Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer OR

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer OR Presentation by Mrs HR

Author: Jonathan Safran Foer born February 21, 1977 in Washington, DC begins writing at Princeton University under J. C. Oates very modern writer (uses non-linear plots, poetic devices, stream of consciousness, etc. ) so far has written: Everything is Illuminated Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Eating Animals Tree of Codes

Everything is Illuminated Plot Climax: Jonathan, Alex, and Grandfather may -or may not- have found Trachimbrod Rising Action: Jonathan learns more and more about his family's past Exposition: Readers meet Jonathan and Alex as the two begin writing letters back and forth Falling Action: The two return home - Jonathan to his writing and Alex to his abusive father and guiltridden grandfather Resolution: Alex's Grandfather commits suicide; Alex is able to express his feelings and take his brother and mother away

Literary Elements in the Novel Dynamic character: Alex At the beginning of the novel Alex is fearful for his brother, lies to Make himself appear cooler, and holds on to some slightly racist ideas about Jewish people. At the end of the novel, all this changes. Textual evidence: "My many friends dub me Alex. . . I am always elsewhere with friends disseminating so much currency and performing so many things that can spleen a mother. . . I have many, many girls, believe me, and they all have different names for me"

Literary Elements in the Novel Motif: Collecting Throughout the novel the characters collect things: memories of their families' pasts, guilt from actions they once took, and items that Represent the lost lives of other people. Textual evidence: "'Excellent, Didl said, pulling Volume IV of the Book of Recurrent Dreams. . . Most excellent! It won't be long before another volume is complete!. . . But first we must review last week's entries. . . "

Literary Elements in the Novel Internal conflict: Believe the stories of his family's past? Jonathan is writing the memoirs of his family in Trachimbrod, but it is unclear whether these stories actually happened or not. He is conflicted inside about whether or not he should believe this history. Textual evidence: “No hateful words were ever spoken, and no hands raised. More than that, no angry words were ever spoken, and nothing was denied. But more than that, no unloving words were ever spoken. . Love me, because love doesn't exist, and I have tried everything that does. ”

Themes in Everything is Illuminated People's identities are shaped by both who they come from and who they choose to be. What happens in the past directly affects what happens in the present and what will happen in the future. Friendships can overcome backgrounds, languages, and beliefs.

Evaluation of Everything is Illuminated My Rating: Recommend? : YES! (Especially for students who like interesting plots and poetic writing) Why I love this book: It blurs the line between what we think is real and what may not have happened as we've been told it has. It's written with thought and beautiful word choice. It makes me both laugh and cry. It reminds me of my own family, whose history may not be as we say it is.