A main idea of Animal Dreams is that Codi is physically returning home. Codi has never felt emotionally secure, and her journey in the story is to actually feel "at home" for the first time in her life. Discuss what Kingsolver believes about finding your true self by analyzing three things (people, objects, places or ideas) that help Codi “come home” and “find herself.”
Literary analysis goes beyond summarizing the plot and also discusses theme and style. The theme (or main lesson about life the reader learns from the book) should be discussed throughout the entire essay in the thesis statement, paragraph topic sentences and other analytical statements in the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. In addition, the best essays will discuss the connection between the finding self theme and Barbara Kingsolver’s use of symbolism and characterization in the novel.
Essay Checklist
____ I have completed two multi-flow maps in my notebook that analyze the causes and effects of Codi coming home, both literally and thematically. I have reviewed these maps for ideas for my essay.
____ I have a completed an A to Z Taxonomy on “Search for Self” in my notebook, and I have reviewed that taxonomy for ideas on theme and symbolism.
____ My essay is at least two pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, with one inch margins.
____ I have included a creative title for my essay.
____ My introduction paragraph has an attention-grabbing device like an anecdote or relevant quotation.
____ The book’s title and author is incorporated into a general statement in the introduction or my thesis statement
____ The thesis statement sets up the theme of finding self. If you are struggling with writing a thesis statement, consider the following metacognitive frame: Barbara Kingsolver teaches the reader of Animal Dreams that to truly find self a person needs ____________, _______________, and _____________, and these ideas are enhanced by Kingsolver’s use of ____(insert symbolism and/or characterization ideas here)____________.
____ The body paragraphs have clear topic sentences.
____ Body paragraphs include analysis of the point Kingsolver is making about finding self.
____ Analytical statements are supported with direct quotations from the novel.
____ MLA format is used to cite all direct quotations, e.g. (Kingsolver 24).
____ The conclusion leaves the reader with a lasting impression by commenting on the relevance of the topics for the reader’s life. In other words, why do we care about finding our true selves?
____ The typed and nearly-completed essay is brought to class on Monday, September 29 for a graded peer review assignment.
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My questions: I need help for a creative title, if my topic sentences are okay, and if my quotations are in the right place.
By: Britta Halvorson
Hour: 4
Codi’s search for self
In the book Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver, Kingsolver believes that Codi finds herself through knowing where you belong, having someone to love you unconditionally, and learning to become confident. These ideas are enhanced by Kingsolver’s use of Peacocks, Loyd, and the kidnapping of Hallie.
Firstly, Kingsolver believes that Codi finds herself through peacocks. She finds herself through peacocks because they represent that no matter where you are you can always have a home and find belonging. For example, Codi travels all over the world to find a home in numerous places but, most of all, she becomes attached to her hometown, just like the peacocks. Another example is when she tells the Stitch and Bitch Club that Grace could be saved if the water was cleaned up instead of dammed up, they decide to raise money and awareness of the issue by selling their local craft, peacock piñatas. A quote to show this is, “By the time they were back in Grace on the last evening bus, I was later informed, the Stitch and Bitch club had already laid plans to come back in 10 days with 500 peacock piñatas. There would only be two deviations from the original plan. First, each piñata would be accompanied by a written history of Grace and it’s heroic struggle against the Black Mountain Mining Company. To my shock I was elected, in absentia, to write this epic broadside and get it mimeographed at the school” (Kingsolver 195). The main importance of this quote is to show that Codi still thinks of herself as an outsider to Grace, but everyone else sees her as a member of the community, just like the peacocks.
Secondly, Kingsolver believes that Codi finds herself through Loyd. She finds herself through Loyd. She finds herself through Loyd because in life you need someone to love you unconditionally. “I like you a lot. A real, whole lot. You buy that? I’ll buy it. Just don’t try to sell me no knife birds. He looked me straight into my eyes. I’m serious Codi. Okay, I said. Sold” (Kingsolver 132). This quote shows that Loyd truly cares about Codi’s well being unlike Carlos. Another example is when Loyd takes Codi to see his mother because it means that he wants her to be in his life for a long time to come, not like a temporary fling. That also shows that Loyd has unconditional love for Codi.
Lastly, Kingsolver believes that Codi finds herself through the kidnapping of Hallie. She finds herself through the kidnapping of Hallie because she needs to lose the attachment to Hallie to step out from her shadow to become herself. “I was getting a dim comprehension of the difference between Hallie and me. It wasn’t a matter of courage or dreams, but something a whole lot simpler. A pilot would call it ground orientation. I’d spent a long time circling above the clouds, looking for life, while Hallie was living it” (Kingsolver 225). This quote shows that Codi realizes that she never took initiative over her life while Hallie did a while back. “Listen, I know how this is. You don’t think you’ll live past it. And you don’t really. The person you were is gone, but the half of you that’s still alive wakes up one day and takes over again” (Kingsolver 309). This quote explains that Codi knows that she has to let go of her loss and that in the near future, she will learn to become a confident person.
These ideas are important because all people should belong to a community, everyone should have unconditional love to get them through good and bad times, and everyone should have the right to be a self-confident and emulous person.
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