1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.). Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
This book is about a transgender guy named Liam who calls him(her)self Luna. The exposition of the story
is portrayed as a series of flashbacks. The narrator of the story is Luna/Liam's sister. This book gives the reader an insight on the struggle that Liam and Regan go through in order for one another to discover who they really are.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
A theme of this novel is acceptance. This theme is present through out the whole novel because Luna wants to be accepted by society and specially his(her) father.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
A. Lucid (easily understood: "Her eyes found me and she smiled. An aura framed her, a glow."
B. wry: "Pretty. A word for girls. The way handsome described boys. Liam was right; people did use boy and language. They expected different behaviors. When kids acted out of role,' as Liam put it, they were labeled tomboys or Sissies. "
C. Didactic (inclined to teach): "This isn't a good-bye. It's hello. I think of it as a new beginning because that's what it is for me. A rebirth."
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
1. analogy: The butterfly in the cover is a metaphor between Liam and the "transition" he wants to experience. "I want to be free. I want to transition."
2. Internal Conflict: "'no one will ever know the person I am inside. The true me. The girl, the women. All they see is this...this nothing.'....'Liam.' He let out a short laugh. 'Who's that? A caricature I've created. A puppet, a mime, a cartoon character. I'm this male macho version of a son that Dad has in his head.'"
3. External conflict: "Luna held her head high, waiting. Almost daring him to do it. seconds ticked away. Years. Then, slowly, Dad released his fist. My lungs collapsed. Luna reached for the door knob. 'Excuse me,' she said. Right in her ear, Dad said, 'If you walk out of that door, don't bother coming back.'"
4. Character vs self: "'Dad is my her. Doesn't he know that? I feel like I spend my whole life trying to prove it. "'
5. Foreshadowing: "'why did you dress at school?' I asked her. 'why did you have to do that?' She lowered her eyes. "You said it; I had to. I had to test myself. To see if I could go through with it. I needed to know that I had the self-confidence, the will to do it everyday."'
6. Flashback: "'Liam. Lia Marie. Please.' My eyes well with tears. Please." His left hand reaches out and snags the football helmet beside him. He holds it up to me by the faceguard. Inside is a mound of pills. Blue, purple,orange, white. 'I can't do it," Liam says. 'I can't even do it. I can't do anything right. I'm wrong. All wrong."'
7. Point Of view: The point of view is by the sister of the main character. "You're such a freakshow.". ..'I Know,' she murmured in my ear. 'but you still love me, don't you?'. .. yeah, I loved her. I couldn't help it. She was my brother." (pg.3)
8. resolution: "I took a step back, then another. I turned around. I walked, walked faster. Ran. Toward the door. The Exit. The entrance. 'Good-bye, Liam'"
9. Dialogue: The whole book has dialogue..
10. symbolism: The butterfly in the cover symbolizes Luna's desire to be herself.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
DIRECT:
1. "you are kind and generous, compassionate and caring." (Luna to Regan.)
2. "you are a strong and beutiful person."
INDIRECT:
1. " What would I do without you?" (Liam, Aly, and Elise to Regan.)
2. "I deliberately avoided taking classes taught by the teachers Liam had, since he was like their wunderkid.'
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
Yes. When the author speaks about Liam, the tone is usually nostalgic because Liam in apathetic to the things that happened around him. When the author speaks about Luna, she uses words that portray confidence.
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
If Regan is the protagonist, she would be a dynamic and round character. Through out the book Regan understands more the struggle that Liam goes through.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
After reading the book, I Feel like I know Luna as if I were here friend. I think it's because I have a friend who is a transgender and thinking of the struggles Luna went through, I can imagine what he went through.
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