Wonder Part 1 Flashcards
‘ I know I’m not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things … but I know ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds…
Here’s what I think: the only reason I’m not ordinary is that no one else sees me that way
Related themes: perception, identity
This quote implies that August has two facets to his sense of self.
On one hand, he feels normal of himself(inward identity, how he feels).
On the other hand, his extraordinary face made him abnormal because of other’s reaction and perceptions towards him(his outward identity).
August sees himself as extraordinary not based on how he feels about himself, but how others see him.
The reason for others treating him as the abnormality is because of their perception on beauty. They think August’s deformed face makes him stand out and extraordinary.
Characterisation of Via
1. She can get really annoyed when people do something rude. Like, for instance, one time in the playground some older kids made some noises… That’s the way she is. I’m not that way.
- Everyone’s just as nervous as you are,” said Via in my ear. “Just remember that this is everyone’s first day of school. Okay?”
- “That took you years to grow!” she said, almost like she was angry. “Why did you cut it off?”
- Via does not know how to treat August as an ordinary kid even though she tries to. She is overly-protective and defensive for August which makes him feel bad and uncomfortable
- Via does not understand the struggle August is facing— he is not like ‘everyone’ because of his extraordinary face. Her words may hurt August unintentionally.
- Instead of showing support to August, Via disapproves of him for his actions and forces him to tell her everything that happened to him. She does not leave space for August to put him at ease. This shows that she does not know how to communicate with August in a good, understanding way and makes him feel better.
Characterisation of mom
1. “I just think you need to learn more than I can teach you,” Mom said. “I mean,
come on, Auggie, you know how bad I am at fractions!”
- “We can’t just pretend he’s going to wake up tomorrow and this isn’t going to be
his reality, because it is, Nate, and we have to help him learn to deal with it. We can’t just keep avoiding situations that . . .“ - “It’s a very hard school to get into. There’s a whole admissions process. I didn’t
see the point in telling you and having you get all worked up about it unnecessarily.“ - “I’m not going to say it won’t be a big challenge for you, because you know better than that,” she answered. “But it’ll be good for you, Auggie. You’ll make lots of friends. And you’ll learn things you’d never learn with me.“
- “Shh,” she said, wiping my tears with the back of her hand. “You have nothing to be sorry about. . . .“
August basic info
Friends: Alex, Christopher, Zachary
Grade: 5th grade, Beecher Prep
Address: North Rivers Heights
Surgeries: 27
Why doesn’t Auggie go to school before 5th grade?
He has many surgeries and gets sicks a lot, which stops him from attending school. He is homeschooled for his own safety.
(Instead of how he looks, which many people may make assumptions on)
Characterisation of mom
1. Mom tells the story of Auggie’s birth in a way that makes Via and Auggie crack up
‘ she’s acts out all the parts—— including the farting noises—and it is so, so, so funny!’
2.she quits her job as an children book illustrator to take care of August and Via
- She sends August to school because of different reasons
- Has a great sense of humour & loving and caring.
- she makes the delivery/birth of August sounds welcoming to make August feel that he is loved and is special. - Loving and caring.
- She sacrifices her career to take care of her children. - Thoughtful
- She thinks thoroughly of sending August to school, caring about the timing, his academics, experience, social life and the fact that he needs to face reality and cannot live under his parents’ protection forever
Farting nurse vs nice nurse
Although the farting nurse does not make a good impression to mom like the nice nurse does, it turns out that she is actually very encouraging and caring to her.
This further highlights the theme of perceptions, showing that what we see at first sight/reality may not always be true
Characterisation of dad
1. ‘We won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do’
- Treats August with respect (as an equal/friend)
- he declares that he won’t force August to go to school if he does not want to, respecting August’s own feelings, opinions and will.
August’s naive/ childish side
[refused to attend school]
1. Sits on mom’s lap like he is a baby
2. Makes his voice sound a little babyish
Reasons why August should go to school
1.
