13/02/13 13/02/13 - Journal Journal Entry Entry 1 - Writing Writing Styl Style e 13 February 2013 12:50
The author, David Almond, Almond, hooks the reader with different writing style. style. For example, at the start of the book he wrote, "I found him in the garage…".
This sentence hooks up the readers because they will want to know who he found. It makes you question. I think that this is a very effective technique. Also, each chapter is very very short and straight forward forward with one main point. In example, the first chapter, he talks about how Michael moves in to his new house. In the second chapter, he talks about how Michael goes in the garage and so on. This is also another very effective technique because it makes the readers understand the book better and easier. The last technique I think is very effective is how the author described the creature (guy he found). He uses very interesting vocabularies in sentences and makes the guy he found sound mysterious and creepy. The technique also makes readers want to read more about who he found. David Almond uses sentences like, "He was filthy and pale and dried out and I thought he was dead…", "He was lying there in the darkness behind the chess…", "I'd
soon begin to see the truth about him." These sentences are very descriptive descriptiv e and they include interesting and creepy vocabularies.
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15/02/ 15/02/13 13 - Journal Journal Entry Entry 2 - Setting Setting 15 February 2013 08:32
One of the settings in the book is the old garage. The garage affects the plot because it makes the the plot seem creepy and and mysterious. Also, it affects the character, the mysterious guy who lives in the garage. This is because it makes the character sound dirty, poor, creepy, old, not normal and has no where to live. In example, on page one, the author wrote "He was lying there in the darkness behind the tea chests, in the dust and dirt." Other than this, it also affects the reader's mind because it makes the guy who lives in the garage mysterious and makes us wonder why he is there and what happened to him. Most of the story takes place in the night since these are the times that Mina and Michael can visit Skellig Skellig without worrying worrying about being discovered. discovered. Also, this story seems to take place in the late 1900s or early 2000s. This is because there are no computers and phones that are mentioned but it does not seem too old. I think the children in the story have been created to show that they really respect their parents. parents. An example of this is on page page 4 when Michael's mother mother tells Michael to stay away from the garage and he does not attempt to back answer or argue. I also think David Almond has kept the story in this city because there are houses instead of apartments here and it can help readers to understand how Michael and Mina develop a relationship so quickly since they live so close each to other.
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22/02/ 22/02/13 13 - Journa Journall Entry 3 - POV/Ge POV/Gener nerate ate ?? 22 February 2013 10:12
This novel is written in first person. person. We know this because in in the novel, the author uses "I" "I" which refers to Michael. This means that we will only only know what one character feels and think. We will also understand why Michael is feeling that way and and how it effects his actions in the story. story. However, we miss out other characters feelings and personal thoughts in this book. I think that David Almond chose to write in first person so that we can understand the character, Michael, Michael, better. Also, it would be more more mysterious since we don't don't know what other people did or is thinking. If I were the author, I would have chosen to write this novel in third person omniscient. This way, the readers readers will know how every character character in the novel feels and think. However, this this might be kind of boring for the readers readers since they know everything already. I would also choose to write in this point of view because I really want to know what Skellig is feeling and thinking since he does not reveal a lot about himself in the novel. I really want to know Skellig's thoughts thoughts and feelings feelings on Michael. Michael. Does he like him? What is the relationship between Michael and Skellig? Even though they don’t really know anything about each other, they seem to be close friends since Michael helped Skellig and Skellig helped saved Michael's sister's life. Also, Michael could could have given up on Skellig and condemned him to die.
What would you do if you were in Michael's position? Would you help Skellig? Some guy you don't even know? To be honest, if I was Michael, Michael, I wouldn't help Skellig. Skellig. It would be kind of creepy since you don't really really know who Skellig is. He might be dangerous dangerous or it might be a trap.
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08/03/ 08/03/13 13 - Journa Journall Entry Entry 4 - Confli Conflict ct 08 March 2013 08:52
I think that the main conflict in this novel is man vs. self. This means that it falls into the internal conflict category. On page 19, there is a conversation between Michael and Skellig. "What will you do?" I said. "They'll clear the place out. It'll all collapse. What'll --". "Nothing. Go away." This shows that in the novel, Skellig has to fight his own depression and hopelessness. Also, Michael has to deal with the problems with the baby, keeping Skellig as a secret and having to get teased about mina at school. Michael's parents has to deal with their thoughts about the baby and what could happen to them. This teaches the readers to be resilient and able to deal with your feelings that has a negative impact. Moreover, Michael also has to deal with his fear and nervousness in order to help Skellig. In the beginning part of the book, Michael kept wishing that Skellig wasn't real and he was kind of scared of Skellig. However, he did be able to overcome the fear. These problems in the novel teaches the readers that everyone has their own problems in their lives and we should deal with it, not let it make you depressed all the time.
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15/03/13 15/03/13 - Journal Journal Entry Entry 5 - Author's Author's Choices Choices 15 March 2013 10:24
David Almond uses a lot of ambiguity in the book. One of the examples of ambiguity in the book is, "what is the relationship between Skellig and the baby?" and "is Skellig real?". The author uses these ambiguity in order to make the readers suspicious and curious. It makes the readers want to read more and find out the solution/answers. solution/answers. If the novel was different and and it was less ambiguous, it would would make the Skellig not very special. I think that it won't make the Skellig as important in the novel. The mystery would then probably be towards the baby. It would probably be kind of boring. In this novel, Skellig is very very slowly revealed revealed to us. Skellig is still a mysterious mysterious guy. We, as readers, don't actually know anything about Skellig for sure. We are just make assumptions and predictions. prediction s. The technique that David Almond used most often to keep the reader engaged is suspense. We don't know anything for certain and and we are trying to find out who Skellig Skellig is. As I said before, the author doesn't really reveal anything about Skellig. We don't know if Skellig is only in Michael's mind, or if Skellig's real, or even if he's some kind of god or angel.
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20/03/ 20/03/13 13 - Journa Journall Entry 6 - Characte Characteriz rizatio ation n 20 March 2013 12:35
Mina shows her character through speech. On page 49, Mina says, "We believe that schools inhibit the natural curiosity, creativity, creativity, and intelligence of children. The mind needs to be opened out into the world, not shuttered down inside a gloomy classroom." This shows that Mina is a independent person and a very straight forward person too. On page 102, Coot says "That girl that climbs in a tree like a monkey". This shows that she is very sporty, active and adventurous. Skellig shows his character character through speeches speeches too. On page 19, Skellig says, says, "27 and 53". He doesn't explain what it is. After that he says, "Nothing. Go away. Go away." This shows that Skellig is a very mysterious person and doesn't want people to help him. Another way that the author shows Skellig's character is by Skellig's looks. On page 1, it says "He was filthy and pale and dried out I thought he was dead". This shows that Skellig is a person that doesn't really care about anything. He doesn't care about his looks, he doesn't really care about anything at all. In this book, I find it hard to find direct characterizatio characterization. n. I think this is because if the author, tells you everything instead of showing, you would not have anything to figure out by yourself. Indirect characterization characterizati on helps the readers think and figure out things by themselves.
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25/03/13 25/03/13 - Journal Journal Entry Entry 7 - Writing Writing Style Style 27 March 2013 12:46
David Almond writes with a lot of ambiguity and tension. Stating that Michael's Michael's dad has still not arrived (Chapter (Chapter 35). "We waited at the table as the light faded, and Dad didn't come (135)." Michael repeatedly draws pictures. "I felt how by drawing my mind became concentrated, even while part of it still thought and worried about the baby (136)." Time passes from day to night. night. "We waited and waited. The The light fell. The blackbirds sang in the trees and hedges outside." (136) Mina's Mum tries to divert attention by singing songs. "She kept singing songs from time to time. Some of them were songs of Blake's, some were ancient folk songs (137)." Michael hesitates to speak to his dad on the phone. "He said some more but I couldn’t hear it. Something about being with me soon, about how everything would be fine, about how Mum sent me her love. I dropped the phone (139)." Michael's dad finds it difficult to tell Michael the news. "'What are they going to do?' No answer. 'Dad what are they going to do?' I heard the sighing, the fear in his voice (139)." Michael vividly imagines the operation. (Chapter 36) "I held my hand to my heart. What would I feel when they opened the baby's fragile chest, when they cut into her tiny heart? Mina's fingers were cold and dry and small. I felt the tiny pulse of blood in them. I felt how my own hand trembled very quickly, very gently (141)." Michael finally begins to cry. "I closed my eyes and tried to discover where the happy half was hiding. I felt the tears trickling through my tightly closed eyelids (141)." Repetition is used to create the impression of fear. "They'll dream about cats climbing toward them. They'll dream about dangerous crows with ugly u gly beaks. They'll dream about vicious children plundering the nest. They'll dream of death all around them (141)."
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25/03/ 25/03/13 13 - Journa Journall Entry Entry 8 - Theme Theme 27 March 2013 12:45
In this novel Skellig, there are many important themes and morals. However, I think that the most important them is this book is that you should have people you trust because they will be the ones who will help you in times of need. One of the examples I found is when Mina was trying to encourage Michael into believing that the baby is not dead. "Your dad will come for you soon," said Mina. "He'll tell you everything's fine (151)." This shows how supportive your your friends can be in times in need. It is a benefit to have people you can trust in difficult times. Another example of this theme is when Michael wanted to tell everything to his father. "For a moment I wanted to tell him everything: Skellig, the owls, what Mina and I got up to in the night. Then I knew how weird it would seem (125)." This shows that Michael thought that his father would not have believed him. Michael would have to face his problems all alone if it wasn't for Mina. Also, on page 114, Mina and Michael had a very big fight. However, they were able to figure it out and be friends again. This shows that they trusted each other and that they have a very good friendship. Other than this, on page 159, Michael's mother explains how the stranger, Skellig, came to help the baby. This shows that Skellig is a really good friend to Michael because because he saved the baby's baby's life. He did it because he was a really good friend, helping Michael in times in need.
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