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Mckayla Irons

Mrs. Cramer

Collage Comp Pd.2

18December 2020

Symbolism in youre book? What!

Have you ever wondered what symbolism is or sounds like well, Tomi Adeyemi's novel

Children of Blood and Bone gives a detailed look at another culture made stronger by the use of

symbolism in both names and setting. The symbolism in this novel is on each and every page,

even if you don’t realize it. The names of characters in this book and not names you would hear

every day. Innumerable of these names have value to it. The settings in the novel are extremely

descriptive it feels like you're actually there. The main setting Orisha has such value to its name.

I know in today's world and society no one often experience this often but clans, groups or tribes

in ‘The children of Blood and Bones’ there are groups that make you who you are and become

also the way you live. This novel absolutely has tremendous symbolism and culture behind this

great story.

Most importantly in this Novel the symbolism is astonishing especially when it comes to

characters names. Even now days Names have meanings, maybe not the majority in American

culture, but quantities in other countries. Names sometimes even hold the person that the name is

given to up to a certain standard. For prime example in the novel the main character Zelie

Adebola. The name Zelie means saint. A saint is a extremely virtuous, kind, patient, and brave

person. Zelie matches up with her name perfectly. With the name that means saint Zelie upholds

the standard for her name, she is a strong, brave and charismatic soul.
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Certainly, if you read this novel you must think the main setting Orisha is a make-believe

place. Well, it depends in what you believe in actually. Orisha the main setting of this story is

related to nature and the gods above. This makes since because in the story there always talking

about the gods and how they want to please them. Lagos is the capital of Orisha and guess what

Lagos is a real place in Africa. This books setting is based in Africa and African culture. The

whole story is inspired by west Africa and its amazing culture.

Though, we don’t hear a great deal about tribes, groups and clans that does not mean that

there isn't any out there. Every character in this Novel belongs to a clan. The Clans determine

who you are and what you do. The clans in the story are Tamers, Maji, Eranko, Iku., and

divenders. Zelie is apart of the Iku clan and is also a divender this clan is mainly poor. And King

Saran rules over Orisha. King Saran killed Zelie’s mother and now is making Zelie’s life horrible

because of who she is. Even though its not her fault. This actually happens often in today's

society too. It doesn’t matter who you are it matters who you come from.

To conclude the novel ‘Children of Blood and Bone ‘has amazing African culture to this

Novel. Something someone can relate too. Symbolism is a wide variety. Anyone can find

symbolism in masses of concepts. In this story a great deal of the symbolism from this culture

come in names, places, and just how people in this book live. Symbolism is in every book you

just got to read to find out.

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Work cited

Adeyemi, Tomi. Children of Blood and Bone: fantasy fiction novel. New York: Henry Bolt, 2018. print