In the story “City of the Beasts” I think the theme was coming of age, because in the story the character undergoes a major transformation. “ City of the Beasts”, by Isabel Allende is a book that takes place in the heart of the Amazon. Alexander, a teenage boy travels with his grandmother Kate through the Amazon and uncovers secrets along with his new friend Nadia. Before the expedition with his grandmother, Alexander didn’t care much for things, but with the help of the Amazon he matured and learned that everything had life. He also learned to love nature and living things.
Alexander, the main character was not very impressive at first. For example before he went on the expedition with his grandma he had a bad temper and would explode when he least expected. Also since Alex has a bad temper he seemed moody. If I were Alex i would have blown up over having to
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For example in the beginning of the story, the main character was immature, but as the story continued the character became more mature and even his mom could tell when she had a dream about him. (pg. 239). Also the main character in the beginning was not impressive, but as the book went on and the theme was revealed the main character became more enjoyable. As the theme became more clear to me, the main character changed. Another thing is that,when the main character saved his best friend, he never dreamed that he would have been able to do that before the story. Also when the main character went through an initiation(pg.235), it helped me to discover the theme. Also, as the story went on and the character went through the initiation the theme became clear. As I found out the theme the events in the story seemed to make more sense as to why the author added them. In conclusion, The theme of the story was coming of age, and the events in the story helped to make the theme more
For instance, the narrator writes, “A month after school ended, Dad accepted a job in Minneapolis… He had no interest in Minneapolis or anyone who lived there” (Ryan 22). This quote shows that Freddie had to move from his childhood home in San Diego to an unfamiliar town. He had to leave all of his friends and start over without knowing anyone or anything about the setting. This setting helps to create the theme because he had to learn to accept change, specifically meeting new people and going to a new school. Since this unfamiliar setting made him feel uncomfortable and alone, he had to choose to change his attitude and embrace his new setting. Therefore, the theme of the story was conveyed through the
Coming of age is defined as the transition from one’s youth to his or her adulthood. Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, and Lord of the Flies by William Golding all explore this concept. Romeo and Juliet is a story about two star-crossed lovers in the depths of forbidden love despite an ancient family feud. House on Mango Street is a series of vignettes about a young Latina girl’s life growing up in Chicago. Lastly, Lord of the Flies is about a group of abandoned children who work to survive on a deserted island. Each of these stories provides details as to what characteristics define a mature individual, and they also show the various processes to achieve this maturity.
Various novels can be classified as “coming-of-age” texts, this means that these are stories about a protagonist’s transition from childhood to adulthood or just growing up even as an adult. These novels show their growth and change in character over the length of the text. Novels such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston are all examples of coming-of-age novels. In Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God the story is focused on Janie Crawford and her growth over the course of the book.
The two themes interact with one another explains how two themes interact with one by connecting two themes into one can be a good thing because it can be put as something someone I trying to tell us or something the characters are trying to tells us and give hints leading up to something important. Like it could be put as information on what is about to happen next or give out little hints. When the two themes interact the can cause something very useful like something leading up to the important part of the book.
The novels, Obasan by Joy Kogawa and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini both express the development of character through theme. In The Kite Runner, Amir is haunted by his past. He tries to forget events that had left his best friend, Hassan to lead a terrible fate. In Obasan, as a child, Naomi lived with discrimination even in her homeland, Canada; she must escape and live in the shadows. Both characters return to their past; Amir must make up for his sins and learn a family secret while Naomi’s brought to rediscover the racism kept away from her in her youth. The protagonists, Amir and Naomi develop as individuals when they discover their past, learn from their past and deal with the events that had forever changed their lives.
In almost all stories, the main character or characters usually have many personal experiences that change their views in one way or another. Three good examples of this are Abuela Invents the Zero ,Little Women ,and Home .One of these stories has one major experience that quickly affects that character's views. Another story includes many small events and moments that in the end affect a certain character's views and habits. The last story shows how previous life experiences turnout to not only not benefit but actually hurt. Notice that there can be many different kinds of situations that have an influence on a character and can change a character for better or for worse.
Being able to identify the theme of a story will help the readers relate and understand the story more easily. There are all types of themes that authors use in their works. Sometimes authors say out right what the theme is and then other times they make the reader find the theme for themselves.
This will go over the character, the time, and the setting in the book, helping to show and understand the theme because the author can convey plot points and themed information better through the components of the book themselves, rather than outright stating it in the book.
A natural tendency is for characters to change and develop throughout a story as it progresses. A character can develop from A kind personality to a angry personality. For instance how Scrooge changes from greedy and cruel to selfless in A Christmas Carol. When Scrooge is put through a series of test to see what life is like outside of his shell, his demenur on life changes. ALthough characters can also change in a negative way. Scrooge's gradual change in attitude from selfishness to selfless conveys the theme, the populace has the power to change their ways no matter how distasteful their actions once were.
young adult is often referred to as the "coming of age," or growing up. The
Structure is the glue to your story but has an order. The dramatic arc is the five key components to properly structure they story. The first part of the story, the exposition, is what sets the story's situation, setting and the characters. The exposition is important to set the story before it takes of without understanding. If the reader does not understand they are likely to put the book down and stop reading. The second part to the arc is the rising action. The rising action is where the conflict makes itself known and the protagonist (our hero) engages it. The third part is the climax, which is where the turning point in the story is placed and an end to the conflict can be seen. The climax is where conflict should be at its highest level and this is when the reader is most interested. The fourth concept is the falling action, where the resolution of the conflicted occurs and one final piece of conflict occurs. The final concept is the denouement where the story closes out with a sense of relief and completion. As you can see the emotion the reader feels is what captured the reader. As the conflict is rising the reader wants to keep reading and reading. Stories are very much like movies, movies are even based on stories. The audience will tune out the rest of the world and focus on the story that captures their mind. According to Lisa Cron “Art is fire plus algebra”(page 17, line 66-67). The art is the
I read the story over. I took my time taking in the last few paragraphs. These last few paragraphs lead me to believe that the theme was all about where your life ends up. You go on for years living your life the way you want.
Coming of age is an influential part of many people’s lives. They begin to leave behind their innocent childhood views and develop a more realistic view on the world around them as they step forward into adulthood. (Need to add transition) Many authors have a coming of age theme in their books; specifically, Harper Lee portrays a coming of age theme in his book To Kill A Mockingbird. Through the journeys of their childhoods, Jem and Scout lose their innocence while experiencing their coming of age moment, making them realize how unfair Maycomb really is.
People change and grow through their experiences and conflicts. For example, just 2 years ago I was a sixth grader. There was a lot more homework than I ever had in my non-accelerated / magnet elementary school. I had to work harder and for longer hours, but as a result, I was much more mature and knowledgeable. I improved my work habits and increased my concentration. In Judith Ortiz Cofer’s “First Love”, a 14 year old girl is in love with a high school senior. She does everything she can to try to see him more often. At the end, she thinks she learns the true meaning of love. In Richard Wright’s “The Street”, a boy has to go shopping for food, but he is constantly stopped by a gang who beats him up. At the end, he beats up the gang with a stick his mother gave him because he had to to return home. In both “The Street” by Richard Wright and “First Love” by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the characters start out as shy and naive, but end up as aware and wiser as a result of their respective conflicts.
Most of the time, becoming an adult is planned. There are religious ceremonies, the gaining of a driver’s license, and other forms of new responsibility to signify the coming of age. Sometimes though maturity comes at you like a freight train. It comes at you in the blink of an eye and there is no stopping it once it hits you. You are forced to grow up and take on new responsibilities that you thought you wouldn’t have to take on until many years later. It's up to you though to decide what to do from there. You can either try and run away from the problems you have come to face or you can take the train head on and conquer what has been presented to you. I decided to face the train.