Originally published in her collection Woman Hollering Creek in 1991, “Eleven” is a short story by Sandra Cisneros told from the perspective of a girl on her eleventh birthday. This book was her follow-up to The House on Mango Street. Showcasing Cisneros’s ability to juxtapose tenderness and cruelty through the lens of a young protagonist, “Eleven” shows a young woman coming to terms with who she is and her place in the world, both at home and at school.

Summary

Read our full plot summary of “Eleven.”

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in “Eleven” and in-depth analyses of Rachel and Mrs. Price.

Literary Devices

Here's where you will find analysis of the key literary devices in “Eleven.”

Quotes

Find the quotes from “Eleven” you need to support your essay or refresh your memory.

Deeper Study

Enhance your understanding of “Eleven” by learning about Sandra Cisneros and related works on SparkNotes.

Take a Study Break