Literary Analysis Of Tangerine And Wonder

Literary Analysis Essay

In the beginning of both Tangerine and Wonder, it is clearly stated on how both of the main characters will go on a journey. This journey is a journey of growth, wisdom, and confidence that left its readers in awe. Both books portray the need in which the main character struggles in growing at first, but eventually does. Throughout Tangerine though, you can see Paul growing up and how his confidence was affected majorly. In my opinion, Tangerine does a better job showing how the character grew in confidence. I would say this because of how it is able to clearly show the before and after change throughout the parts, and how it is able to show in depth on how Paul’s growth can also relate to us.

From the start,

the author of Tangerine clearly showed Paul’s fear over Erik, but he is able to gradually get to the point where Paul is able to face of Erik in a way we knew was coming, but was still in shock when it came.

In Wonder, RJ Palacio showed Auggie as a young naive boy who seemed to have plenty of doubt in himself, but that didn’t stop him from letting his values be known. For ex, “The words supposedly, by the way, I said. What are you talking about? You said supposably before,” I said (Palacio 30). Auggie is still shown to feel very insecure about himself even though his sarcasm is well known throughout the book. For ex, “I eat like a tortoise if you ever seen a tortoise eating. Like some prehistoric swamp thing.”(Palacio 50). In Paul though, he is able to grasp the fact that he has fear and doubt for himself over Erik. He admits in the book itself that he is scared of Erik in the beginning. For ex, “I’ve always been afraid of Erik. Now I get to be afraid of Erik and Arthur.” (Bloor 40). Auggie though doesn’t really understand what is going on in his life and why it is going on due to him being homeschooled most of his life.Paul knew what going on the whole time, but was too scared to

say it. “No, sir. Then I felt compelled to add, I wasn’t brave enough to give any statement.” (Bloor 276). As part 1 ends, and part 2 begins you can see Paul having a little spark towards his confidence when he saves those kids in the sinkhole. (Bloor 83-84). Then in Part 2, he shows loyalty and courage through the big freeze and anytime when he helps out in the Tangerine farm. “Fisher Man, last time you were here you collapsed because it was too hot. Now you’re collapsing because it’s too cold? What’s up with you?”(Bloor 220). Eventually, when Paul jumped on the coach it wasn’t much of a surprise, but it was still pretty sudden or just something you didn’t really think about immediately when you thought of Paul.(Bloor 251).
Another reason why Tangerine did a better job in explaining gaining confidence, is by showing us how when Paul was growing, we could relate to him more.

In Wonder, RJ Palacio showed how Auggie started growing up in a childlike perspective. “Mom? Am I always going to have to worry about jerks like that? I asked. Like when I grow up, is it always going to be like this?”(Palacio 279). Another example could be when he says,"I wish everyday could be Halloween. We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we go to see what we looked like under the masks."(Palacio 73). Auggie is also a kid just starting school, not to mention a kid starting school with a face like his. "What's the deal with your face? I mean, were you in a fire or something?"(Palacio 28). “Okay, so I admit that the first day of school I was so nervous,...Mom was now the one saying I shouldn’t go and Dad was saying I should.”(Palacio 35). Most of the middle school/high school level kids might not necessarily relate much to Auggie. In Tangerine though, Paul is shown to be around our ages, so this would of helped us middle school readers comprehend more. “All four of us were back at the high school middle school campus today.”(Bloor 27). Another way to know Paul is around our ages is when most of the settings are in middle schools and high schools. “Erik's arrival is going to change the football season at Lake Windsor High School.… So what about me? Will I make

the difference between winning and losing for the middle school's soccer team?”(Bloor 22). Tangerine also showed the rowdiness that most middle school and high school students might have. “There were two small groups of guys karate kicking at each other outside the buildings.”(Bloor 95). Overall, Tangerine just was a novel most middle school/high school aged kids can understand more and relate to more too.
As you can see, Tangerine is able to show how confidence is important and how it can be gradually be gained. It was able to show us clearly in how Paul changed within the parts, and it showed us in depth on how much Paul grew right before us and how something like this can affect us as well. Imagine if Paul never gained the confidence he needed to finally tell on Erik? Imagine if something like this ever remotely happened to you? Without the confidence you gain, your life is destined to go up and down. Overall, reading Tangerine is better to understand confidence growth due to the fact it was able to show before and after change well, and it also showed how someone else’s growth,for example Paul, can be easier to relate and affect us as well.

Work Citations
Bloor, Edward. Tangerine. Harcourt, 2006.
Palacio, RJ. Wonder. Knopf, 2012.