"Fireshadow" by Anthony Eaton - Analytical Essay: 'Throughout the Novel, Characters Encounter Challenges and Setbacks, but the Novel’s Message Is Optimistic'

Analyzing literature is one of the most important steps to understanding the author’s purpose for writing a novel. When students analyze literature or write an analytical essay, they often mistake it as summarizing the plot of the book. However, analyzing literature is more in depth than just summarizing because many key aspects go into finding the hidden messages of a book. When students summarize the plot of a book, they are often missing many literary devices, such as metaphors, foreshadowing, and imagery.

had to wear some old shoes that he had at home. Gold did not like this

“Red Wind also gets people to think in different ways in regards to the core narrative, stylistic gaps, literary tools and understanding of what Chandler wants the reader to get out of the story”. (Moon, 2012).

This is a very important part of the book because it shows the reader that the

The theme of this book is that the human capacity to adapt to and find happiness in the most difficult circumstances. Each character in the novel shows this in their way. For instance, their family is randomly taken from their home and forced to

Memoirs of war often reflect the positive or negative experiences endured throughout battle. Considered by many to be one of the best memoirs of World War I, Hervey Allen’s “Toward the Flame”, recalls his own experiences of battle. His recollection of events shows that he had a negative image of war and that there was nothing glorious about it. What started out looking like a man’s greatest adventure turned into a shell-shocking reality that war is actually horrible and trying. Allen’s experiences with consistent hunger, mustard gas, and artillery shellings led to his disillusionment with war, and left him with a permanent hatred of battle.

The other Wes Moore by Wes Moore. The novel is about two boys that grew up on the same neighborhood but toke different paths in their life. Two boys that grew up in the same neighborhood but toke complete different paths like author Wes joining the army and becoming an author while the other Wes takes the wrong path and ends up life sentenced. The purpose of the novel is to show that being in a bad environment doesn’t always impact how your life will turn out, it all depends on the effort that you make for that path that you want. The other Wes Moore, portrays the argument of how nature vs nurture determines someone individual success.

For example, he has a loving family who would always be there to support him. In conclusion, the conflicts in the story, person versus society and person versus self, show the need to be optimistic during tough times.

Ilan Stavans says that Juan Rulfo’s book, The Plain in Flames, is best represented by the phrase realismo crudo. Stavans defines this phrase as “a type of realism interested in the rawness of life”, meaning that he characterizes Rulfo’s writing as an unfiltered view into the lives of the average Mexican (Stavans, xi). By writing in this style, Rulfo is able to provide “an image—instead of just a description—of our landscape” as stated by Octavio Paz (xv). To create this image, Rulfo broke his story writing the process down into three separate steps. As paraphrased by Ilan Stavans, the first step “is to create a character”, the second step “is to place him in an environment where he might move around” and the third step “is to discover how the character expresses himself” (xiii). Rulfo was able to repeatedly crafted stories that were filled with high levels of realismo crudo by using that special three-step process. By creating his protagonist, crafting an environment for said protagonist, and allowing the character to express themselves within this environment, Rulfo crafted a three-tier image of post-revolutionary life in Mexico that has never been seen before.

A Time for Burning, is a short documentary on the churches response to racial tension. This film was very stimulating for a time a change and I think it was a mirror for a lot of people in the churches and elsewhere. There was a lot of hidden bias and racial tension, and racial discrimination that wasn’t on the surface. The film is displayed on the concept of cinema veritee; where the camera gets what it can and then the people who are getting filmed become familiar with it and they view the camera persons who are making the film as part of their community at the time. As I result of that, as the viewer I felt that I got much more honest than scripted lines or if they asked them to prepare predetermined statements and all that. The documentary travel on a journey of white Omaha pastor, Bill Youngdhal in his effort to link the racial rift in his segregated community. He worked for the Lutheran Church in civil rights, at a 1,000 member all white church. His outwardly temperate initiative towards integration does not go so well with a lot of the congregation members. As his journey to thought-provoking the prejudiced views towards race, he visits and discusses members of his congregation as well as African Americans at a nearby church.

An effective book should be relatable to the readers of the author’s time and still influence the generations in the future. Each individual novel shares a different rendition of the common themes of human nature and adversity that can reflect on the reader. A reader, from a century ago or in today’s society, interprets a story in a unique, personal way. For instance, although The Crucible is a story written about witches and the power of public opinion and truth, it relates to more modern day issues.

Out of the Flames by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone is a nonfiction read that highlights the journey of Michael Servetus and how he impacts the world around him. Religion is a powerful weapon used by the Church in the Early Modern Period, but only a few have the will to defy the power of it. Important figures such as Martin Luther and Michael Servetus, step out of the dark to take up the Reformation against the Church. Both use the power of books to defy the Church’s power, which books are a powerful tool used in the sixteenth century.

For my book report I chose “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins. Catching Fire is set in a alternative universe that is set up in a way a monarchy would function there is the king or a president who is a cold hearted human being named President Snow. Then there are the nobles or in this situation the capital people, the capital people are wealthy and they dress outrageously just so people can distinguish them from non wealthy people. Lastly skipping the presents you have the slaves or the districts there are twelve districts and each district specializes in a different trade or the manufacture of different products such as fabric and coal miming. For example district four specializes in catching sea food and district five is lumber

Plutarch’s words are not very comforting or encouraging but they are true. Still, he holds on to the little hope that it might end because hope springs eternal. Because Collins doesn’t want to make everything bleak.Hope is needed to shake people and is feared by president Snow: “A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. Hope is fine, as long as it’s contained.” By Catching Fire, he’s modified his stance: “Fear does not work when there is hope.” So again the idea of hope and the collective are presented as the baby steps towards freedom. Free from fear and oppression. At least for a while.

James Baldwin is a renowned and celebrated African American writer who came to prominence during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. The Fire Next Time is often regarded as one of his best works and cemented his role as a leading spokesman for the African American community. Baldwin spoke out against all kinds of discrimination. Baldwin’s ultimate message was that the redeeming power of love, understanding and self-determination would free African Americans of the “Negro Problem” (a euphemism for racial tension at the time) and the mythical idea of white racial superiority (often held by whites). In The Fire Next Time, Baldwin dives deep into the African American experience with a bold,