Analysis of Robert Cormiers We All fall Down and John N. Smiths Dangerous Minds.
Theme Technique Effect Quote
Lies, violence and family
Robert Cormier’s We All fall Down and John N. Smiths Dangerous Minds
Through the use of alternating points of view, juxtaposition, a variety of levels of language, sound, emotive words and dialogue.
Lies are conveyed in Cormier’s We All Fall Down through the use of alternating points of view. Such a technique engages the responder and creates greater understanding of why the characters felt the need to like. It also allows the responder to make their own decisions regarding whether or not the characters felt the need to lie. It also allows the responder to make their own decisions regarding whether or not the characters are being truthful. Use of alternating points of view enables the responder to have broader awareness of what is going on. There are still some elements of surprise and a sense of premonition which will keep the responder reading. As the story moves towards its climax the narratives begin to merge. In Cormier’s We All Fall Down Buddy felt the need to lie to Jane about his drinking ‘had to keep Jane from the knowledge of my drinking’. With the technique of alternating points of view, Cormier has explained Buddy’s true motives of lying ‘because the world is sometimes a rotten place and it takes all the rotten things away’ this makes the responder feel sympathy for Buddy. Dangerous Minds also portrays lies during juxtaposition. It is a result of juxtaposition that the responder is able to be informed of the lies created by the composer. After Ms. Johnson broke up the argument between Emilio and Raul she told the ‘if you give me your word that it ends here I’ll forget it’ they both replied with a yes. Juxtaposition was used following the scene as it showed Emilio and Raul engaged in a physical battle. This technique lets the responder feel empowered as the gain knowledge that Emilio and Raul had lied before Ms. Johnson does.
