Don't Call Me Ishmael - Themes and conflicts
Cerys Moore year 9
The use of narrative conventions in the novel, Don't Call Me Ishmael, written by the award winning author, Michael Gerarad Bauer teaches the reader many themes and conflicts that demonstrate lessons about everyday life, while referring and connecting to Moby Dick, through the use of inter-literary links and adding humour to the plot. Ishmael Leseur is a ninth grader, who self diagnosed himself with ‘Ishmael Leseur Syndrome’, which he claims there is no cure for. He says that this syndrome is so rare, that he is the only recorded case. Ismael Leseur Syndrome, causes him to be awkward and uncoordinated, creating some very embarrassing situations that he is stuck in. Durning the …show more content…
The reader is positioned to respond negatively to Barry Bagsley, the main antagonist of the novel. The use of point of view establishes a connection between the reader and the characters, as the reader is able to ‘hear’ Ishmael’s thoughts and the impact that the bullying has on him. This is visible throughout the whole novel. For example, in chapter 7, when Miss Tarango begins to explain how the name ‘Ishmael’ is quite famous in english literature, the reader is able to distinguish his thoughts and embarrassment towards this, through the use of first person point of view. Ishmael’s thoughts are clearly stated through the quote ‘What? Oh no. No, don't say it. Please don't say it. Just read the next name on the roll. Just forget about it and go on. Please.’, although he doesn't actually say this, just thinks it. This technique is used again on page 64, where Ishamels thoughts on Scobie standing up to Barry are displayed, ‘OK, listen to me now. I'm an expert in this field. This is what you do. Just pretend nothing happened. Mr Barker will be back soon. Forget about it. Just ignore it. And, whatever you do, don't turn around'. Further into the novel, Ishmael learns to stand up for himself and others. James Scobie triggers Ishmael to stand up to Barry, as James is the new, nerdy kid at school and Barry sees him at the perfect target, but James isn’t what Barry thought he
Cerys Moore year 9
The use of narrative conventions in the novel, Don't Call Me Ishmael, written by the award winning author, Michael Gerarad Bauer teaches the reader many themes and conflicts that demonstrate lessons about everyday life, while referring and connecting to Moby Dick, through the use of inter-literary links and adding humour to the plot. Ishmael Leseur is a ninth grader, who self diagnosed himself with ‘Ishmael Leseur Syndrome’, which he claims there is no cure for. He says that this syndrome is so rare, that he is the only recorded case. Ismael Leseur Syndrome, causes him to be awkward and uncoordinated, creating some very embarrassing situations that he is stuck in. Durning the …show more content…
The reader is positioned to respond negatively to Barry Bagsley, the main antagonist of the novel. The use of point of view establishes a connection between the reader and the characters, as the reader is able to ‘hear’ Ishmael’s thoughts and the impact that the bullying has on him. This is visible throughout the whole novel. For example, in chapter 7, when Miss Tarango begins to explain how the name ‘Ishmael’ is quite famous in english literature, the reader is able to distinguish his thoughts and embarrassment towards this, through the use of first person point of view. Ishmael’s thoughts are clearly stated through the quote ‘What? Oh no. No, don't say it. Please don't say it. Just read the next name on the roll. Just forget about it and go on. Please.’, although he doesn't actually say this, just thinks it. This technique is used again on page 64, where Ishamels thoughts on Scobie standing up to Barry are displayed, ‘OK, listen to me now. I'm an expert in this field. This is what you do. Just pretend nothing happened. Mr Barker will be back soon. Forget about it. Just ignore it. And, whatever you do, don't turn around'. Further into the novel, Ishmael learns to stand up for himself and others. James Scobie triggers Ishmael to stand up to Barry, as James is the new, nerdy kid at school and Barry sees him at the perfect target, but James isn’t what Barry thought he