Looking at one main element of the writing, (structure, style, tone, texture, theme) create a blog post. This post should highlight one writerly technique, and make a statement about the function it has in the novel.
You should incorporate three quotes from ALWG to back up your ideas about this writerly technique. Use the quotes as proof for your argument, and remember to analyze extensively. How does this element in the book strengthen it? Why do you think Ishmael Beah presents his thoughts in this way?
Also, in you blog post's thesis identify one meaningful discovery you have made while reading the book, or identify one meaning realization that Ishmael has in the novel.
Example of thesis:
In the memoir A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah, Beah uses the theme of memory, or rather suppressed memory, to highlight how fear can force a boy to act contrary to his nature.
I remember the first thing that hit me the most when I started reading this book is how graphic this book is. I want to target this tone, and style that is shown throughout the entire book. This book begins to show it's graphic sense immediately in the book. The very first paragraph in the book already starts by introducing graphic scenes that we can visualize " Families who had walked hundreds of miles told how relatives had been killed and their houses burned". But I also love how the writer uses graphic, and crude words to represent not only actual scenes but ideas as well. Like when he combines the two in this quote " Apart from their fatigue and malnourishment, it was evident they had seen something that plagued their minds" Overall this entire book does a great job with leading you to visualize everything that is happening throughout the book. You don't only feel like you're there during every event but you're also inside of the minds of the characters being presented. But was we move through the book we lose the sense of this innocent young boy when he becomes a rebel soldier.. In the beginning of Chapter 15 he goes on to almost protect that what he is doing is ok. " My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed". It's quotes like these that drive me to love this book so much. We aren't used to the thought of circumstances like this, and diving into the idea that someone can come to such cruel, and brutal circumstances is breathtaking to me.
ReplyDeleteOne meaningful realization that I've come across through this novel is that we need to be more aware of the things that occur on our earth. This book also makes me want to be more in tune with my mind, and soul to better protect myself from the realities that I may face in the future, and this book inspires me.
First reading this book, my first response to this book very emotional, graphic, and take you back to his journey of being a boy soldier. Throughout Ishmael journey all him have seen is senseless killings. The theme to this book Ishmael memories of violence, blood, and lost. Reading the text it take you to visually graphic scenes. “ The adults among these children from the war zones would lost in their thoughts during conversations with the elders of my town”. But I was engaged throughout the book of his visualized descriptions in his quotes. “Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them.” You feel like you in the book throughout his journey with him. Moving though the book in chapter 15, Ishmael describes how he adjusted to life in the army and what it meant to him. Having lost his own family, he bonds with the other soldiers as a new kind of family, and he develops the ruthlessness he needs to survive. “We walked around the village and killed everyone who came out of the houses and huts. Afterward, we realized that there was no one to carry the loads. We had killed everyone.” “The villages that we captured and turned into bases as we went along and the forests that we slept in became my home. My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed.” This was like my favorite quote throughout the book because shows that Ishmael not a innocent kid anymore. All he have is being a boy soldier.
ReplyDeleteGive this book all 5 star, I loved the descriptive language. “A Long Way Gone” makes you wonder how anyone comes through such unyielding horror with his humanity and sanity intact. His writing helped me understand his story, and be more aware of African conflicts in history. Inspires to be more of a strong minded person.
In the novel A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beath uses themes such as hopelessness to convey the tone of this book. while reading this novel, the tone is very analytical and emotional to catch the readers eye, and to explain such a heavy event in west Africa.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the novel, It starts off with a visual of how poor they are. They do this purposely to show us why the people could not fight back. why the people of west Africa was hopeless and had to retreat. " Families who had walked hundreds of miles told how relatives had been killed and their houses burned". now why would Ishmael say that? he is showing us that the people have no where. his not trying to make us feel sorry for these people but making an analytical observation to set this emotion tone of the story.
Continuing reading this book the tone becomes more serious, but he is using this tone to explain the emotion of a character. For example, on page 65 in the novel A Long Way Gone, Ishmael quotes, “We were not fast enough to escape the men who came for us. Twelve of them ran after the seven of us, wrestling us to the sand. They tied our hands. In truth, realizing that I would eventually be caught, I had stopped running and offered my hands to be tied.” this idea of giving up because they are tired of running, they are tried of battling, they have giving up. but we really cant imagine what they feel inside until he says "i offered my hands to be tied".
This book is very emotional and Ishmael Beah really plays with these concepts to help deliver his message. His trying to tell people that do not know about the academic in Sierra, and how poor and bad it is out there. to tell us why the people in Africa looses childhood because of this hopelessness and emotional intake on life. This book is to inform us the struggle and the pain they go through which would explain why some of the people escape to America, and this military outlook on life.
ReplyDeleteIn a long way gong anguish and sorrow were two themes that were theme’s most apparent, using this description this book describes everything that happened to this young boy. From the stories told this book leaves nothing to the imagination, showing graphic scenes of murder and crass imagery. Themes of violence and sorrow fill this book like a river of tears. Throughout this book even though you are the observer, you feel a connection and a certain closeness with this boy throughout the story. Ishmael had lost his immediate family but I believe family is what you make it. Throughout the book Ishmael bonds with other child soilders and people he meets along the way. Ishmael has to grow up and become a man in his own way, life for him was already a challenge for him so he must make the best of what he has.