ENG (03/05/08) Post A

ENG (03/05/08) Post A

The Book of Lost Things
BY John Connolly

Post A

2 vacabulary words:

Tendril (p.62):
–noun Botany.
a threadlike, leafless organ of climbing plants, often growing in spiral form, which attaches itself to or twines round some other body, so as to support the plant.

Distend (p.66):
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.to expand by stretching, as something hollow or elastic: Habitual overeating had distended his stomach.
2.to spread in all directions; expand; swell: The sea distended about them.


3 examples of figurative langues

Simile: "He had grown so used to it that he had almost ceased to notice it, like birdsong or the wind in the trees, but now it was growing louder and louder." (p.60)
David describes how the feeling has ceased like the bird singing in the forest...

Irony: "It called to him in his mother's voice. It said: David, I am not dead. Come to me, and save me." (p.61)
Her mother IS dead. Then whose voice is he hearing?

Personification: "...the ones that contained the strange, dark fairy stories he loved so much. He sensed that they were waiting for an event to occur, although he could not tell what it might be." (p.61)
Obviously the books cannot speak, or expect anything to be happened. It comes from David's imagination.


Quotation

"David," it said, "they're taking me away. Don't let them take me from you. Please! Follow me, and bring me home. Follow me through the garden." (p.63)

Explanation

David still hears the sound from somewhere. From the things that he should not hear: like books, etc. This time, his mom is speaking... only problem is that she is dead already few years ago. He still can't let her go... and without anyone who understands him, he gets even more lonely.

Theme

Childhood. David keeps suffering from the death of her mother. Without anyone who listens to him, he gets very frustrated and tired to deal with all the emotions inside him... he feels weak but knows how to defend himself from those who want to harm him. Rose is one of them, and he likes to offend her as much as possible. In fact, he is one unfortunate soul who seeks for a savior in his life... never finds one, but he creates one for himself.