It is not simple to maintain an imaginative, colourful society. As stated in the story, society is often an uncommunicative wasteland. The adult world has little to offer its children. The story “The Fall of a City” by Alden Nowlan, is about a young little boy known as Teddy, being parented by two drab, unimaginative adults who corrupt his mind and lead him to destroy his ambition for the future. Without good role models for the children on earth, this world will have no future.
To begin with, the author uses foreshadowing in the story to express one’s point of view, proving the hardships this character goes through. For example, Teddy is an ambitious child at the prime of his childhood being overruled by his unimaginative ridiculing aunt
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and uncle. As the uncle was mocking Teddy’s imaginary world, Teddy thought “there was no king Theodore, no Emperor Kang, no Theodoresburg, no Upalia, no Danova. [That] there was only an attic full of preposterous cardboard buildings and ridiculous paper people” (Nowlan 3). Although Teddy was the creator of this fictional kingdom, he forced himself to believe in his uncle’s judgement. With his uncle’s perception, it pushed Teddy to tear his cardboards apart. Furthermore, in addition, the reader discovers that Teddy is contemplative as well. Though Teddy is eating supper, he is deep in thought and characterizes his uncle as Emperor Kang with the Danovans. After a while, “[Teddy] was pondering on the tactics that would have to be used by King Theodore… On the other hand, if [the Danovans] scaled the Theodoran mountains…” (Nowlan 2). Teddy thinks about the method he will have to use to protect the Kingdom of Upalia against Emperor Kang, then realizes there is a possibility that his plan may fail. He feels uneasy as he pictures his uncle to be Emperor Kang, and because his uncle teases him about going to the attic to see Teddy’s doing. Therefore, the usage of foreshadowing shows that Teddy is an ambitious child in the control of two uninspired parent-role adults. Second of all, imagery is used throughout this short story in order to compare reality and a dream.
As an example, the story starts with Teddy looking out the window. As he watches from inside in the attic, “rain fell with such violence that great, pulsating sheets of water seemed to hang suspended between earth and sky… Raindrops roll like beads of quicksilver down the glass of the high, diamond-shaped window” (Nowlan 1). This quote shows how one can see how at peace Teddy seems to be, supporting the idea that the attic is a safe haven where he can relax and not worry about anything because it is where Teddy made his Kingdom. In that case, the reader understands that the attic represents an escape from reality for Teddy to live temporarily in his dream place. Additionally, the author also employed imagery to describe Teddy’s imaginary world. Teddy turned away from the window and sees “the centre of the room [where] stood a fort and a palace, painstakingly constructed from corrugated cardboard cartons. These were surrounded by humbler dwellings made from matchboxes and the covers of exercise books. The streets and alleys were full of nobles, peasants and soldiers, their two-dimensional bodies scissored from paper, theirs faces and clothing drawn in crayon and lead pencil. From turreted roof of the palace, hung a green, white and gold tri-colour, the flag of the Kingdom of Upalia” (Nowlan 1). In this quote, one can see how much effort Teddy has put into building his …show more content…
“Kingdom”. The author used vivid imagery to describe how Teddy built his Kingdom, it expresses how much care and effort Teddy uses to make his town. As a result, Teddy proves that by using his imagination that he values preciously, has no limits. Lastly, pathos is applied to demonstrate that the world in this story is not portrayed as an ideal environment for children to grow up in. For instance, after Teddy’s uncle went to see Teddy’s doing in the attic, he walked back to the kitchen where the aunt was located. He busted out laughing and said to her “[she’d] never guess what [Teddy] has been doing up there!” He shook his head in wonder and amusement. Teddy flushed and stiffened… [She’d] never believe it, but that great big lummox has been playing with paper dolls!” “Paper dolls!” his aunt laughed” (Nowlan 2). In this quote, Teddy’s aunt and uncle have just found his Kingdom that he made up in the attic. Even though Teddy’s uncle isn’t his actually father, he plays the father-role in the story. So when he called Teddy a “lummox”, he called him a fool. Then, his uncle proceeds to laugh at him. Henceforth, his uncle’s insensitive behavior changes Teddy’s perspective on society. Moreover, the reader understands how much Theodoresburg means to Teddy. He has been building it for a year now and seems more real to him than the actual world around him. While his aunt and uncle were mocking Teddy’s paper dolls, Teddy thought “he could never explain; they would never let him explain… He bent and seized the cardboard palace. Gritting his teeth and grunting, he tore at its walls… He was crying by the time he finished tearing it to shreds” (Nowlan 3). As Teddy is extremely influenced by his uncle’s words, he becomes extremely angered and completely destroys Theodoresburg. In effect, he cries because of the emotional impact the situation has had on him and because he has just lost something that was very dear to his heart. To conclude, Teddy’s personality, values and beliefs on humanity in The Fall of a City shows how children can be corrupted and forced into thinking society is incommunicative and unimaginative.
Teddy is a character that understood how important his imagination is, but is too young to put this understanding into words. Teddy’s ambition and imagination is being ruined by his aunt and uncle so that he becomes like them. His imagination, which is the key to his future in society, is now reformed. Clearly, life has never been easy for anyone in this world. Instead, it is filled with plenty of obstacles. Children are known as the future generation, but there will be no future when adults allow them to become corrupt. It is important to not allow what adults think is normal to affect the ever-growing minds of children, for, they will only be influenced and become violent, unimaginative, fearful
adults.
In the story The Monkey's Paw the foreshadowing creates tension and suspense because during the story there was so many things going on and you didn't know what was going to happen next. I say this because in the Monkey's Paw the author writes He raised his hand. "I wish my son alive again." This quote explains foreshadowing by suspense because when he wishes for his son to be alive again it gives the audience suspense if he is going to actually be alive again or if it's not going to come true and they are going to be disappointed.
The first indication of fear transpires as Teddy suspects his paper world would likely be interpreted as inappropriate by his uncle, creating anxiety and unease within him of being criticized. While awaiting his uncle’s reaction regarding his activities in the attic, Teddy was pondering “if his uncle saw them, or even destroyed them”, revealing Teddy’s worries of being exposed, fearing his uncle may label him as immature upon discovering it. Furthermore, Teddy is fearful of his paper world being discovered due to the fear that his enthusiasm for the world would fade if it were to be revealed, as he bears a strong obsession with it, and considers it his second world. He yearns for his uncle to disregard his paper world, as “Theodoresburg had been growing for a year, and often it seemed more real than the town …. in which he lived in.” Teddy feared his uncle would ruin his fixation with his paper world, regarding his it as an equivalent to the real world, which is indicative of Teddy’s immaturity, cherishing a world that does not exist. Teddy’s fear of his paper world being exposed to his uncle is conspicuous, as he is petrified of his uncle discovering it, symbolizing society’s expectation of
What the author is doing is letting the reader foreshadow. A technique which creates suspense, a vital element in any action story. The author then explained what was being hinted at;
There are also foreshadowing events that occurred during the story. One event in particular is when she is in art class and asked to draw a tree and she has difficulty in presenting her ideas until Mr. Freeman asks her to make a collage using random items. After putting the collage together, Mr. Freeman comments that it represents pain. Melinda has difficulty drawing details and life into her trees just like in her own life s...
there were many alterations that occurred to Teddy within the text, however, the ruinning of his childhood, his imagination and the relationship between him and his relatives were most severe and effective for Teddy.
For instance, foreshadowing takes place when, after shooting the doe, Andy runs away and “Charlie Spoon and Mac and her father crying Andy, Andy (but that wasn't her name, she would no longer be called that);” (338) this truthfully state that she no longer wanted to be called Andy, she wanted to be called Andrea. Finally, Andy realized she is at the stage of growing up so she depicts between the woods where she can be a male or the ocean where she can be a female. She chose to stay true to herself and become Andrea because “Andy” lost her innocence when she shot the doe. Another example of foreshadowing is when Charlie was having distrust that Andy should come with them because she is a girl. The allegation Charlie made can be an example of foreshadowing because of how Andy will never go hunting ever again because she hated killing doe and it hurt her to see the doe suffering. This resulted to Andy never wanting to kill doe ever again. She changes her nickname to Andrea, her real name, because that’s who she is. Andy must face the reality of death before she can grow up. Additionally, foreshadowing contributes the themes overall effect by explaining how Andy’s loss of innocence happened and how she realized she must grow
...h is why fantasy is necessary for children in succeeding through a quest for sanity and morality. Through what is essentially known as escaping reality, children such as the character Max can further bring themselves to understand what they are feeling by unconsciously thinking about it in an imaginative way. Projecting certain personalities into characters in a way that accurately relates to Max is a prosperous way to develop a reassured idea in his life, between himself and the relationships around him. Thus, effortlessly reaching a sense of sanity and morality after all, “Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It’s a way of understanding it.” (Lloyd Alexander)
Effectively using foreshadowing in a piece of literature enhances the reader's curiosity. One clear example of such usage is seen in Kate Chopin's writing. Her use of foreshadowing in the short story "The Storm" adds an element of intrigue, holding the reader's interest throughout. In this story a father and son, Bobinôt and Bibi, are forced to remain in the store where they were shopping, waiting for an approaching storm to pass. Meanwhile, the wife and mother, Calixta, remaining at home, receives an unexpected visit from a former lover of hers, Alcée. The two lovers ultimately consummate their relationship. Alcée then departs once the storm subsides, at which time the father and son return home. No repercussions of the extramarital affair take place within the story.
While there are many more significant literary devices throughout the short story, symbolism and foreshadowing are the most prevalent. These devices enhance the story, because they keep the readers attention. Symbolism and foreshadowing help the reader better understand the characters and how the brother’s actions lead to the death of Doodle.
In the first place, despite the creativity and imagination of Teddy, he is harshly criticized by his uncle and aunt who do not know what he is thinking in his mind. Therefore, they do not understand him thoroughly. Teddy’s dominant character trait is shown in his handiwork of the world he has created: “The streets and alleys were full of nobles, peasants and soldiers, their two dimensional bodies scissored from paper, their faces and clothing down in crayons and lead pencils”. (Nowlan 41) Indeed, Teddy is very creative. He is able to build a paper-made kingdom, in which are present people of various social cl...
John Steinbeck, in his novel Of Mice and Men, makes use of similes and foreshadowing to keep readers in touch with the characters and at the edge of their seats throughout the story. Foreshadowing lets readers keep questioning, while similes add more details and brings out the characters in the book. Steinbeck’s use of foreshadowing and similes brings out the deep meaning and themes learned through the characters and the circumstances George faces. Foreshadowing and the use of similes are two of the many literary techniques that bring out the deep thoughts of an author using great details and suspense. These are the techniques which make authors like, John Steinbeck, successful writers.
Children have often been viewed as innocent and innocent may be a nicer way to call children naive. Since children’s lives are so worry free they lack the knowledge of how to transition from being a child to becoming an adolescent. Their lack of knowledge may be a large part of their difficulties growing up, which could be a few rough years for many. In books like the boy in the striped pajamas the story is told from the point of view of a little boy, this way we get a full view of how innocent he is. In this book the writer shows the reader first hand how a child viewed the holocaust and how his innocence cost him his life. Then in books like the perks of being a wallflower Charlie is a teen whom is struggling with the transition from being a child to becoming an adolescent. In this book the writer gives a first hand look at how difficult it can be to transition into an adolescent. Charlie has many difficulties in this book; he is in search of his identity and how to fit in.
The adult world is a cold and terrifying place. There are robberies, shootings, murders, suicides, and much more. If you were to be a small child, perhaps age 5, and you were to look in at this world, you would never know how bad it actually was, just from a single glance. Children have a small slice of ignorant bliss, which helps to keep them away from the harsh of reality. It isn’t until later, when they encounter something that opens their eyes and shows them, that they truly start to understand the world we live it. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird shows the many differences between the simplicity of being a kid and the tough decisions and problems that adults must face every day.
In conclusion, if you read this story carefully you will pick up the small hints and know the outcome of the story. This also shows that foreshadowing can be direct statements or simple statements of fact.
Throughout the article written by Hall and Rudkin, they discuss how children comprehend the essential rights and laws in a community. In this article, they tell us adults throughout society promote children’s understanding of responsibilities and rules in their community. Hall and Rudkin (2011) converse about “how to support children as protagonists in communities, that is, actors, agents, and co-constructors of civic life” (p. 52). Along with this, they state that we as society should not hide a world from children in which they are already a part of. This article gives us an example of how children can be apart of the community even in a very small setting. The children attempted to understand what Crystal, the hamster, wanted out of her