the lovely bones exam essay questions Flashcards
analyze how the character of susie evolves throughout the novel (thesis and four main points of evidence)
susie salmon’s character evolution reflects her journey from denial and anger to acceptance and peace as she learns to let go of her need for control and vengeance, ultimately embracing the enduring connections between life and death
1) struggling to deal with her death, clinging to her earthly loved ones, and resenting her killer’s freedom
2) her perspective begins to switch that clinging to the past only prolongs suffering
3) she turns her attention towards the healing of her loved ones, signifying emotional growth and maturity
4) by the end, she has achieved peace and moved on through embracing the love and memories and letting go of her earthly attachments
evaluate how sebold humanized the antagonist in the story
she humanizes the antagonist not to elicit sympathy, but to emphasize that evil can exist in ordinary forms - that george harvey isn’t a monster but a human, creating a disturbing reality.
1) insight into his past trauma, his experience with abuse and instability. his mother’s abandonment and troubled relationship with his father. damaged individual shaped by his own trauma.
2) his quiet unassuming lifestyle, ability to go unnoticed makes him chillingly realistic, adding to the complexity
3) his attempt to appear normal, hisn eed to maintain routine and collect objects from his victims show a twisted longing for control and emotional interaction
4) her paranoia and fear of being caught, vulnerability shows that he is not an untouchable villain but a frightened, deeply flawed human. reinforcing the idea that monstrous acts can come from broken people
critique the role that the theme of isolation has on the development of the story line
uses isolation to highlight the fragmentation of relationships, inner struggles of each character, and long-term consequences of trauma
1) susie’s isolation in the afterlife
2) jack’s obsessive grief
3) abigail’s escape and emotonal withdrawal
4) ruth connors connection to the dead, but none with others
identify how grief is handled throughout the novel
each major character handles loss in a unique way, shaping their actions, relationships, and emotional development
1) jack salmon - obsession and vigilance
2) abigail salmon - detachment and escape
3) lindsey salmon - strength and resilience
4) buckley salmon - repression and anger
assess which symbol had the greatest effect on the themes within the novel
the charm bracelet exemplifies the themes of mortaility, isolation, grief, and love and acceptance.
1) mortality - with each charm representing a piece of her life, it becomes a symbol of the life she didnt get to live
2) isolation - symbolizes her absence and her emotional presence. evoking individual memories of susie within the family, reminding them that their grief is often experienced alone as each triggers conjures a unique pain
3) grief - underlines the the few physcial remnants of her life, each charm being a reminder of milestones she’ll never reach
4) love and acceptance - the bracelet is not a symbol of cherished memories rather than one heavy with sorrow
