she was a freedom woman. I also think, she used to see through the window all the dreams that stay only in dreams and all the sadness coming through her. It remains me of myself because, when I feel lonely and I stand close to the window thinking in what I didn’t did on my past. And that’s when my body runs an immense sadness.

    (third quote )”someday I will have a best friend all my own. One I can tell my secrets to. One who will understand my jokes without my having to explain them.(9)(Boys & Girls)

    I think she was feeling that way, because she did have true friend or one someone that will keep her secrets.
    This quote relates to me, because when I have something to tell my sister they listen. But their opinion and point of view are different. I feel having a sister of my age someone who I can talk and share secrets.

    Reply
  10. 10892199ms

    ” I would like to baptize myself under a new home, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees(11)”.

    The line stood out to me because not many people realize that several people want to change their name. The reason why they want to change their name is because they don’t feel connected to their name and they want to change it to a different name that they feel more attracted to. It reminds me that one day long time ago I wanted to find out why they named me “Marisela” but honestly I wanted to see if my name could be changed but truthfully I got use to my name. It doesn’t affect me visually because I hardly think about changing my name. My name feels like it can be seen as a Latin cultural woman, a person who speaks two languages.

    -Marisela S. English 269A/B Class 10am

    Reply
  11. Ashley Devine

    “You live there? The why she said it made me feel like nothing. There. I lived there. I nodded. I knew then I had to have a house. A real one.”(5)

    Esperanza’s parents were not able to afford the most fancy thing for her and the hole family. However, she learned to make the best of what she had.That moment in her live she determined that she deserve something better, a better house.

    “Someday I will have a best friend all my own.”(9)

    My brother and I are 6 years apart and I know exactly how Esperanza feels. Its had to grow up without a friend, without someone who understands you but, at the same time it makes you appreciate that friend when it finally comes.

    “Cathy who is queen of cats has cats and cats and cats. Baby cats big cats, skinny cats, sick cats. Cats asleep like little donuts.Cats on top of the refrigerator. Cats taking a walk on the dinner table. Her house is like cat heaven.”(13)
    This quote reminds me of my landlord. She has 3 cat and I DO NOT like cats, for me it feels like she has lots and lots of cats, cats everywhere.

    Reply
  12. omarkohgadai

    Quote: “Someday I will have a best friend all my own. One I can tell my secrets to.
    One who will understand my jokes without my having to explain them. Until then I am
    a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor.”(9)

    Response: In this quote, Esperanza wishes she had a best friend that she can tell
    secrets to, then she compares herself to red balloon to tied to an anchor. I liked
    this quote because it connects with how Esperanza had to moved around a lot, never
    being able to make strong connections with local children. She says “I am a red
    balloon, a balloon tied to anchor.” Commonly in books the color red means desire
    or passion, so the red balloon that Esperanza is talking about probably refers
    to her desire to make a best friend and the anchor is most likely her family always
    moving, preventing her from making stronger connections with other people who aren’t
    her family.

    Quote: “The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don’t have to pay rent to
    anybody, or share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make
    too much noise, and there isn’t a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom.”(3)

    Response: This quote makes me think about how Esperanza feels during that moment
    and how she felt having to move constantly. Esperanza now has a house to call her own.
    she feels at ease because she has a house to point and call her own, exempt from
    having to move from house to house.

    Quote: ” But my mother’s hair, 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. The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells
    like bread.”(7)

    Response: Right before this quote Esperanza talks about her falmily’s and her hair,
    her description is brief and not very enticing, but when she talks about her mother’s
    hair she goes in a very deep description. She talks very highly of her mother showing
    that she is very fond of her mother, praising her and comparing her smell to very
    comforting imagery such as warmth and bread.

    Reply
  13. Xavier Salazar

    “Someday I will have a best friend all my own. One I can tell my secrets to. One who will understand my jokes without my having to explain them.” (9)
    -This quote really stands out to me because it shows Esperanza does not have a person to share confidential experiences in her life and to understand jokes without her explanation. Tells me she is a dreamer on what she wants in a best friend. I can relate to her, when I was in middle school I was trying to find a best friend you can trust and have fun telling jokes. It does not affect me visually because I view a best friend a person you can trust and have fun together. When I read the quote I felt sad for her because it seems she really wants a best friend for explaining what characteristics she is looking.

    “I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees.” (11)
    -What stands out to me about the quote is how the name Esperanza can really bother her. Reminds me of a classmate in elementary where he felt offended being called his actually name instead of his prefer name. He told me he did not like his name and wants to change it in the future. I think affects me visually by me seeing everyone feels differently by their name and different mean. I feel bad for Esperanza because she sounds like she wants a name that is common in her society and does not stand out. When she mentioned wanting to change her name to a new name, she wants to do it for herself.

    “But my mother’s hair, my mother’s hair like little rosettes, like candy circles all curly…holding you and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before you bake it…”(6)
    -When I saw this passage it really stand out to me because it tells me she admires her mother’s beauty and feels safe when she is given a hug. I can relate to her experience because I have always admire my mother and means a lot when you receive a hug a person you are close to. I think it influences me visually because I see how great of an impact a parent can be around their kids, for them feeling safe or being a role model. I felt heart-warmed when she describes the feeling receiving a hug by her mother and her beauty.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    (First Quote) “-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 with papa snoring. The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.” page (7) (Hairs)

    The first quote I like because of it’s warmth. Reminds me of when I was a child and I miss being a child.

    (Second Quote) “The mother’s feet, plump and polite, descended like white pigeons from the sea of pillow, across the linoleum roses-” page (40) (The Family of Little Feet)

    The second quote reminded me of a girl I have feelings for since high school. Though her feet are much more petite than plump. They are like calla lilies but still proportionate to her wonderful figure. A contributing factor with her punning sweet personality, beautiful hands, blonde hair, soft light skin, and green eyes.

    (Third Quote) “Them are dangerous, he says. You girls too young to be wearing shoes like that.” page (41) (The Family of Little Feet)

    This third quote makes me reminisce of childhood. Often times growing up to be an adult was all I could think about back then. Now in this present day I can’t keep up with my own age.

    Reply
  15. DINGKANG HUANG

    “But i know how those things go.”(5)
    She tells the readers she knows the situation that her family has, she isn’t a little girl that doesn’t know anything. She realizes what’s her family going on with her family and the hard time they are going through. People will grow up when they undergo the hard time.
    I was being mature when i suffer my horrible experiences as well as Esperanza.

    “But the house on Mango Street is not the way they told it at all.”(4)
    Esperanza feels disappointed for her new house, but why she disappoints about the house on Mango Street? i think she have a dream house for every time they move. That’s a good for people to have a dream or hope. it would keep people going and insisting their dreams.
    Esperanza does not give her dream up although she moves so many times. The dream is the source to encourage her to move.

    “The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.”(7)
    She compares her Mama’s hair against her Papa’s hair. Papa’s hair is like the snoring which is not significant but even annoying. But Mama’s hair smells like bread, bread is food. i think she likes her Mama more that her Papa.
    I like my mom, but i don’t like my dad. My dad always strict to me. By contrast, mom is very nice to me.

    Reply
  16. Noel Burton

    “The house on Mango Street isn’t it.” (5)
    This line stands out to me because she lives at a place that doesn’t represent her. The house where I live at doesn’t represent who I am. It doesn’t affect me visually because she’s stating a point about the house. I feel sadness and embarrassment.

    “The snoring, the rain, and Mama’s hair that smells like bread.” (7)
    This line stands out to me because they’re key components to how these make the author feel comfortable. Snoring, for me, can be annoying sometimes because I like to sleep in a quiet environment. It somewhat affects me visually because the visualization of rain falling sounds comforting. I feel content, relief and safe.

    “Someday I will have a best friend all on my own.” (9)
    It stands out to me because it shows a girl wanting to find a friend. I’ve always struggled to keep a best friend because of having to move to a different school or they moved. This does not visually affect me. I feel optimism in this line because she’s hopeful about finding a best friend.

    Reply
  17. LaWayne Williams

    “The house on Mango Street isn’t it.” (5)
    She seems to not like her new house. She doesn’t like the area nor the house. She’s always wanted to be able to point to a house of her own but not the house on Mango Street. She seems to have moved around a lot, and every time there was one extra person added to the family, making things that much harder in certain ways. I feel bad for her and her situation.

    “Someday I will have a best friend of my own.” (9)
    She seems to feel alone in a certain aspect. Even with all of those people in her family she still seems to be alone. Finding excuses to why nobody close to her can be a best friend to her. Someone she can tell her secrets to and understand her jokes. Everybody needs that one person they can talk and speak with that will listen and genuinely mean it.
    “I have inherited her name, but don’t want to inherit her place by the window.” (11)
    Overall, I feel that she admires being given her great grandmothers name but at the same time she doesn’t want to live the same life nor go thru the same downfalls as her. She wants to be her own person. Have her own identity that people will look for and remember even towards her family. To them she’s just Esperanza, a resemblance of her great grandmother but to others she’s Esperanza with the ugly name. No matter what she wants to be the real her, the real her nobody ever gets to honestly see.

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  18. Shurentsetseg Battur

    “I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to.” (5)
    This line stood out to me because she wants something more then what she has and I think that’s everyone. I wanna have more then what I already have or what my already has. People just can’t have enough they “we” want more even though we have things that we should be happy about.

    “She can’t play with those Vargas kids or she’ll turn out just like them. And since she comes right after me, she is my responsibility,” (8)
    This like made me think a lot about my little sisters. I have 3 sisters and i’m the oldest one so I have to watch out for them and help them. I don’t want any of them have a bad experience or something bad so its my responsibility to look out and care for them.

    ” At school they say my name funny as is they syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth.” (11)
    This like is just basically talking about me. My name is Shurentsetseg and it’s Mongolian name because it is super long and weird people can’t pronounce it right. Many people in my high school laughed at my name because they can’t pronounce it so that’s why I got myself a nickname Rose.

    Reply
  19. Ana Valencia

    “But my mother’s hair, 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..”(6)

    This line stands to me the most because i can relate to it a lot. The reason why it’s so relate-able to me its because that’s the way i feel when my mother holds me when I’m feeling some type of way. If I’m ever stressing or feeling some type of discomfort i always turn to my mother because she makes me feel very safe and loved. Sometimes all I need is a tight hug from my mother and the scent of her hair to make me feel like everything is going to be okay and that there is always a new start at the beginning of a fresh new day.

    “Until then I am a red ballon, a ballon tied to an anchor”(9)

    Esperanza is feeling alone, she feels like she has no one who really understands her and is feeling very trapped within herself since she has no way to express herself to others.

    “The boys and girls live in separate worlds”(8)

    Boys and girls aren’t always going to agree on everything, girls have different thoughts just like the boys do. Both genders approach things differently and find different solutions to different problems so that is what makes them feel like they are a part or different worlds according to how Esperanza describes it.

    Reply
  20. rafael fernandez junior

    ” I had to have a house. A real house…” (5)

    – This golden line stood out to me because she is telling this to herself, as her friend is asking about the place she lives. In a way it describes how I felt when I stayed with my dad but was missing my mom. In my eyes is wasnt what a house was supposed to be. I could in many ways feel the author express her sadness and wanting only what she deserved.

    ” Smell of bread before you bake it, it is the smell she makes room for you…” (7)

    – This line stand out because she describes her mother as a bakery in a way. In another way it could be shown as she finds safety in that smell. It reminds me of how i felt when I would crawl into a bed as a child. It affects me due to, reminds me of how her hugs felt. It especially makes me loved and safe, at that time she was my safety.

    ” I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor.” (9)

    – It stands out to me because she describes herself as a light object being held down by an item used to hold down thousand pound boats. It reminds me of how I felt as a timid kid wanting to express but being afraid to. It especially makes me sad, it reminds me of how I felt in being unable to be free.

    ” I would like to baptize myself under a new name.” (11)

    – It stands out to me because a baptize is a cultural experience people due to rid of there sins. This event is important in out culture because its what most people do to preserve our ways. It reminds me of how I felt about my name earlier in wanting to change my name to change how people see me. It affects me visually because I can see myself wanting to change. It specifically makes me upset because changing a new is a legal process. A name is something your called by but in no way describe you.

    Reply
  21. Kevin Nguyen

    “Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor” (9)
    She knows she is able to reach and go beyond the sky but she feels she is being weighed down. Like most people in the world, people can go beyond what they can do, but they feel like there is something holding them back.

    “The way she said it made me feel like nothing” (5)
    She is referring to herself to be below the dirt that people walk on. Being ashamed about where she lives. Having moved somewhere worse then before i understand her situation.

    “She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many woman sit their sadness on an elbow.” (11)
    I feel like she is staring out and thinking about what could have been. What would have happened if this person and I did not meet. She feels like she has been robbed of her life.

    Reply
  22. David Costantino

    “They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours forever so we wouldn’t have to move each year.” ( 4)
    This line from page four stands out to me because I had to move around very frequently and pretty much lived out of bags, war ships and foreign hotels while serving in the U.S Navy. Having a stable home meant the world to me being able to unpack my personal possessions and stay put. This line, in a way makes me feel a bit sad when I think back to those days of constantly packing my belongings and being on the go.

    “Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor.” (9)
    This line stands out to me because I interpret it as she is full of energy and life and has so many ideas and thoughts but she spends most of her time alone and/or being misunderstood. This line evokes sympathy from me as I have been in a place of feeling misunderstood and like a “balloon tied to an anchor”. In the past I’ve felt like I’ve had so much energy and life in me but was held back but certain circumstances.

    “I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window.” (11)
    Essentially, I feel as though the author is saying she does not want to suffer the same unhappy fate as her grandma. Her Grandma ultimately lived a painfully unhappy life that wasn’t a choice of her own. I feel as though I can connect with this line because sad to say but we have all known somebody that makes us say “I hope I don’t end up like him/her”. We want better for ourselves. The emotions it evokes could be an odd mixture of fear, motivation and sympathy.

    Reply

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