SYMBOLISM / MOTIFS / METAPHORS / IMAGERY / SYMBOLS

Another element that is very dominant in this novel is that of a motif or a recurring thematic element used in the development of a literary or artistic work. There are three motifs in this novel.

The first is that of faith or as Dad always says, Have I ever let you down?

1. Whenever Dad feels that his children lose faith in him, he asks them, Have I ever let you down?

2. Right after he tells Jeannette that he is dying, he asks, Have I ever let you down and then grins, because he knows and she knows what the answer is.

The second motif is that of order and turbulence.

Some examples include:

1. After Jeannette and Brian have blown up.........

The complete study guide is currently available as a downloadable PDF, RTF, or MS Word DOC file from the PinkMonkey MonkeyNotes download store. The complete study guide contains summaries and notes for all of the chapters; detailed analysis of the themes, plot structure, and characters; important quotations and analysis; detailed analysis of symbolism, motifs, and imagery; a key facts summary; detailed analysis of the use of foreshadowing and irony; a multiple-choice quiz, and suggested book report ideas and essay topics.