April Morning Styles Flashcards
Point of View
Howard Fast tell his novel “April Morning” in the first-person limited-omniscient perspective, from the point of view of main character, Adam Cooper. This is done for several reasons. First, the first-person perspective allows the reader a firsthand look at the events leading up to, and during, the battles of Lexington, Concord, North Bridge, and the road back to Boston. The firsthand narrative mode also allows the reader to experience and feel things directly as Adam himself experiences and feels things. This is especially important given the tragedy, triumph, and traumas of the day – from the loss of Adam’s father to the eventual rebel victory to the bittersweet return home. The limited-omniscient aspect of the novel also adds a level of reality to the narration – for no man knows everything. It also adds a level of suspense and drama, as Adam has no idea if the British are truly coming, and if they are, when they will arrive and what they will do. He likewise has little knowledge about the events of the battles as they unfold around him – and even his participation in the battle is fraught with suspense, as he is only aware later of the overall goal of the colonial militia.
Language and Meaning
Howard Fast tells his novel “April Morning” in language that is simple and straightforward. This is done for a few reasons. First, the narrator of the novel is a 15-year-old boy who has not had the experience of higher education. Thus, his language will reflect his life circumstances as well. Adam and his family are humble farmers who all have the ability to read, and so their vocabulary is better than some (for example, Solomon Chandler’s), though not better than others. Their humility, both in their faith and work, is reflected in their simple language, and straightforward way of talking. This also adds a tremendous amount of realism to the novel, making the characters and the events much more believable – and this is crucial, given the historical reality of the battles of Lexington, Concord, North Bridge, and the running fight back to Boston.
Structure
Howard Fast divides his novel “April Morning” into eight chronological, unnumbered, titled chapters that span the time period between the afternoon of April 18, 1775, and the evening of April 19, 1775. Each chapter is titled with a general time of day (The Evening, The Night, The Morning, etc.). The events of each chapter coincide with that specific time of day. For example, the chapter “The Morning”, taking place on the morning of April 19, 1775, deals with the British attack at Lexington, and its immediate aftermath as Adam, and other members of the Lexington Committee militia, flee for their lives.
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