The Keeper's End Analysis

Keeper’n Me portrays numerous distinctive and related themes throughout the course of the novel, some more prominent than others. With the inclusion of interesting topics such as effects of residential schools,the importance of oral traditions, maintaining balance to find yourself, culture or language, and Elders, this work outlines exceptional ideas allowing readers to learn important factors all while keeping a light heart due to the incorporation of humour. Wagamese introduces ideas on Aboriginal history with residential schools and foster care through a tone in his writing which allowed readers to acknowledge how it caused families to break apart, children to become distant from their own culture and way of life, and furthermore how the idea of “beating the Indian out of the Indian” was such a major controversy. The author also regards the importance of teaching through oral traditions making it clear to the reader of the significance of passing on traditional understanding, and how it is one of the guiding aspects of the Ojibway culture.The Ojibway honour the traditional way of storytelling through means of oral tradition as it provides a more personal way to pass on words of wisdom and tradition.

The tree represents Gene’s growth in maturity and age from being a teenager who is frightened by the magnitude of the tree to an adult who looks at it as unthreatening and small. Whilst revisiting the tree as an adult, Gene utters that the tree reminds him of the enemies of childhood that, once faced again, seem insignificant (14). When Gene is reflecting upon the first time he jumped off of the tree, he states the tree “flooded [Gene] with a sensation of alarm all the

The book opens up to an adult Gene, visiting his old school years later. He comes back after fifteen years to get closure. He visits the buildings that were once so familiar to him, and reflects on how he’s changed, and the constant state of fear that had been so familiar then. But the main reason for his visit is to see the tree. There is a tone of regret as he remembers what happened so long ago, and how it all started.

“the last name is scratched off.” Without any trace of who it belonged to, Erin felt like she had to personally return it. Following the glimpse of light, she headed towards Hartman Green. Although she hated the moist air and dampness from the rainy night before, she was thankful this time, for every spot of the that the flashes of light had crossed over became dry instantly. As Erin approached the top of the path, she caught sight of who she believed to be Leah. “HEY!” She shouted. Leah disappeared in another beam of light. Beginning to become paranoid, Erin maniacally scoped out all of her surroundings, trying to see where Leah might have gone. She saw nothing. “Something is weird about here too…” She thought, trying to find out what was. After a little while she noticed the inconsistency. What used to be a nice brick red covering the bricks of the bookstore had since bloomed to the shade of a maraschino cherry. “Leah.” She derived. “This has to have something to do with Leah.” Not wanting to lose Leah again, she broke down the path towards Stager, which was unusually empty as well. Once more, she followed the dry path, which was slowly becoming harder and harder to distinguish. “I can’t let her get away this time,” Erin thought. “when the sun passes overhead I will have no guide.” She followed the path all the way up the steps of the bookstore, now searching for the same strawberry-blonde hair she caught a glimpse of earlier. As she entered

Suddenly, something caught her eye for the third time that day. Thinking it was the Enforcer she jumped up, but her fear turned to curiosity when she saw it clearly. The color was unlike anything she had seen before, it had a yellow tinge like the lights, but instead of cold she something fresh and new. She gasped in realization. It was a plant. No, not only was it a plant, but it was a type of life. She walked towards it as if in a dream. She reached out to touch it and found it cool and rejuvenating. She couldn't restrain the smile the passed her lips. They were saved, not only were they saved, but the world would be improved. The fables had been real. For the first time in her life she felt a new sensation a sensation that made her feel like anything was possible. She felt

The door shut behind him and Georgaina walked down the steep, grassy hill. She was near the bottom when a pain, familiar to her, ripped through her abdomen like a dull, serrated knife. She collapsed, gasping for breath and clutching her stomach. Slowly, after what felt to her like hours, the pain went from a sharp knife to a dull ache. Tears had filled her eyes and she blinked them back as she stood cautiously, not trusting her own legs. She took a deep breath, and focused on putting one foot in front of the other, determined to get to the forest that lay around the hill. Her head pounded, but she figured she would worry about it

He went on with his own life, somewhat abandoning the tree he used to play with all day. Due to the boy’s lack of presence, the tree felt lonely. However, there were times where the boy returned to its loving best friend, the tree. The tree would feel euphoria overcoming her roots. This time, however, the boy had no intention on playing with the tree. He wanted something else, money to be exact and material things. The tree, with its compassionate heart, was self-giving and wanted to give the boy anything he asked for. So she did, she gave humbly everything the boy asked for; until all was left of her was an old

“I was going to find out where I am and where my clothes are. But now that I know you’re here, why don’t you tell me instead?” Lydia replied.

A symbolic importance is placed on where the tree is planted. Due to the fact that it lies on top of her mother’s grave, it reinforces the idea that her mother is watching over her and presents herself partially in nature.

Jogging back up the drive, I drew near to the fence gate. With one swift movement, I unlatched the lock and opened the door. The gate creaked and my body froze. Maybe I should go to the red book, the thought trickled into my mind. See if it's still there, or better yet, dispose of it in the trash. For five seconds, I remained motionless then impulsively I rounded the fence and strode down the length of the wooden wall. The trees from the forest pressed near me, casting dark shadows, and for a second, it felt as if they were glaring down from their lofty height. A cool ominous breeze push passed me and my eyes scan wildly when suddenly I stopped. At the place where the red book was was a pile of orange leaves. Bending down, I began rustling my fingers through the foliage, but to my surprise, instead of a book...there was an old worn sweater? It wasn't possible, a red sweater? I had seen the book, or at least, I thought I had. A shiver ran through me. It was happening

Of course, Eden has to subject her to this, she thinks. She opens the door again, with less hesitation—in reality it is more, but she does not realize—and this time, she is unsurprised by the sprawl of plants and trees within. It smells of the forest inside, more than it does where she stands in the doorway. She thinks it might be her imagination, but the branches and leaves appear to sway gently as if pushed by a breeze. Alice is not happy, but she enters regardless. She has a job to do. If she does not find Eden in three days, she will have to come back. And that would be even worse.

How did you get in here? How did you know about the tree? And what did you mean its beauty is yours?” I question while I search for where the voice is coming from. “ You know who I am, Nevaeh, and I had a little help from a magical friend of mine and, for your tree, it was me that poisoned it.” The voice replies. The voice seems familiar; I’ve definitely heard it before, but where? Suddenly it clicks. It’s Calisto, they say she is the most beautiful girl in my village, well that’s what I last heard before I was trapped here. “ I know it’s you Calisto”, I yell out, as I turn around in circles trying to find her, “and you still haven’t answered one of my

As she passed by a brick shuttered building, she caught a movement from the corner of her eye. A shadow that appeared darker than the rest perhaps. It was probably nothing, and she did stop to investigate. She increased her step and arrived at her destination. She slipped through a wrought iron gate, hurried down the corridor that opened out onto a courtyard that was heavily scented by the large magnolia tree that stood in its center. The massive

“Well no not today you 're the only one I have been around today,” I replied

From the top of the Gala tree, they spied a mousy girl with nut-brown hair stumbling her way through Mr. Simmons’ apple orchard. She was, as Oscar presumed, walking home from the Olympia Preparatory School up Old Mill Road. Alphonse, Oscar’s brother, suspected she was a loner, given her lack of companions. As the girl approached their treetop hideout, it seemed as if she was magically led through the grassy grove in a series of clumsy zigzags by a silvery, leafless branch with a fat, red band around the bottom. The afternoon sunlight flickered against a pair of tinted lenses covering her eyes as she made her advance towards the tree.