We the Animals
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
1. We Wanted More 2. Never-Never Time 3. Heritage 4. Seven 5. The Lake 6. Us Proper 7. Lina 8. Other Locusts 9. Talk To Me 10. You Better Come 11. Night Watch 12. Big-Dick Truck 13. Ducks 14. Trench 15. Trash Kites 16. Wasn’t No One To Stop This 17. Niagara 18. The Night I Am Made 19. Zookeeping
Themes
All Themes Identity and Belonging Violence, Aggression, and Love Support and Caretaking Masculinity and Coming of Age
Quotes
Characters
All Characters The Narrator Ma Paps Manny Joel Lina Old Man The Headbanger The Bus Driver
Symbols
All Symbols Animals Paps’s Truck
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We the Animals

by

Justin Torres

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • 1. We Wanted More
  • 2. Never-Never Time
  • 3. Heritage
  • 4. Seven
  • 5. The Lake
  • 6. Us Proper
  • 7. Lina
  • 8. Other Locusts
  • 9. Talk To Me
  • 10. You Better Come
  • 11. Night Watch
  • 12. Big-Dick Truck
  • 13. Ducks
  • 14. Trench
  • 15. Trash Kites
  • 16. Wasn’t No One To Stop This
  • 17. Niagara
  • 18. The Night I Am Made
  • 19. Zookeeping
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Identity and Belonging Theme Icon
    Identity and Belonging
  • Violence, Aggression, and Love Theme Icon
    Violence, Aggression, and Love
  • Support and Caretaking Theme Icon
    Support and Caretaking
  • Masculinity and Coming of Age Theme Icon
    Masculinity and Coming of Age
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • The Narrator
  • Ma
  • Paps
  • Manny
  • Joel
  • Lina
  • Old Man
  • The Headbanger
  • The Bus Driver
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Animals Symbol Icon
    Animals
  • Paps’s Truck Symbol Icon
    Paps’s Truck
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
Previous
The Bus Driver

We the Animals Symbols

Next
Animals

Animals

Throughout We The Animals, Torres occasionally likens the characters to animals, using this metaphor as a way of representing their relationship with masculinity. In particular, he often describes Paps in animalistic terms, framing him…

read analysis of Animals

Animals Symbol Icon

Paps’s Truck

The large truck that Paps buys to replace the family’s car after it breaks down is an embodiment of his failure to prioritize his loved ones over his own desires. Although he thrills his sons…

read analysis of Paps’s Truck

Paps’s Truck Symbol Icon
Previous
The Bus Driver
Previous
The Bus Driver
Next
Animals
Next
Animals

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