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Standing Alone. HUM 3285: Postmodern Adolescent Literature Spring 2012 Dr. Perdigao February 1, 2012. Revelations. Reality of death “‘We are all mortal’”; “‘We must all die someday’” (208) Representation of mother (200, 201) Fragmentation Hope for father’s escape, rewriting ending
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Standing Alone HUM 3285: Postmodern Adolescent Literature Spring 2012 Dr. Perdigao February 1, 2012
Revelations • Reality of death “‘We are all mortal’”; “‘We must all die someday’” (208) • Representation of mother (200, 201) • Fragmentation • Hope for father’s escape, rewriting ending • Trauma • Repression • Screaming (191-192, 199)
Surviving Adolescence? • Third annual questioning • Age 17? • Adam’s precarious placement at the novel’s end • Surviving adolescence, trapped within it, retreat to childhood • Perversion of MacLeod’s notion of the guide/guru in Brint “‘I am merely your guide to the past. I don’t direct you. In fact, I often follow where you lead’” (170). • Here, manipulation, power games
Deconstructing the Narrative • Narratives intersect between questions and narrative filled in (201) • Brint as Grey? • What Adam knows • Man “taller than ever” as Thompson/Grey? (201) • Gray pants • Does he suppress the knowledge that Brint wants?
Cycling, Circling Narratives • Retreating as journey on bike • Relationship between the narratives • Intersection of narratives when Whipper pushed him into the ditch, unresponsive (96-97) • Already has forgotten Amy and the phone calls when he returns to the bike (204) • Trapped inside the gates, enclosed system (205)
CLUE • First two letters of mystery novel as key: “‘I’ll show you a mystery novel in which the first two letters of the first word of the first chapter hold the secret to the book!’” (33). • Resolution with identified characters • Mr. Harvester, maintenance man=man at the gas station • Whipper, Dobbie, Lewis • Luke, switchboard operator=diner • Arthur, Junior Varney
Resolutions? • Asks what happened to his father, doesn’t know what happened (208) • Learns father is dead (208) • Dupont and the box • Keeps singing, finally finishes the song http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/farmer/song.htm • Pokey the Pig • Adam forgets identity, Paul, Adam Farmer, other name (210) • Only identifies as the cheese
Final Transcripts • File Data 865-01 • Subject A • Personnel #2222 • Department I-R • Witness #599-6 • Termination • Whether the knowledge is there, repressed, “psychological residue” (212) • His death as advisory, terminated or kept until he dies
Loopiness • Begins again • Mirrors chapter 1