English 11 Literature Review

1. English 11 Literature Review Period Three

2. In the Path of Falling Objects by Andrew Smith • Main characters: Mitch, Simon, Jonah, Lily, Matthew (their older brother), Walker [Simon], Dalton [Jonah] • Plot summary: Simon and Jonah are abandoned by their mom (dad is in jail); they are hungry and desperate when they see Mitch and Lily drive by (Lincoln with Don Quixote, the statue in the backseat); Jonah had a bad feeling about Mitch, while Simon thinks Mitch is cool; everybody is attracted to Lily, but she ends up with Jonah; Mitch goes crazy and he convinces Simon to push Jonah off a bridge; Mitch beats up Simon and Simon and Lily run away; Mitch really goes crazy and becomes Black Simon; final shootout (Lily dies because she had an ectopic pregnancy; Walker dies; Mitch is shot by Simon) • Point of view: 1st person (Simon, Jonah, and Mitch) • Setting: Vietnam era, Southwest (New Mexico and Arizona)—the desert • Theme • The choices we make affect our lives and the lives of the people around us. • Symbolism • Letters—they foreshadow Matthew’s death (killed himself)—at first, they seem to be a symbol of hope • Meteorite—Simon (Everything around them falls apart; gravity is inevitable and unchanging, unlike their lives) • Jonah’s map—their journey

3. All My Sons by Arthur Miller • Plot summary: In the suburbs of an American town, Joe and Chris own a small factory that made machine parts during WWII, Chris loves his dad, Mom thinks Larry is still alive, which is a problem because Chris wants to marry Ann (she was Larry’s girl), Joe manufactured parts that downed 21 pilots—when Larry found out, he purposely crashed his plane, Joe “went home sick” and blamed the whole mess on Ann’s dad—we eventually find out that he’s been lying for years, Joe kills himself because he realizes that there is something bigger than family • Setting: post-WWII • Symbols: • the tree—symbolizes Larry’s death (the tree is broken) • Main characters • The Kellers: Joe, Kate, Chris (surviving), Larry (MIA) • The Deevers: Ann and George

4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson • Characters: Melinda, Mr. Freeman, Andy Evans • Plot summary: Melinda was raped by Andy at a party before freshman year and she called the police; she becomes an outcast; she tells her former best friend who doesn’t believe her; Andy tries to attack her again and she is rescued by another former friend • Theme: Speak up—don’t hold in those

5. Animal Farm by George Orwell Plot summary: The pigs start off good and start a revolution. The revolution succeeds, but eventually they become just like the humans they overthrew. Theme: If you leave a population to itself, it will become corrupt. Everyone has the possibility of evil inside them. Symbolism: The animals represent different aspects of society (laborers, thinkers, leaders, “parasites” of society)

6. ‘Night, Mother by Marsha Norman Characters: Mama and Jessie Plot summary: Jessie wants to commit suicide, Mama tries to stop her Symbol: candy (Mama lives in a sugar-coated world; Jessie is still a child in her mind—Mama doesn’t recognize her problems) Theme: When you are unhappy, there are ways to get through it. Being dishonest can hurt you and those around you. Responsibility is everyone’s burden.

7. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Characters: George (small and built) and Lennie (huge, developmentally disabled, likes soft things) Plot summary: Lennie and George are running away from their previous job in Weed (Lennie touched a girl’s dress); they end up on Curley’s ranch (Curley is short and overcompensating for his size); Curley’s wife is lonely and a “tart”; Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife when he is touching her hair; George finds Lennie and mercifully kills him to keep him safe from Curley’s mob (Lennie is picturing their ranch and the rabbits) Setting: The Great Depression, California

8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee • Characters: Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpurnia, Boo Radley, Tom Robinson • Plot summary: Tom is on trial for raping a white woman (he is innocent—his arm does not work); she was raped by her father, Bob Ewell; Tom is convicted and he is killed when he tries “to escape” jail; Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout, but they are saved by Boo Radley • Point of view: 1st person (Scout), a flashback • Setting: 1931-1932; Alabama • Conflicts: • Mayella vs. Bob • Atticus vs. justice system (the system is corrupt) • The Finches vs. racist townspeople

9. Othello by William Shakespeare • Characters: Othello, Iago, Desdemona • Plot summary: Othello is a Moor and a general for the military; Iago is jealous and wants to get rid of Othello so he can take over; Othello and Desdemona are married but her dad has issues with that; Iago is going to plant seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind (he will argue that D is cheating on O); it works and long story short, O kills D • Symbolism: handkerchief—Desdemona’s good name/jealousy • Dramatic irony—when the audience knows more than the characters • Conflict: • Iago vs. Othello (jealousy) • Cassio vs. Othello • Othello vs. himself (is she really cheating?)

10. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare • Characters: Romeo Montague (Mercutio) and Juliet Capulet (Tybalt) • Plot summary: the Montagues and the Capulets hate each other; R and J fall in love and get married; long story short, R and J kill themselves and their families reconcile • Tragic flaw: They rush into things—they are impulsive • Conflicts: • Montagues vs. the Capulets