Literary Analysis 1
Summary:
Tahereh Mafi’s Defy Me Novel, the fifth book of the Shatter Me Series, started the book off by explaining the cliffhanger from the previous book. The leading female character, Juliette, also known as Ella, did not have her own point of view like the usual until later on. As well as the leading male character, Warner, also known as Aaron, for they have been captured during a chaos of mass murder caused by Juliette or the government. As they focus on solving what caused the chaos and where the leading characters are taken to, the rest of the characters are forced to evacuate. Before evacuating, they came to a conclusion and realised that they don’t know much about which reality is real. That is, therefore, one of the main points to remember as a reader read. Towards the end, the characters have found out what they called their “second chance at peace”, and Mafi uses Aaron’s birthday as a way to end the book on a happy note.
Theme:
The theme of the novel, or the entire series in general, is that love shall conquer all that comes the way of characters. That despite the memory erasing and near to death experiences, Ella and Aaron would, no matter what, fall in love with each other.
Author’s Morning:
Tahereh Mafi’s tone, I believe, would be a dark humorous tone and would always be enthusiastic of some sort. As I thought of her tone, I imagined her waking up on a bright morning caused by the sunlight passing through her white cotton curtains, drinking her morning homemade latte with a beagle or a sunny side up with two strips of bacon. Mafi would be surrounded by her happy family, laughing and joking around, the widest sincere smile plastered on her beautiful face. Small and simple happy moments with her friends and loved ones on a nice morning is what would calm her mind, I think. I assumed those imaginations because of the bickering scenes the characters would have in the book, although the timing is off. As for the peacefulness in my imagination, they were created due to the chase for peace the characters experienced and are still experiencing. However, good times come with bad times, and of course authors would have their bad and stressful days. Mafi would probably lock herself in the office, eyes glued to her journal or laptop.
Literary Techniques:
In strengthening my understanding of the tone Tahereh Mafi had, I was able to use the techniques of diction, imagery, and repetition. As for being able to understand the theme of the book, I used the techniques of looking for flashbacks and allusion.
Diction:
“We have to go— now—” (Mafi 04) The hyphens that would mean cutting off a thought.
“No matter what happens, no matter where I run, these screams— her screams— will haunt me forever.” (Mafi 213) She also uses hyphens to interrupt a thought and comment in a thought.
“‘It means absolutely not. That girl is done. She’s gone.’” (Mafi 203) Using the italics to emphasise a phrase a word, creating a stronger impact to the readers.
Imagery:
“I feel both ill and enraged.” (Mafi 203) A clear emphasis on the emotion and description of the feeling and possible look Aaron would have.
“Her body spasms, her arms and legs jerking uncontrollably.” (Mafi 211) A harsh and violent scene of the way Ella’s body reacted to the torture.
“Her tongue and teeth disintegrated. Her vocal cords eroded. Her mouth sealed permanently shut.” (Mafi 224) A small part of the simple detailed imagery of Emmaline’s body deteriorating.
Repetition:
“Run. I go still. RUN.” (Mafi 193) Emmaline constantly telling Ella to run as a way of force.
“Out. Dying. Help.” (Mafi 194-195) A repeated call for notice in different words, and italic.
“Ella Ella Ella Ella.” (Mafi 181) Aaron, his crave and desperation to find and remind himself to remember Ella is emphasised through repetition.
Flashback:
“I focus my thoughts, homing in on the memory— bright lights, muffled footsteps, the sound of my own voice asking my father a question and then, painfully—” (Mafi 183) Aaron forces himself to remember the memories swiped from his mind by his father, Anderson, finding answers.
“I thought of nightmares. Hallucinations, even. But now I know. Now it seems impossible to deny.” (Mafi 176) Aaron realising that the flashbacks he’d get while he’s sleeping or awake aren’t hallucinations nor nightmares, but they are memories.
“Me and Emmeline, first trip on a plane. Me and Emmeline, learning to swim. Me and Emmeline, getting our hair cut.” (Mafi 116) Ella’s memories swarming back into her mind and finding out that she had a sibling with the readers of the book.
Allusion:
“He looks ethereal. Glowing, like he might be an angel.” (Mafi 199) Aaron “complimenting” the visual of his father to be looking like an angel may be an allusion that Anderson is better looking as an angel than a living thing.
“You fool. Have you not been listening to me? She’s gone.” (Mafi 210) Anderson can mean death or mean that Ella’s memories will once again be erased, therefore, become a new person.
“A profound, painful ache has rooted inside of me, carrying with it the weight of years.” (Mafi 237) Aaron is reminiscing the emotional pain of not being with Ella, constantly having memories of her being wiped from his mind all throughout the years.
Tahereh Mafi’s Defy Me Novel, the fifth book of the Shatter Me Series, started the book off by explaining the cliffhanger from the previous book. The leading female character, Juliette, also known as Ella, did not have her own point of view like the usual until later on. As well as the leading male character, Warner, also known as Aaron, for they have been captured during a chaos of mass murder caused by Juliette or the government. As they focus on solving what caused the chaos and where the leading characters are taken to, the rest of the characters are forced to evacuate. Before evacuating, they came to a conclusion and realised that they don’t know much about which reality is real. That is, therefore, one of the main points to remember as a reader read. Towards the end, the characters have found out what they called their “second chance at peace”, and Mafi uses Aaron’s birthday as a way to end the book on a happy note.
Theme:
The theme of the novel, or the entire series in general, is that love shall conquer all that comes the way of characters. That despite the memory erasing and near to death experiences, Ella and Aaron would, no matter what, fall in love with each other.
Author’s Morning:
Tahereh Mafi’s tone, I believe, would be a dark humorous tone and would always be enthusiastic of some sort. As I thought of her tone, I imagined her waking up on a bright morning caused by the sunlight passing through her white cotton curtains, drinking her morning homemade latte with a beagle or a sunny side up with two strips of bacon. Mafi would be surrounded by her happy family, laughing and joking around, the widest sincere smile plastered on her beautiful face. Small and simple happy moments with her friends and loved ones on a nice morning is what would calm her mind, I think. I assumed those imaginations because of the bickering scenes the characters would have in the book, although the timing is off. As for the peacefulness in my imagination, they were created due to the chase for peace the characters experienced and are still experiencing. However, good times come with bad times, and of course authors would have their bad and stressful days. Mafi would probably lock herself in the office, eyes glued to her journal or laptop.
Literary Techniques:
In strengthening my understanding of the tone Tahereh Mafi had, I was able to use the techniques of diction, imagery, and repetition. As for being able to understand the theme of the book, I used the techniques of looking for flashbacks and allusion.
Diction:
“We have to go— now—” (Mafi 04) The hyphens that would mean cutting off a thought.
“No matter what happens, no matter where I run, these screams— her screams— will haunt me forever.” (Mafi 213) She also uses hyphens to interrupt a thought and comment in a thought.
“‘It means absolutely not. That girl is done. She’s gone.’” (Mafi 203) Using the italics to emphasise a phrase a word, creating a stronger impact to the readers.
Imagery:
“I feel both ill and enraged.” (Mafi 203) A clear emphasis on the emotion and description of the feeling and possible look Aaron would have.
“Her body spasms, her arms and legs jerking uncontrollably.” (Mafi 211) A harsh and violent scene of the way Ella’s body reacted to the torture.
“Her tongue and teeth disintegrated. Her vocal cords eroded. Her mouth sealed permanently shut.” (Mafi 224) A small part of the simple detailed imagery of Emmaline’s body deteriorating.
Repetition:
“Run. I go still. RUN.” (Mafi 193) Emmaline constantly telling Ella to run as a way of force.
“Out. Dying. Help.” (Mafi 194-195) A repeated call for notice in different words, and italic.
“Ella Ella Ella Ella.” (Mafi 181) Aaron, his crave and desperation to find and remind himself to remember Ella is emphasised through repetition.
Flashback:
“I focus my thoughts, homing in on the memory— bright lights, muffled footsteps, the sound of my own voice asking my father a question and then, painfully—” (Mafi 183) Aaron forces himself to remember the memories swiped from his mind by his father, Anderson, finding answers.
“I thought of nightmares. Hallucinations, even. But now I know. Now it seems impossible to deny.” (Mafi 176) Aaron realising that the flashbacks he’d get while he’s sleeping or awake aren’t hallucinations nor nightmares, but they are memories.
“Me and Emmeline, first trip on a plane. Me and Emmeline, learning to swim. Me and Emmeline, getting our hair cut.” (Mafi 116) Ella’s memories swarming back into her mind and finding out that she had a sibling with the readers of the book.
Allusion:
“He looks ethereal. Glowing, like he might be an angel.” (Mafi 199) Aaron “complimenting” the visual of his father to be looking like an angel may be an allusion that Anderson is better looking as an angel than a living thing.
“You fool. Have you not been listening to me? She’s gone.” (Mafi 210) Anderson can mean death or mean that Ella’s memories will once again be erased, therefore, become a new person.
“A profound, painful ache has rooted inside of me, carrying with it the weight of years.” (Mafi 237) Aaron is reminiscing the emotional pain of not being with Ella, constantly having memories of her being wiped from his mind all throughout the years.
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