Analysis
By Gina Park
The style of the writing is simple. A simply done, easy to follow, first person narrative that anyone could understand except for a few words here and there. The author gives a message through his passages, as if to say,
“This is real. This happened without any of you knowing it.”
Truth be told, the words seem to have a dark and dreary undertone as it goes further and further into the book without making you think it was an adult writing this story. The text stays true to the age and culture of the individuals at the time (i.e using words like ‘sissy’ or ‘crapes’) and makes the reader relate and not relate to it at the same time. The viewer, unless they were there, could not possibly understand the extent of the internal chaos the events the main character (Ishmael) goes through, yet with the wording makes sure that the readers can completely understand how he felt through his journey village to village.
With the extenuating circumstances and massive horrors of man’s actions, the writing style captures the intensity and essence of it all by simply saying how everything happened, and also included some future references:
“I extended my hand to Mohamed, but instead of shaking it, he leapt up and hugged me... He squeezed me hard, as if he knew it was goodbye forever. (After I left the center, Mambu went back to the front lines, because his family refused to take him in)” (Beah 180).
By adding in future references, the style makes departures and longings more tear jerking as the author’s friends are usually the ones in which he never sees again.
“This is real. This happened without any of you knowing it.”
Truth be told, the words seem to have a dark and dreary undertone as it goes further and further into the book without making you think it was an adult writing this story. The text stays true to the age and culture of the individuals at the time (i.e using words like ‘sissy’ or ‘crapes’) and makes the reader relate and not relate to it at the same time. The viewer, unless they were there, could not possibly understand the extent of the internal chaos the events the main character (Ishmael) goes through, yet with the wording makes sure that the readers can completely understand how he felt through his journey village to village.
With the extenuating circumstances and massive horrors of man’s actions, the writing style captures the intensity and essence of it all by simply saying how everything happened, and also included some future references:
“I extended my hand to Mohamed, but instead of shaking it, he leapt up and hugged me... He squeezed me hard, as if he knew it was goodbye forever. (After I left the center, Mambu went back to the front lines, because his family refused to take him in)” (Beah 180).
By adding in future references, the style makes departures and longings more tear jerking as the author’s friends are usually the ones in which he never sees again.
By Christine Seo
When Ishmael was separated from his friends, he continued walking and found himself in a forest with large, high trees and felt safe for the first time in months. When he ate an unfamiliar fruit and waited to see if it's poisonous, reminded him of his grandfather. His grandfather had once taught him his knowledge of herbal medicines from the forest and Ishmael regretted not learning how to survive in nature. This flashback tells that even in a hard situation, Ishmael still cares, thanks and thinks of his family. Although he is alone and barely has the energy to survive, his motivation for keep on going is due to his beloved family. Therefore, Ishmael can be known as a very thoughtful and warm character.