maeday2010

Theme(s): Chasing the past and relationships, Regret, Redemption

Tone: In the beginning of the novel, the tone can be described as disappointing and sorrowful as Margaret finds out about her brain tumor and Wanda losing who she thought to be her one true love. Towards the middle and the end, the story's tone changes to inspiration with the characters feels the need for change and attempts to achieve that change by doing something about it.

Mood: Gloomy and Heartbroken because Wanda chases after a man who doesn't love and fails to see what's in front of her and breaks her heard by doing so. Margaret holds on to her past though she tries to move on and change and she feels ashamed at some points because of the things her family has done.

Literary devices:

Symbolism: Having Margaret near death from the star shaped tumor in her brain. The novel is filled with several comparisons/admiration's towards the sky and stars several times. This overall helps foreshadow the outcome of Margaret’s fate and gives the book an unexpected tender tone. “The balloon arcs up forever, into the night sky, past millions of glittering stars.” (Pg.350)

Simile: Although the similes did not have a central theme, they provided vivid imagery to let the reader fully comprehend what the author wants to be illustrating through comparisons. For example “…the house looked like a big neglected wedding cake.” (Pg.28) This helps set the setting of the house and give the reader a fuller understanding of a huge focus in the novel.

Diction: It plays a powerful role in the story giving almost an exaggeration toward things that the author wants the reader to focus on such as “…Wanda often moved with a heavy, funeral cadence to her steps.” (Pg. 69) In this situation it acts as a foreshadow to Wanda’s accident where she really must walk with a “heavy, funeral cadence”.

Imagery: The author fills the novel with several imagery, but unlink other novels they do not contain a central theme. The author's purpose is to show comparison of objects for not only familiarity. " ...It's gleaming window eyes open and lined with thick wans of lavender, fluttering in the breeze like fliriatious eyelashes" (pg. 101)

Metaphor: The author uses this almost exaggeration to make the reader focus on what is needed to be focused on and in some cases (such as this one) to draw a picture. "...her mother had become a riddle at the gate instead of the road you waled to get there" (pg.52)

Perspective: Perspective of the novel contains two main perspectives, that of Wanda's and Margret's. The narrator, narrates the characters feelings and thinking. Though, the narrator keeps the suspense by not foreshadowing any future events.

Character deconstruction for the protagonists: There are two main characters in the novel, Wanda and Margaret. They are both dynamic characters as they change for the better throughout the novel. Wanda learns as the novel progresses that she is not loved by the man that she chases after and realizes that man that has been a shadow and a guiding hand through most situations is the man that loves her and she, herself loves him. Margaret realizes that she can make a difference in the world and tries to present those around her with love and comfort in their times of need. She not only helps her family, she undo what her father has done.

 

 Qualities of a Greek Tragic Hero by Anu Lepoth: