Categories discussed “Buried Onions”
A)
Themes: This group will discuss at least three
important themes from the novel. Discuss/Analyze:
What does Gary Soto want us to learn from this?
B)
Characters: Who are the protagonists and
antagonists of this novel? Describe each of these
character’s important traits.
C)
Plot: Describe the main events in sequence:
beginning, middle and end of story.
D)
Symbols: Discuss three to four symbols found
in the novel and their significance.
E) Meaningful Quotes Discuss three to four
important quotes found in the novel and their
significance.
Period 6
THEMES: NOT TO GIVE IN SOCIETY, NOT TO GIVE UP, PEOPLE MAY BETRAY YOU,
He wants us to learn from this by guiding us through Eddie’s transition from
childhood to adulthood (Coming of age) and what he has gone through that
makes Eddie who he is afterwards.
Characters:
Eddie: lives in Fresno , CA - he is Mexican most of the people he cares about
have died most of the people in his environment are influence him badly; he
dropped out of college.
Jose: Eddies best friend is Mexican
Angel: he killed his cousin the book describes him as a “gangster” - he steals
mostly everything that he owns
Sanchez: one of Angel’s friend; he is a gangster and he does bad stuff.
Aunt Gloria : she bribes him with food and a gun
Coach: influences him to go to the army
Plot:
Beginning: Eddie is sad because his cousin died. He thinks Angel did it (heard
about it in a rumor).
-Goes to college to learn about air conditioners but drops out
-He lives in an apartment in Fresno
Middle: Eddies friends Jose comes to Fresno to visit his home town
-They go to lunch and a black man sells then 3 bags of onions they see Mr.
Style’s trucks
-Jose gets stab
End: Eddie goes to the navy
- He beats up angel
- Eddie and his coach, Jose, go fishing
Symbols
- When something sad happens he referred to buried onions because they
make you cry and it also refers to his childhood.
- Something that is also symbolic is that his uncle died because he was into
the gang life.
- Another thing that is symbolic that he had to bury his friends and family
because they also got in to the wrong things and they died because of it.