Students enrolled in EN190 with Prof. Decker will post context journal entries weekly to this shared student blog.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Discussion question -- the thing in the forest
The minor character Aly, one of the smallest girl, who was briefly mentioned on page 227 and later in Penny and Primrose's conversation (page 232). How does her role shape our interpretation of the story?
I love this question, Yanni, and I think Alys is an excellent minor--yet symbolic--character to consider. I'm obviously interested in reading student reactions and interpretations, but I'll offer my own.
Personally, I believe Alys represents purity/innocence/childhood. She begs to go with the girls into the forest, but she is abandoned and forgotten. The girls run into the forest, discover something entirely new (the forest itself), and are ultimately forced to witness "The Thing"--the haunting specter of death, loss, and regret that defines the very real reality of their home during the Blitz. They leave the imaginative realm of childhood innocence and enter the real world of experience. In other words, their experience in the forest forces them to grow up and forget their innocence--symbolized by Alys.
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I love this question, Yanni, and I think Alys is an excellent minor--yet symbolic--character to consider. I'm obviously interested in reading student reactions and interpretations, but I'll offer my own.
Personally, I believe Alys represents purity/innocence/childhood. She begs to go with the girls into the forest, but she is abandoned and forgotten. The girls run into the forest, discover something entirely new (the forest itself), and are ultimately forced to witness "The Thing"--the haunting specter of death, loss, and regret that defines the very real reality of their home during the Blitz. They leave the imaginative realm of childhood innocence and enter the real world of experience. In other words, their experience in the forest forces them to grow up and forget their innocence--symbolized by Alys.
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