Big Differences
Our first two books this year focused on young adults coming of age in 20th century America, which makes this month's book--The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck--a dramatic departure.
We'll be discussing The Good Earth at our next meeting on November 2nd.
While we're still dealing with the 20th century (for the most part: the action of the book takes place between the 1890s and the 1930s), we're shifting from contemporary U.S. settings to pre-revolutionary China. We're also shifting from the American middle class, where teenagers have cars and carpeted bedrooms, to a rural Chinese farming life where thatch huts and dirt floors are the norm, and a family's circumstances can shift from abundance to poverty with one bad harvest.
The point of view in The Good Earth is different as well, with a somewhat detached 3rd person narrator relating the details of Wang Lung's life--whether they involve fortune or famine, success or failure--in an even, fairly unemotional tone and with simple language reminiscent of a fable or parable. (This style of writing is common in much of the Chinese literature Buck would have read growing up, and it has inspired comparisons between Buck's novel and the Bible.)
So, prepare yourself for something completely different this time around . . . and enjoy it. I think the thing that amazes me the most about this book each time I read it is its timelessness. Though it was published in 1931 (and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932, incidentally), it is still relevant today--more than 80 years later. That's most likely due to the themes it addresses, which brings us to your assignment.
Your Assignment: Working with Themes
We've talked a bit about themes this year, and I always say that while things like "love," "money," or "freedom" can be the basis for themes, in order to figure out the themes of a specific book, we have to figure out what the author seems to be communicating about these ideas. For instance, while "love" was definitely addressed in Red Ruby Heart, I would say the overall theme with regard to love is: "Love endures."
Similarly, in The Chocolate War, there's plenty of fear to go around, but instead of saying fear is a theme, I'd be more inclined to express it in one of the following ways:
Fear can motivate people to do things they otherwise might not.
OR
When people allow themselves to be ruled by fear, they become paralyzed.
See what I mean? You could probably come up with more fear-based theme statements regarding the boys of Trinity, but that would be soooo September. Instead, take a look below at some of the topics that I think are the basis for themes in The Good Earth.
- the earth
- wealth
- women
- morality
Choose one of these and do two things with it:
1. Make a statement that reflects what the author seems to be communicating about that topic, thereby expressing it as a true theme.
AND
2. List several instances in the book (write down page numbers, too!) that demonstrate that theme.
If this makes sense, great--go for it. If you're not sure what I'm asking you to do, comment on this post, and I (or someone else) will attempt to clarify.
If you come up with another theme topic, feel free to use it, and remember--there is no one right answer for any of these. Just make sure you can provide evidence to demonstrate your theme at work in the book.
Good luck, and I'll see you on the 2nd!
