Your Name: Rachael Doyle Date: Week 6 Genre: Modern Fantasy

Literary Analysis
Bibliographic Information:
Babbitt, N. (1975). Tuck Everlasting. New York: Random House.
Plot:
Original And Fresh
I believe for its time, the plot is definitely original and fresh. Everyone ponders the ideas of life
and death and this book brought the possibility of immortality to life. The author makes it seem
so simple, just drinking water from a spring.
Well Constructed
The plot in this story is very well constructed. The story makes sense, there isnt any breaks or
confusion in the story. There is a good flow without any interruptions. The sequencing of events
is put together very well so that the reader can take a moment to escape to a world where
immortality exists.
Setting:
Location
The story takes place during the month of August in and around a village called Treegap. This
includes the woods, the Tucks house and the Fosters house.
Time
The author indicates time through the narration and stating statements in the prologue such as
At dawn, At noontime, and At sunset. Those statements give the reader a timeline as to
whats going to happen when. The reader doesnt notice how useful it actually is until they have
read the story.
Theme:
Does The Story Have A Theme
If immortality could be a theme, then yes! Other than that, there isnt really a big take away
from the story that I would identify as the theme. There is the tiny idea of friends and family and
the fact that Winnie Foster did everything she could in her power to help the Tucks.
Motifs/Symbols To Intensify Meaning
The two main symbols that I would take away to represent this book would be the spring and the
music box. The spring represents immortality as a whole and the music box represents the Tucks
specifically and it follows to wherever the Tucks journey take them.

Characterization:
Strengths And Weaknesses
Winnie is a very strong, caring and proud young girl. You see that through her actions
throughout the story. She cares for something as simple as a toad she befriends, and she also
unexpected befriends her kidnappers, the Tucks. It goes even further as she gets to know the
Tucks and fights for them to make sure their secret does not get out.
Character Development/Growth
Winnie Foster grows as does her relationship with the Tucks. Before she was kidnapped, she was
very reserved, debating whether or not she should escape the front yard and run away. Then after
shes kidnapped, she befriends the Tucks and gets to know them for who they are. That is when I
believe that she starts growing into herself and fighting for what she believes in.

Style:
Dialogue Naturally Suited
The dialogue is naturally suited to the characters because the author adds in a certain region
accent to the Tucks dialogue. With Winnie Foster, because shes the youngest, she has a nave
tone to her words.
Author Creating Mood
The author definitely creates a mysterious mood with the male characters that is dressed in
yellow. Each chapter leaves off as a cliffhanger and a lot of them end with a note about the man
dressed in yellow like him following the Tucks or hearing Jesse tell Winnie the whole story
about their immortality.
Point of View:
Appropriateness
Tuck Everlasting is told in third person point of view. I believe its appropriate because if the
story was told in first person in Winnies point of view for example, it would have been more
difficult telling what the man in yellow was all about because there were certain points in the
story that Winnie did not know that the man in yellow was involved in.
POV Enlarging/Limiting Horizon
I believe that the story does both. I think to be saved from confused the story is told in third
person, which could limit the readers horizon. But with the story being told in third person, the
reader gets the overall idea of everything and that is how it can enlarge the readers horizon.
Describe Characteristics of this text specific to the genre:
Fantasy Elements
The main element was fantasy that was brought into this story is the idea of immortality
and living forever. And that idea was grasped simply through drinking water from a spring.

How Has Author Made The Story Believable
The author has made the story believable by adding realistic and believable characters. I
believe that if the characters are well written, the story can be brought any which way that
the author chooses. Winnie accepts the fact that immortality exists so that makes the reader
want to believe too.

Logical And Consistent
The author set up the story very well. The framework was set by the timing and logical
happening of the events. I believe that the narration and the telling of the story is what
really makes the story flow.


Reflections:
I would bring this book to my classroom in a heartbeat. It was a really enjoyable read. I loved the
element of fantasy in the story. Even though it was technically an assigned reading, it did not feel
like it and it was great because I dont have much time to read for pleasure anymore.




















Your Name: Rachael Doyle Date: Week 6 Genre: Modern Fantasy
Literary Analysis
Bibliographic Information:
Baum, L. Frank. (2005).The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. New York: Sterling.
Plot:
Original And Fresh
I dont believe the plot is as original and fresh as it could be. It is in the fantasy genre and that in
itself is what the book is. It includes a whole different dimension filled with fantasy features and
imagination.
Well Constructed
The plot in this story is very well constructed. The story makes sense, there isnt any breaks or
confusion in the story. There is a strong beginning, middle and end to the story.
Setting:
Location
The story briefly takes place in Kansas, and that is how the story starts off. But for the majority,
the story takes place in an imaginary fantasy world called Oz.
Time
The author indicates time through the illustrations and the different obstacles Dorothy and her
friends face along their journey.
Theme:
Does The Story Have A Theme
The story has a theme of friendship, with the close bonds Dorothy makes along her journey and
her willingness to help them get their wishes granted as well. There a theme of home, that
regardless that Dorothy may be in this wonderful, magical place, she never forgets that her main
wish/want is to go back home to Kansas.
Motifs/Symbols To Intensify Meaning
There are symbols in this book that may or may not relate to the theme. Everyone knows of the
famous yellow brick road and I believe that that is a symbol of Oz itself. Everyone knows that
the yellow brick road is associated with the Wizard of Oz. Another one could possibly be
Dorothys slippers. They are really her only way of getting home and those keep her determined
in going home, regardless of how many distractions are along her path.

Characterization:
Strengths And Weaknesses
Its funny because what the scarecrow, lion and tin man see as their deficits or weaknesses, it is
actually their strongest characteristic trait. None of them see it though because they dont believe
in themselves. The scarecrow feels like he isnt smart because he doesnt have a brain, when he
is the smartest one of them all. The tin man doesnt have a heart when hes actually the most
caring. And lastly, the lion believes he doesnt have any courage when hes really rhe bravest of
them all.
Convincing and Credible
To me, the characters dont seem convincing and credible at all. I see it has a childrens story so
I find it difficult to take the characters seriously. Everything about the story seems childish, so
the moment that Dorothy killed the witch with a bucket of water was silly. Yes I take it as it is
because its a fantasy book, but its hard to find the characters convincing and credible when
they live in a fantasy world.

Style:
Appropriate
I find the style to be completely appropriate. The story shouldnt be kept serious. It should have a
more positive tone to it overall, that doesnt mean that you should cut out the negative emotions
altogether, but its good to have both to create a balance.
Author Creating Mood
The author definitely creates a fun, playful mood through the colorful language and illustrations,
especially of the yellow brick road and Emerald City. It is a fantasy world so its best to expect
the unexpected, whether you randomly run into a lion, a tin man or a scarecrow.
Point of View:
Appropriateness
There are way too many main characters in this story to where first person would be appropriate
so I think third person with the story was perfect. The purpose of the story is to entertain and I
think that third person point of view does it well with the overall effect and knowledge of the
characters.
POV Enlarging/Limiting Horizon
I believe that the story does both. I think to be saved from confused the story is told in third
person, which could limit the readers horizon. But with the story being told in third person, the
reader gets the overall idea of everything and that is how it can enlarge the readers horizon.
Describe Characteristics of this text specific to the genre:
Fantasy Elements
The big element of fantasy in this story was that the author created this whole entire world
and creates a story based off of it. The little details such as the evil and good witches,
flying monkeys and a talking head.

How Has Author Made The Story Believable
Because this story is so involved in a fantasy world, it is difficult to take the story seriously
when there is so much fiction involved. It is a good childrens tale but it is too fake for me
to believe any of it.

Logical And Consistent
The author set up the story nicely. The framework that the author set up by using Dorothys
journey as a guideline is a logical and consistent idea. If the plot line doesnt come together
full circle, the readers arent going to understand or enjoy the story.


Reflections:
This story seemed a little long and intense for a childrens tale. I believe it would be a good book
to bring into the classroom only because it has the fantasy element included and some students
need that to take a step back from the real world for a little bit.