Short Story 'Seventh Grade' By Gary Soto

In the short story, “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto, Victor is the hero. Victor struggles to make Teresa “his girl.” Victor plans out how to attract Teresa. However, he makes many failures to impress Teresa and embarrasses himself. In the text, it states, “Mr. Bueller asked if anyone knew French. Victor raised his hand, wanting to impress Teresa […] Victor was too weak from failure to join the class,” (Soto 4-5). Victor wanted to impress Teresa so much that he did something that he didn’t know how to do, such as speaking French. Victor affects the conflict of the short story. Victor is determined, amiable, and hopeful. He started to take action to accomplish his goal. In the text, it states, “He [Victor] wanted to leave when she [Teresa] did

Once discovering this article one morning, it was apparent that 6/10 people who have crushes on a person, often lie to that person in order to ensure their portrait of utmost lovability. Being the majority, perhaps it is not too far from reality that this one boy would lie to his crush in order to gain her affection. One can believe that in this heartwarming story; “7th Grade”, the author, Gary Soto leaves the protagonist to believe that “if a person truly loved someone they would take risks for them and sometimes lying is a risk people can take in order to love them.” Here, we start the detailed breakdown of this wonderful story.

In the story “Seventh Grade,” I found that there was a lot of similaries and differences between my first day and Victors first day.

In Gary Soto's story Seventh Grade, the protagonist is going back to school and it is the first day. The story’s main character, Victor, makes goals for himself at school. Not only does he want to be a good student, but Victor also faces the conflict that he likes a girl named Teresa which he can’t even talk to. In the beginning of the story, Victor tries to impress her by doing math at lunch because she is smart in math. Victor hopes and thinks that it will make her come over and she would talk to him. Victor is hoping that this will develop into a good relationship then maybe later on a possible date. When that does not work, Victor decides to try French class to impress Teresa, but Victor’s dilemma is that he doesn’t know any French. Victor is shy in the beginning of the story, but through Teresa, he becomes more dynamic. In the story Seventh Grade, Victor learns through shyness, love, and courage that makes him change overall throughout the story.

The theme of “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto, is that seventh grade boys are insecure around girls. Gary Soto illuminates this theme with elements of literature such as allusions, imagery, setting, and how the characters talk to each other (dialogue). In the story, Soto mentions a famous magazine called GQ magazine which is a men’s magazine that is all about being handsome/fashion and how to talk to girls. The author also used many descriptive words to help us imagine what was currently happening at that moment in time such as, “They shook hands, raza-style, and jerked their heads at one another in a saludo de vato,” ‘“I think it works,” Michael said. He scowled and let his upper lip quiver,” “Victor couldn’t stand to look at Teresa.

In the short story,’’The Seventh Grade,’’ by Gary Soto, Victor is a 7th grade boy who will do whatever it takes to impress his 7th grade sweetheart, Teresa. Victor even said,’’Teresa is going to be my girl this year.’’ Victor is determined to get Teresa to pay attention to him,and if he tries hard enough it may come true. This shows that that he really has feelings for Teresa, and that he just wants her to feel the same. Victor tried so hard he even sacrificed himself by trying to speak french to impress her,’’Frenchie oh wewe in September,’’Mr.Bueller understood that the boy didn't know french and turned away.’’ Victor was not feeling 100%,and he knew that he embarrassed himself in front of his crush. He thought he would be teased, and that

“Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto is a short story narrative that illuminates the hardships of middle-schoolers. In this writing, Victor, the main character, deals with conflicts that are for most seventh graders today, relatable. The events that occur in the plot, are fiction, but they are very relevant and potentially life-like; which makes the narrative realistic fiction. Additionally, many examples from the story demonstrate the overarching theme, that being open to risk can lead to the accomplishment of your goals, “Victor raised his hand, wanting to impress Teresa…'I didn’t know you knew French,' she said. ‘That was good.'”(Soto, 1990). Gary Soto writes in third person limited, specifically to seventh graders/transitioning middle schoolers. He achieves his purpose, which is to convey the perspective of seventh graders on daily problems, by using appropriate language; “They shook hands raza-style… I ain’t making a face, ese.” (Soto, 1990). The syntax in this sentence fits the purpose of the writing; the ‘ain’t’ connects to the fact that Soto is writing for middle schoolers. Soto not only uses dialogue, diction, and syntax to achieve his purpose but to also

Growing up can be a difficult thing because you have to let go of many things and realize the truth. From the stories, “Seventh Grade”, “Broken Chain” and the poem, “Oranges” all written by Gary Soto, uses dialogue to reveal different aspects of the characters. “Broken Chain” is about a boy who goes through a lot over a girl, “Seventh Grade” is about a boy on his first day of school trying to impress a girl, and “Oranges” is about a boy on his first date with a girl. The dialogue used in all three pieces of Soto’s work reveal some aspects of the characters, the dialogue used show how the boys are shy, lacks confidence and are looking for a sense of belonging.

As Angelica confidently strolled into Rosario High, Eliza and Peggy, her sisters followed close behind. Angelica had been at the school before, because she'd been taking a bus over to the high school for her advanced math class all throughout eighth grade. Eliza, however, had never been inside the building before and felt incredibly small walking in. Peggy wasn't even supposed to be there. She should've been in eighth grade, but she skipped it and went straight to high school. She was very smart, but no one ever noticed. She was always just Angelica and Eliza's sister. They made their way down wing 1B in search of their lockers. Peggy stopped at her locker, number ninety six, while Angelica and Eliza looked for their own. Angelica finished her search at locker number seventy stuff. Eliza found hers a bit farther down, locker 46. While she began to unpack her books, she saw four boys making their way down the hallway. One was the famous jock, Lafayette. No one knew his real name except teachers, because he insisted that it was to long to use. His friend, another jock who was very smart, however, Hercules Mulligan followed him down the hall. John Laurens, who was decent at sports, but more of a science guy was with them, too. Following them was the mystery man, Alexander Hamilton. He was in their grade, but barely anyone knew anything about him. Eliza figured he was just another jock.

The story named “Seventh Grade” was written by Gary Soto. The theme of the story is the common experience of a boy’s embarrassment while trying to impress a girl. Today, my essay is about Victor’s positive and negative consequences while trying to get the girl of his dreams, Teresa. I’m also in the seventh grade but not experiencing embarrassment by trying to impress a girl. While listing the consequences, I must talk about what I would’ve done if I was in Victor’s shoes. I will first list the positive consequences. First is “Does Victor has a chance to make Teresa his girl?” and “Is Victor going to like seventh grade?”. Next I will list the negative consequences. While in French class, Victor lied about him speaking French, and in Language

The short story that is being analyzed is titled, “Note to Sixth Grade Self” written by Julie Orrigner. The central idea of this short story is a grown woman reflecting the troubles she faced in the time that she spent in the sixth grade. The main focus was the author trying to illustrate the struggles she experienced as an adolescent girl growing up in a world where she felt she was outnumbered by the popular students and the girls that were more pristine than she. This story beautifully illustrates the challenges many women face growing up and the insecurities that people face as they develop as humans. The author faced troubles being viewed as an awkward social outcast; the story is written in a way that illustrates the thoughts process and anxiety that a typical sixth grader would feel in a position where he or she feels out of place.

“Oranges” and “Seventh Grade” are both written by Gary Soto. They both have a similar theme and conflict, however, they do share some differences including format and tone. In “Oranges” he shows how the girl and boy are dating while in “Seventh Grade” they are not. However, the theme stays the same in both stories. Throughout the stories, you will see similarities and differences. I will tell you about some of the most important ones.

“ In the early month of May at the Menifee Middle School, it was a normal day until ‘YES’, ‘HIT HIM’ ‘HIT HIM.’ Students were pilling out into the schoolyard toward the echoes of cheering. With the excitement in the air, it was the chance for students to grasp the glimpse moment of exhilaration.

The fresh dew in the air, cold and frosty, sent a chill vibrating throughout my body. The sun peaked out from behind the mountain, yet the tint of bleak darkness remained in the sky. Subsequent to the prolonged drive, we arrived at La Reina High School located at Thousand Oaks, California. We all filed out of the van and Miller, my debate coach, handed me a blue laptop, thin and smooth, with the number six atop. A wave of anxiety broke over me, as we walked in. My mind was clouded and racing with a million thoughts. I had never done this before, and here I was at my first debate tournament. Debate was a very prominent part of my life and I was strongly determined to earn pride and respect from my coach. As we went into the cafeteria and to

short story by its suspense, its characterization, and its ordinary setting. The third person limited point of