We The Animals By Justin Torres: Chapter Analysis

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Recommended: Novel analysis - We The Animals

As best stated by writer Paul Auster, “the truth of the story lies in the details.” When it comes to novels, the reader must partake in a close reading to get to the nitty gritty of what the author and/or characters of that novel are trying to say. We The Animals, by Justin Torres, is the perfect example of such a novel. There were endless messages throughout the novel linking story lines to one another from beginning to end. However, it is not easy for the reader to understand such details because Torres constantly withholds information from the audience. Torres did not want to easily give up the information; instead he would leave clues for the reader to pick up on. I had to re-read the novel over and over to understand the meanings behind the story. In particular, the chapter “Heritage” caught my attention. This chapter unveiled the true meaning of the word identity to the main characters, also know as the brothers. The …show more content…

Torres used specific words to convey the emotions of how the boys felt concerning their heritage; the boys felt as if they were outside of the loop. Therefore, they did not know what they belonged to or where they fit in. Their physical traits did not match up with the culture that they were trying to identify with –the Hispanic heritage. Yet, they wanted to find a way to belong. Furthermore, the theme also contributed to the identity aspect of the characters. Through their diction, readers, like myself, were able to draw important subject matters. In addition to word choice and themes, Torres applied various amounts of literary devices to drive his messages home, consequently enabling readers to understand the point of the passage, without giving up more information than needed. Close reading this particular passage gave me a better appreciation for what authors write, how they interpret their emotions, and how they execute their

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