Liturature Analysis #2

Literature Analysis Questions
GENERAL
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
3. Describe the author's tone.
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.CHARACTERIZATION                                                                                       1.Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? 
2. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
3. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? 

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

General

1. John Grady and his friend Rawlins decide to lead the life of cowboys, so they head down to Mexico. On their journey they run into a boy named Belivns. Belvins gets seperated from the group and is mugged. His horse and gun taken from him. The two boys try to help their new friend but they end up getting seperated from him once more. They then find work as cowboys at a nearby ranch. John Grady proves himself to be a great cowboy with a great understanding of horses. He soon becomes disracted by the ranchers daughter, Alejandra, whom he begins an affair with. John Grady is warned by Alejandra's great aunt that becoming involved with her is a bad idea, but he doesn't listen. When Alejandra's father finds out about the affiar, he turns John Grady and Rawlins over to the local police. They are charged as being in cohorts with Belvins who is being held in prison for murder. Belvins is executed and Rawlins gives a false confession. John Grady and Rawlins have assasins sent after them, but they both survive the attacks. Alejandra bribed the prison guard to set them free and he did. John Grady goes back to her and begs her to come with him back to Texas, but she refuses. She says she can't leave her family. He returns back to Texas but he is emotionally scarred without his love and his best friend who is no longer his friend.

2. The theme of this novel is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet. About two starrcrossed lovers who will never really be together. The difference in All the Pretty Horses is that neither of them die, they are just forced to be seperated, never to see eachother again.

3. The authors tone is that of an average narrator. He seems indifferent to what is going on in the story.

4.

Ambiguity- never sure of what was going to happen next with their criminal life.

Assumption- John Grady assumed that life would be easy as a cowboy... he was wrong.

Climax- When Rawlins and John Grady are attacked by the assasins, then relesased from prison.

Conflict- John  Grady battles his issues with his friend and with his love for Alejandra.

Dogmatic- Alejandra refuses to leave her family for John Grady.

Falling Action- John Grady gets back his horses and returns to Texas.

Omnicient Point of View- Narrator is all knowing.

Pacing- Story moves along quick.

Pathos- The author caters to the readers feeling by including a love story.

Purpose- to show the readers that trying to be an adult as a teenager is difficult.

Characterization

1. No, the tone and diction all stay the same as the story goes on. The tone of the novel also helps to depict that each character is discribed in the same way.

2.  The protagonist, John Grady, is a static, flat character. His views on life don't really seem to change by the end of the story. He doesn't seem to learn anything from his adventures in Mexico.

3. I felt like I had met a person. When I read a story, I usually feel like I have met a person, especially when the author does a great job at writing the story. Cormac McCarthy is a favorite author of mine, I always enjoy reading his books. I feel like I know John Grady, but I don't feel like I fully understand him.