Buried Onions Study Guide Questions

Name ______

Chapter 1: 1. Identify the following characters from these chapters:  Eddie

 Juan

 Jesus

 Angel

 Dolores

2. Explain Eddie’s theory about the origin of Fresno’s sadness.

3. Describe Eddie’s neighborhood.

4. How does Eddie make money to survive?

Chapter 2: 5. Who is Mr. Stiles? How does he help Eddie?

6. Describe the symbolism of the birch tree.

7. What does the little boy accuse Eddie of in this chapter?

8. Describe the incident with Mr. Stiles’ truck.

9. What does Dolores deliver to Eddie in this chapter?

Chapter 3: 10. Describe the incident with Mr. Yellow Shoes. What does this reveal about Eddie?

11. What does Eddie deliver to Mr. Stiles?

1 12. Describe Eddie’s mother.

13. Why do Eddie’s mother and Aunt Gloria question him about his romantic life?

Chapter 4: 14. What secret does Norma reveal to Eddie in this chapter?

15. Who is Jose? Compare/contrast Eddie and Jose’s lives so far.

16. How does Jose treat the onion seller in the diner? Be specific.

17. What happens when Eddie and Jose see Mr. Stiles’ truck?

Chapter 5 18. What does Eddie mean when he says, “I wanted to sprint straight into the future, but kept going in circles”? How is this true for Eddie?

2 19. Describe Coach. Why is he important in Eddie’s life?

20. Who is Samuel? What does Eddie think of Samuel?

21. Why is Eddie’s nina upset? How does Eddie help his nina in this chapter?

22. What happens with the donation money at the SPCA? What does this tell us about Eddie’s situation?

23. Why does Eddie tell Lupe about Samuel’s recent bad behavior?

Chapter 6 24. How does Samuel behave at the Holmes playground? How does he treat Coach?

25. How does Mr. Stiles help Eddie in this chapter? (Find 2 ways.)

3 26. Who is Larry? Why does Eddie leave the recruiter’s office after Larry arrives?

27. What happens when Eddie returns to Mr. Stiles’ house to work?

Chapter 7 Discussion: 28. What do the police question Eddie about when he is in the police station?

29. What does Eddie find on his doorstep when he returns to his apartment?

30. How does Eddie “declare war” on the cockroaches in his apartment? Explain the symbolism behind the pests’ return.

31. Describe Coach’s secret place. What is ironic about this place?

32. Explain the symbolism of Coach’s tattoo.

Chapter 8:

4 33. What does Eddie’s mother send him? Why is Eddie disappointed?

34. Why is Eddie nervous to talk to Belinda?

35. Why does Eddie choose to visit Angel?

36. How does the author foreshadow Eddie and Angel’s fight in this chapter?

37. Why does Jose’s mom dislike Eddie? Why does she seem sympathetic when she finally sees Eddie?

38. Explain the symbolism of the rearview mirror of Jose’s mother’s car falling off.

39. Why does Eddie attack Angel on the hospital stairs?

Chapter 9: 40. Discuss the symbolism of Eddie’s position as he lies on his living room floor “eye level with a couple of cockroaches”.

5 41. What life-changing decision does Eddie make in this chapter? How does he feel about this decision?

42. Discuss the symbolism of the onion fields on the final page of the novel.