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The Stone Boy

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Here both the author and narrator focus on the relationship of the two boys. ... One allusion found in this story is in the title itself, 'The Stone Boy' ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Stone Boy


1
The Stone Boy
By Gina Berriault
Presented by Ben Suen, India Brown and Savini
Santha
2
Summary
  • Arnold and his brother Eugie go down to the
    garden to pick peas for their family very early
    in the morning.
  • On their way to the garden, Arnolds gun gets
    caught on a wire as they crawl under a fence. The
    gun fires and Eugie is shot in the back of the
    head.
  • Arnold continues to go and pick the peas.
  • When the sun comes out, he goes home and tells
    his family that Eugie is dead.
  • While his father goes to get help, Arnold hides
    in the loft of the barn.
  • Arnold is taken to the courthouse to talk to the
    sheriff, who decides that he is just a reasonable
    and cruel boy.
  • Later that night people from the town come to pay
    their respects.
  • After they leave Arnold goes to bed, but is
    awoken by his father going outside.
  • He then decides to go and confide in his mom, who
    tells him to go back to bed .
  • The next morning he takes over his brothers
    chores.
  • Arnold is left feeling undeserving.

3
Characters
  • Arnold
  • Young innocent
  • Easily influenced
  • Kills Eugie
  • Appears emotionless
  • Eugie
  • Older brother
  • Mature appearance
  • Confident
  • Killed by Arnold
  • Sheriff
  • Tells everyone that Arnold is a reasonable and
    cruel kid.
  • Decides to let the boy go home.
  • Uncle Andy
  • Favored Eugie
  • Drew attention to Arnold
  • Went with Arnold to the sheriffs office

4
Significance of the Title
  • The significance of this title is that
    throughout the story Arnold began to be portrayed
    as emotionless like a stone.

5
How the story is told
  • An anonymous narration
  • Told through a third person point of view.
  • Not a character
  • Tone emotionless neutral
  • Reliable narrator?
  • Yes, because the narrator is unbiased, since he
    or she is not a character, and tells the story
    how it happens.

6
Opening and Ending
  • Opening The two boys wake up while its still
    very dark and cold to pick peas.
  • Here both the author and narrator focus on the
    relationship of the two boys.
  • Ending Arnold is seen as apart from his family
    and he leaves to do one of his brothers old jobs.
  • Here the author and narrator continue to focus on
    the connection between the two brothers.
  • They also focus on how Arnold emotionally and
    psychologically feels toward his family.

7
Arnolds Transformation
  • In the beginning, Arnold is a typical 9-year old
    boy, who looks up to his older brother and wants
    to be just like him.
  • He also is very caring he would make himself
    uncomfortable by standing next to his mother in
    the hot kitchen.
  • But in the end, he turns into a emotionless boy,
    who feels like he doesnt deserve to be treated
    like a part of his family anymore.
  • He turns into the person the sheriff had
    initially accused him of being.

8
Themes
  • Major Themes
  • Dont conform to societys views of who you are
    or who you should be
  • Minor Themes
  • Dont judge a book by its cover.
  • Your family will always be there for you, no
    matter what you do.

9
Allusions
  • One allusion found in this story is in the title
    itself, The Stone Boy
  • This can be alluded to centuries ago, when people
    were stoned for their immoral crimes.

10
Symbols
  • The color gray found throughout the story
  • Gray sweater, pale sky, gray almost white sky,
    etc
  • This symbolizes sadness and lifelessness.
  • Also links back to the stone.
  • The reason why Arnold finally decides to go
    home
  • It was the warmth on his back, like a large hand
    laid firmly there, that made him raise his head.
    Way up the slope the gray farm was struck by the
    sun. (386)
  • -here the hand can symbolize either God or
    Eugie, telling Arnold that he must go home
  • -also, the warmth of the hand, can feel like a
    comfort to him, as if Eugies saying its okay.

11
Authors Goal/Purpose
  • People react to powerful events in their own way.
  • Therefore we should accept everyones way of
    dealing with these events, rather than judging or
    criticizing them.
  • Also, your family will always be there for you no
    matter what.

12
Our Reaction
  • Our reaction to the story was that it was very
    sad and shocking.
  • Also, it was a little confusing, especially at
    the point when Eugie was shot.
  • We believe that the author did achieve his goal,
    because if the readers dont feel sad or
    sympathetic for Arnold, then they dont really
    understand the purpose for the story.
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