Sharon Creech
Embark on a captivating journey with “Walk Two Moons”! This enchanting novel by Sharon Creech follows Salamanca Tree Hiddle as she unravels the mysteries of her own life. Through the use of a journal, a road trip, and her vivid imagination, Salamanca’s tale intertwines with the story of her friend, Phoebe Winterbottom. Discover the magic of self-discovery and friendship in this compelling coming-of-age narrative.
Themes 📚
- Loss and Grief: The novel delves into the emotional journey of dealing with loss and grief, as Salamanca copes with the disappearance of her mother and grapples with her feelings of sorrow and longing.
- Identity and Self-Discovery: Salamanca embarks on a quest to uncover her true identity and understand her place in the world. Through her encounters and experiences, she navigates the complexities of self-discovery and learns to embrace her own unique identity.
- Friendship and Support: The importance of friendship and support is emphasized throughout the narrative. Salamanca finds solace and strength in her friendships, particularly with her friend Phoebe, as they navigate life’s challenges together.
- Family Dynamics: The novel explores different family dynamics, including the complexities of parent-child relationships and the impact of family history on individual lives. It delves into themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and the significance of family bonds.
- Perception and Judgment: “Walk Two Moons” explores the power of perception and the dangers of making hasty judgments about others. It encourages readers to look beyond surface appearances, empathize with others’ experiences, and challenge preconceived notions.
- Coming of Age: The novel is a coming-of-age story, chronicling Salamanca’s growth and maturation as she grapples with life’s challenges and discovers her own resilience, resilience, and inner strength.
Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽
- Symbolism: The author employs symbolism throughout the novel, such as the blackberry bushes, which represent the sweetness and bitterness of life, and the moon, which symbolizes the journey and the search for answers.
- Foreshadowing: Sharon Creech skillfully uses foreshadowing to hint at future events, building anticipation and suspense. Examples include Sal’s obsession with a lunatic and the mysterious messages left on Phoebe’s doorstep.
- Imagery: The author paints vivid pictures with her words, creating powerful images that engage the reader’s senses and evoke emotions. Through detailed descriptions of landscapes, emotions, and experiences, the story comes to life.
- Metaphor: Metaphors are used to convey deeper meanings and connections. For instance, Sal compares her mother’s disappearance to the “chicken and egg” dilemma, illustrating the complexity of understanding her mother’s motivations.
- Flashbacks: The narrative incorporates flashbacks, allowing the reader to delve into the past experiences of the characters. This technique adds layers to the storytelling, revealing important details and shaping the characters’ development.
- Irony: Irony is employed throughout the novel to create contrasts and highlight contradictions. One example is Sal’s perception of Mrs. Winterbottom, which undergoes a significant shift as the truth is revealed.
- Parallelism: The author establishes parallel storylines and situations, drawing parallels between characters and their experiences. This technique highlights similarities and underscores important themes in the novel.
- Allusion: Sharon Creech includes allusions to other literary works and historical events, adding depth and resonance to the narrative. References to “Romeo and Juliet” and the story of Pandora’s box enhance the reader’s understanding and connection to the story.
- Characterization: The author uses characterization to bring the characters to life, providing insights into their personalities, motivations, and relationships. Through dialogue, actions, and inner thoughts, the characters become multi-dimensional and relatable.
- Narrative Structure: The novel’s narrative structure, with Sal recounting her story to her grandparents during a road trip, adds layers of complexity to the plot. It creates a framing device that allows for reflection, introspection, and a deeper exploration of the themes.
Examples of Literary Devices 📋
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?” (Chapter 1) | This question foreshadows the significant life events that the protagonist Salamanca will experience in the story. |
| “I prayed that we would not be in an accident (I was terrified of cars and buses), and that we would get there by my mother’s birthday—seven days away—and that we would bring my mother home.” (Chapter 2) | This sets the reader up for the journey and the urgency of getting to Sal’s mother by her birthday, hinting there’s more to the story about her mother. |
| “Everyone has his own agenda.” (Chapter 6) | This suggests that each character will have their own motivations and actions that impact the story. |
2. Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “‘This ain’t no ordinary chicken,’ Gram said.” (Chapter 6) | The “blackberries” in the story symbolize moments of sweetness amidst life’s trials and difficulties. |
| “We drove over the Missouri River, which we had to do to get out of Nebraska. It was a big river, wide and brown and moving swiftly.” (Chapter 9) | The Missouri River symbolizes the journey and change, the constant movement in life. |
| “They never found him. They never found any trace of him.” (Chapter 27) | The unsolved disappearance of Sal’s friend’s father represents the unexplained loss and mystery in life. |
3. Metaphors
Metaphors are a figure of speech that make a comparison between two things that are basically dissimilar.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “Gram and Gramps wanted to see Momma, who was resting peacefully in Lewiston, Idaho.” (Chapter 1) | The phrase “resting peacefully” is a metaphor for Sal’s mother being dead and buried. |
| “That’s what I’m doing—chasing the clouds.” (Chapter 2) | This metaphor represents Sal’s journey to find her mother and the truth. |
| “I am not as light as a bird, and I have not feathers. I am a heavy rock, a boulder, a mountain.” (Chapter 41) | This metaphor shows Sal’s feeling of being burdened by her grief and loss. |
FAQs 💭
What are some examples of symbolism in the novel?
Examples of symbolism in “Walk Two Moons” include the blackberry bushes, representing the sweetness and bitterness of life, and the moon, symbolizing the journey and the search for answers.
How does the author use foreshadowing in the story?
Sharon Creech employs foreshadowing to hint at future events, building anticipation and suspense. Examples include Sal’s obsession with a lunatic and the mysterious messages left on Phoebe’s doorstep.
Can you provide some instances of vivid imagery in the book?
The author uses vivid imagery to bring the story to life. Descriptions of landscapes, emotions, and experiences create powerful images that engage the reader’s senses. Examples include the portrayal of nature and the detailed depictions of Sal’s emotional journey.
What metaphors are used in “Walk Two Moons”?
Metaphors are employed to convey deeper meanings and connections. For instance, Sal compares her mother’s disappearance to the “chicken and egg” dilemma, illustrating the complexity of understanding her mother’s motivations.
How does the author use flashbacks in the narrative?
The narrative incorporates flashbacks to delve into the past experiences of the characters, adding depth to the storytelling. Flashbacks reveal important details and shape the characters’ development, providing a fuller understanding of their motivations.
What examples of irony can be found in the book?
How does the author use parallelism in the story?
Sharon Creech establishes parallel storylines and situations, drawing connections between characters and their experiences. This technique highlights similarities and underscores important themes in the novel.