In the book The Memory Keepers Daughter Dr. David Henrey's wife Norah Henrey had just had twins, a boy and an ill girl, knowing what pain she will cause his wife he asked his nurse Caroline Gill to take his daughter to an institution were she will receive help for someone in her condition.
Instead of leaving the new born child in the institution she keeps the baby for herself to care for and raise.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches (Why did your author choose to write about this topic, person or event?).
I think the theme of the novel is that children with cases of down's syndrome can still be loved and cared for and have the same education like any other child.
3. Why did you choose this book? What about the book appealed to you the first time it came to your attention (and how did it come to your attention)? What about the book made you want to keep reading once you began?
I read this novel because my sister read it before and she liked it so she encouraged me to try it. What made me keep reading this novel was the mystery of what will happen to the lives of David Henrey and Caroline Gill.
4. Did you find the book realistic? Did you make any connections between people/events you read about and people/events in your own life? Why or (if you didn't) why not?
This book was realistic because the events that happened in the book could happen in real life. Some person can give their child away to save themselves from a lifetime of suffering and sadness.
When David and Norah's son Paul was older he wanted to have a career path in music but his father did not agree with him. He wanted his son to have a more stable future. This relates to my life because my parents want me to have a future that is successful.
5. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
I think the authors tone in the book is subjective because he includes the feelings and thoughts of the characters. For the first example he included the thoughts of David Henrey when he was giving his daughter Phoebe to Caroline and explains why he did it. 6. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques (figurative language/symbolism/imagery/ allusions, etc.) you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers (include page numbers).
Simile: "Outside, snow continued to fall through the darkness, as bright and thick as static in the cones of light cast by the streetlights." (p. 3).
Imagery: "By the time he rose and looked out the window, their car had become a soft white hill on the edge of the street" (p. 3).
Dramatic Irony: " There's a place, I'd like you to take her there. When it's light, I mean. I'll issue the birth certificate, and I'll call to say you're coming" (p. 18), " Oh, my love, I am so sorry. Our little daughter died as she was born." (p. 20).
Hyperbole: " She could have died" (p. 169)
Metaphor: " Rain" " Cats and dogs" (p. 233)
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
Direct characterization: She was tall, so thin and angular it seemed the bones might poke from beneath her skin at any moment, her large blue eyes were solemn and intelligent
Indirect characterization: A young woman dressed in black with cascading hair asked something angrily about form
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?
The author uses diction when he focuses on a character. They describe the character by how they are feeling, how they talk, what something looks like, and what they're wearing, Example "Her voice was harder now, determined. Caroline's room on the third floor of Doro's house had become a place as mysterious and sensual as the garden
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
David is static because he changes very little since the being of the book. He just becomes more distant from his family.
Caroline is the dynamic character because she was the one who had to change her life around. She got a baby, moved to a new place, and met a guy, who later she would date.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
I felt like I read a character because of all the personal thoughts I read about the character. "Caroline felt suddenly depleted, almost faint"
ENDURING MEMORY
Write a paragraph in which you describe the one or two ideas from this book that you expect to remember for a long time. Explain your choices and their importance. Share a passage or two that give your reader a taste of the same effect.
The choice that David made to send their mentally ill daughter away without consent of his wife. I chose this because I think it would be hard to let go of your child before you got to know them. Then you will regret your decision and you will live a life feeling guilty of what you did and what you could have done for that child.Caroline made a decision to take Phoebe away from that institution that David would have left her in and care for her and give her the love she needs to grow up. In the book Caroline talks to David about that place.
"Have you been there?" she asked, remembering, that pale woman, her dark hair falling into the cold linoleum. "Have you seen that place?"
"No." He frowned. "It came highly recommended, that was all. I've sent other people there, in the past. I've heard nothing negative."
"It was awful," she said relieved.
