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WRITING STYLE
Alternative First Person Accounts
This is August’s story, but it actually consists of six
different characters telling their versions of it in first
person: Part 1 (p 1): August; Part 2 (p 80) Via; Part 3
(p 118) Summer; Part 4 (p 133) Jack; Part 5 (p 186)
Justin; Part 6 (p 205) August; Part 7 (p 235) Miranda:
Part 8 (p 249) August.
Such alternating accounts offer an interesting
perspective on the action, and in this case, make this
a more subtle and complex rendering of the trauma
August has endured as a result of his genetic
deformity. The first person voice always lends an
empathy and an immediacy to the action, since the
reader is given insight into the feelings of those
involved in a series of events. But here we are also
offered the perspectives of others who have suffered
as a result of August’s affliction as well. Everyone
has a story ... and everyone has issues.
Activities
1. Within these parts, there are a number of
sections told in different types of literary
text. For example, The chapter headed
‘Letters, Emails, Facebook, Texts (pp 160-7)
includes Jack’s letters of apology to Mr
Tushman and Julian; Mr Tushman’s reply; a
letter to Mr Tushman by Julian’s mother
(Melissa Perper Albans); Mr Tushman’s reply
to her; John and Amanda Will’s reply to
Melissa Albans; messages between Jack and
Auggie. Discuss the use of such different
forms and how they enhance the framing
first person narrative.
2. Justin’s Part Five is written entirely without
capitals for sentences (pp 186-204). Why do
you think this is?
3. Re-write a section in the novel in Mr
Tushman’s voice.
4. Until the end of the novel, we don’t know
why Miranda has been acting the way she
has. Write a chapter in Ella’s voice and try to
imagine a scenario which has made her turn
away from Via.
5. Verse novels offer a very immediate form of
personal writing. Write a sequence in the
novel as if it is a poem in a verse novel.
(Study some contemporary verse novels in
order to prepare for this exercise.)
Questions
1. Why do we not hear from either of Auggie’s
parents? Listen to RJ Palacio’s interview
with Chip Kidd (listed above) after you have
answered this question.
2. Which other character in Auggie’s class
would you like to have heard from?
Literary Devices and Symbols
This novel employs a range of literary devices and
symbols to cement themes. Devices such as simile,
metaphor and personification are used to describe
things in a more obtuse way than is possible when
using literal language or description. Symbols can
also be used to denote something in a more
suggestive fashion. Some of the various types of
literary language used in this novel are discussed in
the points below.
Activities
1. Part Two is Via’s view of the situation. It opens
with a quote from David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’
and then a chapter headed ‘A Tour of the
Galaxy’, and continues to employ metaphors of
space and planets to describe the family
situation. She suggests that Auggie is the sun
and that she and her parents are like planets
revolving around him. She ends by saying: ‘The
galaxy is changing. The planets are falling out of
alignment.’ (p 83) How does the use of such
metaphor enrich the reader’s understanding of
this situation? Would it have been less effective
if she had simply described her home life in
completely realistic terms?
2. Mr Browne’s ‘Precepts’ are discussed (pp 45, 48).
On p 65 Auggie writes a piece on being
remembered for the things we do. Invite
students to write a piece based on this, or any
other precept included in the book. On p 288,
Mr Browne writes his last precept at the end of
term, and on pp 311-13 the precepts are listed
and also the postcards that kids send Mr Browne
over the break. Write a postcard to Mr Browne
containing your favourite precept.
3. Part Three opens with a quote from Christian
Aguilera’s song ‘Beautiful’. Part Seven quotes
