- - - Explain how Clavell uses allegory in The Children's Story. Those unfamiliar with the literary device "allegory" would be well served to look it up.
- - - What is the main theme of the story and how does Clavell deliver his theme? Remember to support your response with examples from text.
- - - Why is this short story called, The Children's Story?
Clavell uses allegory in, The Children's Story, to hide the motive of the author to display the theme. The author hides a greater meaning in a child's text, so the audience must search for the true meaning. Clavell displays this meaning when a teacher is able to convince her class that everything they have grown up knowing, family, religion, and country, has been taught to them wrong and what she believes is right.The real meaning of this is to display the concept that high government leaders do this to an uneducated society. Clavell is able to display allegory throughout the whole short story.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of, The Children's Story, is that when a society begins to not question things and follow the leader, they become vulnerable. This is shown throughout the whole story. The children do not question what the teacher is saying about life, and it allows for the children to fall into her trap. In society this happens when the citizens don't question how the government acts and then leads to failure. The importance of the boy Jonny speaking up is that in order for society to cooperate as the people want, they must speak out when they think its wrong, even if its not the normal thing to do. It is also important to realize that when a group, or in the story's instinct a boy named Jonny, is given a form of power it gives them the urge to turn their head and let it go when they see someone doing something wrong.
The short story is called, The Children's Story, because it is a story about children, and if the children of today don't speak up against the wrong in society, it will be their failure, and story, later in life. Since the children in the story don't speak up against what the teacher is saying they are allowing for her to be in control of what they believe. This is the same idea as a society as a whole because unless the people demand change now, their society will fall apart.
Clavell uses allegory in many ways throughout the story. For example, he sets the story in more modern times in a classroom full of regular students. At the beginning he has a "bad" teacher preparing to leave them as a "good" teacher takes her place. The "good" teacher begins to teach the children quickly her beliefs and what to think and how to think. And how she is the superior to the "bad" teacher. This is to show how easily young minds can be molded and shaped into society's grip. Kind of like how Hitler back in W.W.2 to his followers.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of the story is how the young minds of today can be dangerous to the future. Young minds can change in a heart beat. First the children in the classroom were against this new strange teacher but since she knows each and everyone of the students names she becomes a god to them. Also how persuavive and vedictive she was. She single handedly made the children feel it was ok to stop trusting their parent, not to pray anymore, and even cut their own country's flag to pieces. If any teacher was like that now just imagine what he or she could do the world. That teacher could very easily become the next great dictator of the world with nobody to stop him or her.
Its called "The Children's Story" because of the theme of the story. How childrens mind can be bad for the future. How they can be shaped and molded into something horrible.
Clavell uses allegory in The Children's Story by using simple text but developing a deeper meaning within the subtext. Within the subtext, Clavell brings topics such as freedom, religion and American patriotism to the reader's attention. If read carefully, the New Teacher asks the students questions that are the foundation for the allegories in the subtext.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of the story is if you are not firm in what you believe (religion, why you pledge your allegiance to the American flag, etc.), then you will surely crumble and let other people's beliefs become your own. The children of the class did not know why they said the Pledge of Allegiance and they were susceptible to believing what ever the New Teacher told them. Johnny had always prayed but only did because his parents told him. When the New Teacher said praying was pointless, Johnny agreed with the teacher, because he did not have a firm foundation in his faith.
The short story is called The Children's Story, because the story is about the children and a day that changed everything due to the New Teacher. If read within the subtext, the title makes even more sense, because it describes how the children are the future generation of America and if they do not stand firmly on their beliefs, the whole country will corrupt in the future.
Allegories are used in poems and short stories to hide certain meanings, usually moral or political. In this story, it uses both of these in the story. An example is not saying the pledge if one does not know what some of the bigger words mean. Also whenever they are praying to God and are told to call him leader instead of God. Then the teacher gives them all candy to make them believe "the leader' will give them whatever they want. However, she is caught in the act of putting candy on their desks and tries to play it off that God still does watch but he does not give people things that they want. The theme of this story is that people are told what the government wants them to think. An example of this is whenever one of the children asks why his dad has not returned home. Something bad may have happened to him, but instead of telling the boy they simply tell him a made up lie. Another example is with wearing uniforms. The children are convinced that by wearing uniforms they can all be the same and that it would be all so exciting. However the only reason they think that is because they've almost brain washed them into thinking that that is right. This story is called The Children's Story, because it makes it seem like society in this age is full of children. The government makes all these changes seem okay and confuse the people into thinking that this is the right thing that has to be done.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: The Children's Story and the characters in it are an allegory. The New Teacher represents views and ideas. She manages to convince the children that many things that they have been taught, such as praying and saying the Pledge of Allegiance, are not right. Using "evidence", she manages to convince the children that her way is better. She brings new ideas to the children in place of the old ways they knew. This is evident when she gives the children candy. She used no response to their prayers to convince the children that only people can help you. On the contrary, the Old Teacher and the children's parents represent the old ideas and beliefs. As said before, the New Teacher is trying to implant these new ideas in the children's brain. The New Teacher shows the children that their parents and teacher were wrong. These adults taught the children their morals and their beliefs. The New Teacher constantly tells the children that their parents and teacher (old beliefs) are wrong. If the New Teacher clearly represents new ideas, it only makes sense that those who have the "wrong" idea (the parents and teacher) would represent old ways. The children represent the common people. They had the old ideas before the New Teacher came. Much like common people, they became confused and scared when their old ideas (parents and teacher) were taken away from them. Also similar to citizens, they were faced with new ideals and culture. They soon, through "evidence" and convincing, began to accept the new ideas and beliefs. One exception was Johnny. He was quite stubborn and refused to accept the new ideas (until he was shown evidence at the end). Johnny represents the resistance to change almost to a point of rebellion. He becomes angry when he is offered new clothes because he wants to keep the old "ways of life".
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: The theme is people are too easily convinced to believe and idea with evidence that benefits them. This can be seen in the children and their reaction to the New Teacher. At first the children are sad and confused after their Old Teacher was sent away. The New Teacher then begins trying to convince the children that their former superiors were wrong and had incorrect morals. She questions the Pledge of Allegiance and soon convinces the children that the pledge is immoral. The children are convinced due to lack of evidence. She also manages to convince the children that having their parents taken away was a good idea. The New Teacher uses questioning and evidence to persuade the children. Finally, at the end of the story, the teacher uses candy to convince the children that only humans can help you. The children benefit from this idea and easily are persuaded to believe it. This evidence was enough to convince children that they were wrong.
Question 3: This story is called The Children's Story because of the allegory used. The children, as said in question 1, represent the common people. Cultural change, what is occurring in this story, directly impacts the common people. It changes their morals and ideas about certain things. The common people also have no choice in whether they want cultural change. This story represents the acceptance of new ideas and morals. Since it directly impacts them, it is only fair to call this story The Common People's Story, or, as they are represented in the book, The Children's Story.
The author uses allegory with all of the lessons that the new teacher explains to the children. He uses her character to illustrate lessons to her students. The main theme of the story is that if you want something bad enough you have to get it on your own. He shows this through the teacher with her lesson about praying and how she put the candy on their desks because they can not just pray and expect to get everything they wish for. They also show this through the boy johnny. Johnny is a stubborn boy and is very curious about the new teacher and likes to have attention. Without even knowing it Johnny works more and more to get attention and at the end the teacher grants it to him by making the class monitor. It is called "The Children's Story" because it is all about the children and what they learn and how they learn. It is about how a child differs from the other child. The story is all focused around the children in the class.
ReplyDeleteClavell uses allegory in this story by making the characters and events that occur symbols for bigger interpretations. An example of this is the American flag. The flag is symbolizing what everyone in the U.S. wishes to obtain and have for themselves. When the students cut and share the flag, they are gaining what the Pledge of Allegiance grants to them because of their citizenship. Also, the New Teacher symbolizes all that children are taught growing up in school. They are taught right from wrong and everything that the adults want to shield them from until they are older. These are two examples as to how Clavell uses allegory in this story.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of the story is that the information passed onto us growing up can be manipulated in order to make us believe one thing over another. Clavell delivers this theme by having the New Teacher contradict all the things the Old Teacher and the children's parents have told them. The New Teacher is making them question everything the students have grown up being told about and told to do at a young age. An example of this is having the students ask questions. The students question the reasoning and purpose behind the Pledge of Allegiance, and it makes them realize they do not know why they pledge to the flag every day. They realize they only pledge because they have grown up being told it is the right thing to do, however there is no validation behind why it is proper. This is an example as to how Clavell delivers the theme of the information passed onto us growing up can be manipulated in order to make us believe one thing or another.
It is named "The Children's Story" because it is directed towards the knowledge of the youth. The majority of what kids are taught growing up is from their parents and teachers. However, the information being taught to them is not always correct. Parents and teachers have the ability to manipulate the youth into believing what they say is always true and to follow their lead. This story is showing how easily the students are manipulated. By not knowing who is telling the truth, children are growing up preaching the wrong morals and can be destructive to society.
He uses allegory in the story to help get the kids to believe that they are thinking wrong and they are supposed to follow the new teachers examples and do what she does. His theme is that the way a adult has an change on a child's world. In the story the teacher is shown persuading the kids in the class that they won the war and that their parents have wrong thoughts and are going to school. The teacher also says that the leader is way more power full than anything in the world. she successfully tells the kids about the new way to be. It is called this because it is the background on the children and shares why the kids are the way they are. The story also tells us a little background on why the kids are at the school and a little background information on them and their parents
ReplyDelete1. Allegory is used to show the hidden meaning of The Children's Story. The hidden meaning, if you will, is that America (as implied) has lost a war, this is signified with the former teacher leaving and a new teacher coming (which signifies a foreign country taking over America).
ReplyDelete2. The main theme is that children's thoughts can be manipulated with little effort. The children at the beginning of the story are reluctant to the new teacher but after she gives them candy they are thinking just like her. The story also takes place within 25 minutes (it starts at two minutes till 9 and ends with it was 9:23).
3. It is called The Children's Story because it shows how children can be manipulated and how quickly they can be manipulated. This is also showing how "stupid" (if you will) the can be and how they can miss the obvious signs that the new teacher is not good.
In an allegory, characters and events symbolize hidden ideas. Clavell uses allegory to represent the idea of authority, the teacher, feeding the ignorant population, the kids, propaganda to gain their trust, while punishing dissenters, in this case some adults, to the new regime.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of the short story is the vulnerability of people to the influence and propaganda of authorities or people who gain their trust. Clavell exhibits this by portraying the teacher warping the children's ideals by rewarding them with candy, calming them, seemingly sensible but flawed logic, or giving them leadership positions, as was the case with Johnny, who originally refused to succumb to the teacher's charms. Using this variety of tactics, the teacher takes away ideas that were instilled in the kids, including institutions like religion, nationalism, loyalty to their country, and hatred for the foreign invaders.
Clavell's allegory is called this because children's stories are works that teach kids something, whether it be a moral ideal, imagination and creativity, or how to do something. They shape a kid's understanding. This is what the teacher is accomplishing in Clavell's story; she reshapes the children's ideals.
Clavell utilizes allegory in The Children's Story. On the surface, the story is about a classroom that is receiving a new teacher because the country has been conquered. The teacher is new and better in every possible way than the old one. She teaches the children about how what they knew before was wrong. A closer look to the story shows a much deeper meaning. The new teacher represents the shiny promises that the conquering state tries to offer. She attempts to have the children question everything they were taught and believe in what she is teaching. The old teacher represents everything that was wrong in America at the time. She is old, worn, and weak. The new teacher has the children question religion, nationalism, and the values of America. She essentially is brainwashing the children to believe that everything the conquering country has to offer is right and beneficial. The camps that the parents are sent to are to reeducate them. These camps essentially are to change the old ways and brainwash with the new ones. The story has hints of communism being the power that has taken over the country. The children are to pray to Our Leader which is what communist leaders are often referred to as. They lured with the idea of equal and fair uniforms which communism has no one better or different than the other. Johnny and his father represent the values of America and patriots who fight for what the country believes in. The cutting of the flag represents the end to nationalism/patriotism as well as the degrading of what it stands for. The class as a whole represents ill informed citizens who follow what they are told. The entire story is essentially an allegory.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of The Children's Story is the values and thoughts of a person can be manipulated by others if they are not truly understood. The children all believed the flag and pledged were important prior to the new teacher but they did not know why. As soon as the teacher pointed that out, she was able to change their belief on what was right about it and what was wrong. She made the children question their belief in God by showing them reason that explained why not to. The children only listened to her because she explained things to them. The theme is that thoughts and values can be manipulated because the teacher does just that. She takes advantage of the children's lack of understanding and blind following and makes them follow her without real understanding.
The story is called The Children's Story because it shows how easily youth can be manipulated if they are not taught how to think for themselves or given an explanation as to why things are done. The story also shows how the future of the country relies on the beliefs of its youth. The direction in which the country is headed is determined by the children not the adults who will be gone. The story is also called The Children's Story because although it is about children it is a lesson to adults. The adults need to realize that they are just a susceptible to manipulation as children are if they do not truly understand their beliefs. Adults must also teach children the reasons behind their values in order for the children to stick to them with conviction. Johnny is the only child who questions the new ideas because he had more of an understanding to the values being challenged. The story is called The Children's Story because the children represent the future of the country, its values, and how adults are just as susceptible to manipulation.
Clavell uses allegory because he uses the characters in "Children's Story" to express that the US nation has had a declining understanding of patriotism since after the American Revolution. He uses the children's easy manipulation of losing their democratic views as representation of the US nation's lose of view for patriotism in further generations, and uses the parents as symbols of the original start of patriotism in the US. Then the new teacher helps shows easily communism could replace our democratic views by her control of the children using propaganda to make them all the same.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme is that young people need to understand that the opportunity of freedom should be appreciated rather than questioned. Clavell shows this by his use of allegory since reveals this moral through his symbolism. For example when the children do not know what the Pledge of Allegiance means, the new teacher explains that this is bad truthfully. The children do not understand the importance of patriotism ,so they do not know why their parents like a democracy. This is further expressed, when the children easily agree to wear all the same uniform-reflecting communism. The importance of democracy here is shown to be individuality, yet Clavell represents the children as all the same ignorant of politics and complete understanding. This serves as a warning to education as it appears to put a lot into question within this story.
This short story is called "The Children's Story" because it main character to act out the plot is the children. They are portrayed how they are stereotypically seen in newer generations- like ignorant and silly. It is a common occurrence in elementary schools that children do not understand why they need freedom or the symbolism of the American Flag. In all, this short story describes what Americans think children are like.
Clavell uses allegory in The Children’s Story to show an authority figure or anyone who uses rhetoric effectively can mold a human mind so that they align with whatever the figure wants them to think. Although the story itself is simple, it has a deeper meaning shown throughout creative author commentary. Clavell uses the new teacher as an authority figure that changes the children’s mind. The old teacher is seen crying, showing she has much more awareness of the situation than the children. The children are then manipulated because they are easily changed by the new teacher’s alternative methods. The moral of the story is that humans are manipulated by rhetoric. The children are manipulated by the positive attitude and propaganda the new teacher uses.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of The Children’s Story is that humans blindly follow what they are told by society. The story is parallel to how people in society blindly follow what is popular and are easily swayed by rhetoric. The children in the story are vulnerable and their opinions are changed by the end. Their beliefs on family, country, and religion were all changed in twenty three minutes, showing how easily they were influenced using effective rhetoric.
The Children’s Story is so called because the ideas of the children are the most important part of this short story. The children, especially Johnny, are the protagonist of this story and their thoughts are the main focus. Their thoughts are what is important because they get twisted and show the main theme of the story.
Clavell uses allegory in The Children’s Story to represent vulnerability of people. Clavell creates a story about pupils who are introduced to a new teacher with new principles, rules, and ideas. The underlying meaning, Clavell’s use of allegory, is the way the kids abandon all of their prior beliefs to deny everything they knew about religion, family, and their country. Clavell appears to write an innocent story about the way students behave at school but the meaning behind it all shows how manipulative people can be and how vulnerable and gullible others can be.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of The Children’s Story is that people let their guards down too easily and allow others to control personal thoughts and opinions. Johnny was the only student and character who questioned the woman who walked into their classroom suddenly. “I saw you put the candy on our desks!” Johnny exclaimed as he noticed (the only one who noticed) that the teacher was controlling the way the children would believe that “their leader” would give them what they wanted if they prayed to him. All of the other children believed what their new teacher told them and disregarded what they had been learning for their whole life. Clavell says, “the flag was cut up by the children and they were proud to have a piece.” This is politically incorrect but the teacher convinced them that it would be pretty and nice to have as a personal item. At the end and beginning of the short story, Clavell includes the time. This shows how easily people can be manipulated as the elapsed time is only about twenty five minutes.
The short story is called The Children’s Story because the story is set in the time period where the US is recovering from a war. America was defeated and everyone in America was struggling to pick themselves back up. The children were the only people who were innocent and still had a fresh brain that had not yet been corrupted. The children believe that America won the war and they are willing to listen to anything anyone tells them. The children of this time period were very important.
Clavell uses allegory throughout the reading by expressing minor symbols to build an overall second interpretation. He uses the flag as a symbol of independence which is taken away by the new teacher. He also uses the new teacher's uniform as a symbol for the new ideas of unity and singularity the children will be facing. These symbols along with others build upon the interpretation that the chiildren are being faced with outcomes of the war that will take their free and independent lives and turn them into a strict and harsh society. The main theme of the reading is that those whom are easily swayed, are easily deceived. This is proven when the new teacher comes into play and begins questioning the children on previous things their other teacher did. The children have their guard up at first, but it takes little time to convince them to follow a new leader and new beliefs, all because they are easily swayed with things such as candy and false advertisement. This theme is also proven in the beginning as Johnny is not so easily swayed. Johnny almost catches on to the acts of the teacher, but he changes his mind once he is awarded with power. This piece is titled "The Children's Story" because the children are deciding the fate of their future by the decisions they make. They decide to go against the morals they were always taught and they followed the new teacher with ignorance to their past practices. Once they choose to do this, they begin a new life which becomes a story of their own.
ReplyDelete1.In the story the author uses characters and a quick 25 minute conversation between teachers and students to portray the idea of children blindly following what their teachers/leaders tell them to do. He uses the idea of God and the Pledge of Allegiance to expose the main theme of the story.
ReplyDelete2. The theme is the vulnerability of an un-questioning society that blindly follows the leaders of it. In school we are suppose to pledge our allegiance everyday but, most people don't know the actual meaning as to why we do it. In the story the children question the new teacher why they have to do it everyday. They say how no one had ever really told them why they have to it or the meaning behind it. Proving that the children are just blindly following a rule. Not only that but in 25 minutes the new teacher had gotten the children to deny what they believed in about religion, country, and family.
3. I think the story is called The childrens story because, the author tries to tell a story bringing out how children blindly follow whatever they're told.
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ReplyDeleteClavell is trying to show the vulnerability of any society and the willingness of people to follow the leader. People are so quick to pledge allegiance before they even know what it means.
Also, I understand that it isn't completely fair to judge a group of school children but what about the power of the teacher? In only 25 minutes the New Teacher found a way to have the kids deny all they knew about family, religion, and their country.
When the kids asked about whether or not they had won the war the teacher said "WE did" obviously avoiding having to tell the children they were taken over by the enemy. This was written around the time of WWI and could be Clavell's idea of what the outcome would be if America lost. Like Orwell, Clavell shows the truth beneath the propaganda of communism and what must be given up so that everyone can be the same.
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Johny is against the New Teacher and her teaching methods. All throughout the story, Johnny questions the New Teacher even when she tries to use her reason to prove him wrong. When all the children trust her and close their eyes, Johnny watches her every move, and, unlike the other children, he doesn't want to wear the school uniforms or be separated from his father.
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This story exposes how truly vulnerable children's minds are (and really anyone's mind for that matter) when subjected to controlled circumstances.
1. Allegory is used in "The Children's Story" to portray the hidden meaning that leaders are not always right. The children look to the new teacher as a leader and in a way this new teacher is brainwashing the kids into the government beliefs. The message is that although government leads they are not always right and this is displayed with Johnny starting to question things.
ReplyDelete2. The theme is the message delivered with allegory. Although leaders are in control they are not always right. This theme is delivered through Johnny. He questions things unlike the other children. He questions the teacher in his head and out loud.
3. This story is called "The Children's Story" because it uses children to portray a deeper meaning. It shows how a general public,, like children, can be swayed easily with the thoughts and words of a leader but a select few will not be swayed easily and will go with ideas they know for sure. Also relating back to children who hear ideas but still go to their parents or make opinions off what they know.
Clavell uses allegory to present a hidden topic in this story. Allegory can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. This allegory could represent a dictatorship. While the New Teacher is being a leader figure, the children of the classroom are following all her new "ideas" blindly. The New Teacher brainwashed the children to think that it is okay to cut up the American flag and question the Pledge of Allegiance.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of The Children's story how an un-questionable society can be so vulnerable to a leader. One example is that the New Teacher made the Children question the American flag and cut it up into little pieces. The only person who question these acts was Johnny, and he was scolded for questioning the teacher. This shows how a person in power can affect a society, especially a teacher because they are teaching the new generation. This generation she is teaching will create a new way of thinking throughout society.
This story is called The Children's Story because if a child would read it they would think nothing of it because of their innocence, such as the ideas of questioning the pledge, or cutting up an American flag. On the other hand, when reading it as a young adult and being exposed to the world, a person would see that as disrespectful. Also, someone while learning more about society, can allow the mind to wander and start to develop own ideas. This can provide the underlying or hidden details of the story that can involve morals or politics because of the exposure to the good and bad in the world and the loss of innocence.
Clavell uses allegory to show the vulnerability of children through the propaganda and words used by the New Teacher. In "The Children's Story", the New Teacher comes into the class, and within twenty-five minutes, has managed to completely change the children's views on their country. The New Teacher changes views on religion by having the children pray for something and then explaining that God, and no other religious being, will bring them what they want/have asked for. She uses words in a certain way that make it impossible for young children to disagree with her. The New Teacher shows how Clavell uses allegory in this story.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of the story is children are easily susceptible to persuasion and should be taught the meaning of large ideas in order to prevent it. The theme is delivered through how quickly the children's beliefs were changed. The easy persuasion of children is shown through the twenty-five minute time span of the story. The other part of the theme is developed through the children's lack of knowledge about the meaning of the pledge of allegiance. Due to the fact that the kids did not understand the big words in the pledge, their views on it were easily changed. When the New Teacher asks what a pledge is, and what allegiance means, none of the students in the class know the answer. The story demonstrates that children should, and need to be, taught the reason behind their beliefs.
The short story is called "The Children's Story" because although the story is about children, and seems to be written for children, the message is directed towards adults. The story as a whole is intended to make adults realize how easily influenced their children are. By naming it "The Children's Story", the author draws attention to children in an adult world, and shows their part in events meant to be understood by adults.
1. Allegory shown in "The Children's Story" by using children and a new teacher in their classroom to describe the overthrow and reeducation of America by a foreign country.
ReplyDelete2. With the use of propaganda, our vulnerable minds are easily manipulated into blindly following a leader. Clavell delivered this theme by showing how in a matter of 25 minutes, a new teacher was able to come into a classroom full of innocent children and teach them to deny everything they knew about their religion, country, family, and morals. Even the one child, Johnny, who showed the new teachings denial was manipulated by the teacher in the end.
3. The short story is called, "The Children's Story" because it is showing what the foreign country is telling the American children after America's defeat. It is essentially the children's version of what is happening post war.
The author uses allegory in this story by showing how the teacher is basically brainwashing the children into accepting new things. The hidden message behind it I think would be since they were talking about the war that maybe the teacher is representing a new power coming into reign and replacing the old power and customs of before. The main theme of the story is that children's minds can be manipulated easily if they don't understand the simplest things. I know this because in the text the children didn't even understand why they did the pledge every morning when the teacher asked them why.
ReplyDeleteThe short is story is called "The Children's Story" because I think the author believes that in a sense we are all children. We don't understand the things we do or why we do them, so in a sense we are all innocent and young, uneducated children
The author uses a basic, innocent example of children being taught by a teacher to express the true meaning of this story. The allegory was pretty challenging to figure out but I believe it that the real message behind this story is about people who follow a leader and rules without question or reason behind it; they just do it. A real world example of this is North Korea in which the people follow "the great leader" without question. This story is resembling a dictatorship in a way and how it can effect young minds. Also this shows how easily people can be persuaded to think something by a so called authority figure. This is a reason why they showed the time at the end, it only took the new teacher about twenty minutes to completely convince the children something different than what they have been taught their whole lives by their parents. Which brings another aspect of this story, the students were supposed to stay at the school which didn't allow them to go home and share their new views on things. This is an example of censorship because once their minds are changed and they are convinced to think someone, whoever is controlling their information/thoughts doesn't want any outside source telling them that the information is wrong. I believe the theme of this story is people are easily guided and influenced by information that may not be true but believe it because they don't question it. The title of this story is important because it shows the innocence and the easily configured minds of children and relates it to the real world in which people and whole countries are controlled by false information due to lack of knowledge on the subject, this is why it isn't questioned. People seem to trust authority and government much more than they should in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe entire story is an allegory for society. In 2001 after the terror attacks against the WTC, the government quickly passed the PATRIOT Act. The supporters of the act used rhetoric such as "we will all be safer".
ReplyDeleteIn the Story (and in the history of the PATRIOT Act, the old ideas of society are quickly ousted by force (this is symbolized by the teacher and the war). The children, who represent the people of the US (and their ignorance thereof) at first are disgruntled by the ousting of their teacher, an authority with little involvement in their lives. The teacher (authority) is then acquainted with the students. The children are impressed with the amount of work the teacher has done, and count her as trustworthy.
Eventually the teacher and students begin to recite the pledge, which the teacher notes the students are ignorant about. Like the students, most citizens are ignorant about the meaning and implication of law. This leads to the class cutting the flag and destroying its pole. As in the real world, it led to an unconstitutional law being passed, (which even the name screams rhetoric).
Throughout the whole story, Johnny is crying out against the class, in the real world, Johnny would be the people speaking out against the PATRIOT act, avoiding the rhetoric, and promoting freedom.
At the end, the children give up all of thier freedom and stay at the school where they are offered free food and living space. The theme is: rhetoric and ignorance lead to a lack of freedoms, and a lost society.
Clavell throughout "The Children's story" uses allegory two display two distinct meanings to the audience. The actual plot is a simple one. The setting is a normal elementary school in which only a small change is occurring where a newer younger teacher is replacing an old one which happens quite often. The underlying subtext however reveals the real malicious intent the school is implementing. Through propaganda and other techniques they are brainwashing the children to follow all of their rules and change their beliefs. This is an example of a country being defeated and overtaken by another country. The foreigners are taking over their land and sending in undercover agents who are to educate the children to think the way they believe is right.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface, Clavell portrays the impressionability of children through the actions of the new teacher. However, as I look for a deeper meaning, Clavell shows the power of propaganda. In the short time that the new teacher spent with the class, she was able to reverse all of their previous thoughts and beliefs. This may be a reference to powerful leaders who used effective persuasion and propaganda to their advantage. In fact, when comparing this situation with Hitler during World War II, many similarities arise. For example, the new teacher turned the children against their children in a sense. This closely resembles Hitler's use of propaganda to turn Germany against the world, especially the Jews. Overall, this story touches on the power of effective persuasion and propaganda.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme is the need to protect the mind of the youth, especially from a young age. Clavell delivers this theme through the malleability of the children's minds for the new teacher. She changes their previous beliefs of religion, the Pledge of Allegiance, and even their own parents. Therefore, their minds must be protected because when taught something with propaganda, it may skew their view of society.
This name was given the name because if a child were to read this story, they would see no allegory or hidden meaning in this story. Therefore, because this story is seemingly harmless, it is directed towards children. However, this is not just for children mainly because of its hidden meaning and room for interpretation.
In the story "The Children's Story" the main theme is those who can manipulate rhetoric and propaganda can persuade and alter peoples' thoughts and actions easily. In the beginning of the story the new teacher begins to question the students about the pledge of allegiance something they recite everyday. Since the students do not comprehend the meaning of the in depth pledge they are forced to look for the teacher's explanations. At this moment the teacher manipulates her words and propaganda to give false information to the children who know nothing better than to believe it. A second example is how the teacher got the students to pray to the leader. When they pray to the leader the new teacher gives them what they wish for by putting candy in front of them. This is another way she uses propaganda to persuade the thoughts of the children. At the end of the story we see the time is 9:23 and it took a mild 25 minutes to completely change the mind of innocent children.
ReplyDeleteThe story is named "The Children's Story" because it revolves around children in an elementary school and the plot revolves around them. Also, it is told from their point of view.
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ReplyDeleteAllegory is used to best express communism. Communist have this believe that all people in a Communist government should be equal to one another. They express this idea by manipulating the people to believe what the leaders want them to believe. A real world example of this is current day North Korea. In The Children's Story the hidden meaning that all are equal is shown when when the new teach cuts up the American flag so each student can have a piece of it. Manipulation is used through the whole short story and is used so well that the children denied everything they knew about religion, country, and family. She manipulated them so well that it only took her 23 minutes to do so.
I think that manipulation is the theme of this short story. With the new teachers ability to smoothly manipulate the children, the underlining idea of communism would not be able to be fully expressed in the story or be understood by the reader. Manipulation is best expressed when the new teacher tell the children to pray to God for candy and puppies. It is obvious that by praying a big pile of candy wasn't going to appear. She knew that the children would become disappointed so she told them to pray to "our leader" for candy. She manipulates the children by placing the candy on the desk when there eyes are closed. Jonny points out that she put the candy on the kids desks. This is the best example of manipulation is how she responds to this happening. She tells them that it was her and that you can't actually pray and receive what you want. Why I think this is the most important part is because, regardless if Jonny would have had his eyes opened or closed she still was able to manipulate the children Into believing that God isn't actually real. If Jonny would have kept his eyes closed she just would have gone along with the idea that they should pray to the leader. Since Jonny did open his eyes she completely discarded the idea of praying at all. Either way she got what she wanted by manipulating the students.
This story is called Children's story because that the them of manipulation is most often and easiest to manipulate children. And this is the story showing that.
Allegory is used in this piece of writing. The first teacher represents America and when this teacher is replaced that represents America losing the war and being taken over by a foreign country.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of the story is that a child’s mind can be easily changed by their superiors through the usage of propaganda. The new teacher manages to persuade the children to forget about having loyalty to their nation and also persuades them by giving out candy.
This short story is called "The Children’s Story" because the entire story is mainly about the children. It revolves around them and is told from their perspective.
Clavell uses allegory throughout the whole short story called The Children's Story. The story is perceived to be about an elementary school in the United States of America that is making a few innocent modifications to their school such as replacing a teacher with a new one. Although if the story is further investigated, the school is not making innocent changes instead they are using propaganda techniques on the students to brainwash them. The United States has just been defeated by another country and these foreigners are taking over their land. They have sent in agents in disguise of a new teacher in the elementary school who are educating the children the way they want them to think.
ReplyDeleteThe theme presented in The Children's Story is that with the use of persuasion and propaganda, people's thoughts can be altered fairly easy. In the beginning of the story, Clavell explains that it is "two minutes to 9" and a new teacher begins to change the students thoughts. She questions the students about the meaning of the "Pledge of Allegiance", since they recite it every morning. The students start to have trouble answering some of the questions and the teacher explains. However, when the teacher has the students pray to God for things they want, they realize they do not receive their wishes. Although, when the teacher gives the idea to pray to their Leader for candy, the candy is given to them and they are happier. The story then ends at 9:23 and Clavell explains that the students now like her instead of when she first came in the class. With the use of propaganda and persuasion from the teacher, the children's thoughts were altered and it only took twenty five minutes for them to be convinced.
The short story is called The Children's Story because it revolves around the children at their school and it is told in their point of view.
The whole story is an allegory. The story is seen to be about a new teacher in an elementary school that makes a few changes to the school, but overall the story seems as if it's an innocent story. If the story is further examined you can see that it's not innocent at all. The story is actually about how America lost a war and is taken over by a foreign country. the foreign country comes and makes a lot of changes by making it seem as if they are on the side on the Americans, even though they aren't. The foreign country starts brainwashing the american citizens.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of "The Children's Story" is that a person's ideas and thoughts can be changed so fast. In the story the author says "two minutes to 9" and that's when the story starts. At 8:58 the new teacher comes and starts changing the students ideas and thoughts right away. The students don't like the new teacher, however, at 9:23 (said by the author) the new teacher changed the children's thoughts and ideas right away in the span of 25 minutes and got the kids to like her.
This story is called "The Children's Story" because it is from the children's point of view and revolves around the children. Since it's in a children's point of view the audience gets an innocent side of the story, and can see how easily manipulated a child can be.
The children think that the new teacher is simply replacing their old one and is teaching them new things for their own entertainment.
ReplyDeleteThe theme is to always question what is being told to you and not to just go along with what is being said. All of the children except Johnny trust the teacher entirely and believe everything she says. Johnny questions her which results in the new teacher giving him more straight forward answers. Being weary of your surroundings and what is being told to you will result in more honesty.
It's called The Children's Story because the story that the government trained officials tell the children is different from what they tell the adults. With the children, ideas are told in a simpler way that makes the process look simple and better than their old ways. However, the adults are aware what is actually happening and are forced to go to camps to have the new ideas "taught" to them.
The theme is shown by Clavell by showing the quick change of mind that the children have. Clavell uses children to show how easily people's mind can be manipulated and changed.
ReplyDeleteThe allegory of the story is the teacher. The teacher represents a more powerful force than America. I think that the story takes place either during the future or a war that took place in the past. The teacher is the country that defeated America and is forcing them to change.
The story is called the children's story because of how the story is told. I think it is a dumbed down version of a story told that describes the downfall of America and it is put into a children's point of view.
Censorship consumes the minds of people who are able to be manipulated. The New Teacher made the kids think a certain way and said it in a way that made them believe what she was saying was correct but johnny was not swayed by her. He believed she was right about some things but her major ideas he didn't agree with.
ReplyDeleteThe short story is called the Childrens's Story because it is a story about how the children went through having a new teacher and how she made them think.. Everyone was needed to be equal in the eyes of the author.
(Oops my first question didn't save. This is the answer to my first blog question.)
ReplyDeleteClavell uses allegory to show the meaning that everyone should be treated equal and everyone is equal. It is relating the New Teacher to the government trying to control your way of thinking and manipulating your thoughts.
The allegory used in "The Children's Story" is what the new teacher represents. She shows that the children's country lost the war that was going on and the new teacher represents the new foreign rules coming into place and replacing the old rules.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of this story is that using simple wording and reinforcing ideas can easily manipulate people. Clavell shows this with the new teacher and how she changes all the children's opinions so quickly. Even Johnny who was suspicious for most of the story, was finally convinced that the teacher was showing them the right ways to think.
The reason this is called "The Children's Story" is because the change was starting in the children. They were the easiest to change and force new thoughts into. There was little to no resistance with the new teacher and her new thoughts. Johnny was even believing the new teacher over his parents. He said that he would "not have wrong thoughts like Dad." This shows how the change for the country would come with the children and then continue with all age groups being taught the new thoughts of the new power in the country.
The allegory used in "The Children's Story" is what the new teacher represents. She shows that the children's country lost the war that was going on and the new teacher represents the new foreign rules coming into place and replacing the old rules.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of this story is that using simple wording and reinforcing ideas can easily manipulate people. Clavell shows this with the new teacher and how she changes all the children's opinions so quickly. Even Johnny who was suspicious for most of the story, was finally convinced that the teacher was showing them the right ways to think.
The reason this is called "The Children's Story" is because the change was starting in the children. They were the easiest to change and force new thoughts into. There was little to no resistance with the new teacher and her new thoughts. Johnny was even believing the new teacher over his parents. He said that he would "not have wrong thoughts like Dad." This shows how the change for the country would come with the children and then continue with all age groups being taught the new thoughts of the new power in the country.
Clavell uses allegory to show equality between everyone. This relates to the teacher and the government because they try to control how you think and what you do.
ReplyDeleteNot all people are able to be manipulated by people's words. The teacher wanted the kids to believe what she was saying but Johnny did not take what she was saying. He believed some things but not her major ideas.
The title is called this because it shows the innocence of children. Children are easily manipulated by adults words. They could be told false information and believe it.
1. A allegory is typically a story or a poem within a story with a hidden message or bigger picture. Clavell uses a story inside a story in "The Children's Story". He disguised the new teacher as a persuasive dictator and the kids as the citizens. He uses allegory in a devious way to show how the bigger picture relates to the real world. Clavell does not directly say the characters and the real story but hides it with a common scenario.
ReplyDelete2. The main theme of the story is how weak minds can get manipulated into bad things. The new teacher came in and basically disrupted the class causing the kids to cry. She made them close their eyes and pray for candy, knowing the kids wernt getting any. Then she did it again and she put candy on their desks and the kids were happy. She wanted them to see that they could trust her more than God. She uses the weak minds of the kids to persuade them to do bad and not believe in God and go back on the teacher that they once loved.
3. The children story relates to the weak minds of the kids and how they are easily manipulated by the new teachers. The reason why it's called a children's story is because they have weak and changing minds unlike those of adults.
In The Children's Story, allegory is used by metaphor. The New Teacher is what would be the new leader of a country (the classroom) that's been taken over and it's shown by the old teacher being forced to leave while crying. Johnny is somebody that loves his country and knows that what the new leader is doing is wrong, but eventually, he gets sucked into believing that it's all right, which is what makes the new leader so powerful: a strong following.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of the story is that you shouldn't just follow whatever your leaders are telling you. We don't see the outcome of The New Teacher's position in charge of everyone, but it's definitely heavily implied. She has manipulated the classroom, they all respect her and will follow whatever she says.
The title of this story is "The Children's Story" because it shows how easily they are manipulated into following their new teacher. It shows the possible bad effect and that if she wanted to, she could influence them to do bad things while thinking it's right.
In “The Children’s Story”, Clavell uses the plot and characters as an allegory. The book was written in 1963, which was during the Cold War between the United States and Russia. In the story, the elementary students represent the US and The New Teacher represents the totalitarian government that has taken over the US. The students’ vulnerability to the New Teacher’s ideas mirror those of the United States. At first, the Teacher’s ideas seem reasonable, but her ultimate motive is to brainwash the students. Things like this, including propaganda, were impacting the United States during the Cold War.
ReplyDeleteThe simple theme of the book is that the power of an authority figure can have a great impact on impressionable young children. The New Teacher is a pretty, young lady who speaks the children’s language, and she sounds reasonable and believable to the students. This causes the children to believe everything she says because of her knowledge, according to them. On a deeper level, the theme is that our unquestioning society blindly follows our leader on a daily basis. The children don’t know what the pledge of allegiance means but they know every word because they have to say it everyday before class. They don’t pay attention to what they are in allegiance with. This is how the author viewed society at the time.
The story was given the title “The Children’s Story” because it is so simplistic. Children are extremely naive, which is okay, and this book demonstrates this. The vulnerability children possess and how they are quick to act without reason are shown throughout the story.
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ReplyDeleteClavell uses allegory in "The Childrens Story" to present a secret message. I believe he could be speaking about Nazi Germany. There were many instances such as when the teacher states that the children can all look alike and be perfect together led me to this conclusion. Another instances is when the new teacher stated, do not pray to god, pray to your leader. This also brought me to my conclusion. He used Allegory very effectively because everytime i was sure it was about Germany, he would go off topic and then come right back and use allegory again. This steady rate at which he used allegory kept people from seeing the hidden meaning to easily. The story uses allegory to convey the hidden message about the danger of Nazi Germany.
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Clavells main them in "The Childrens Story" is the fact that kids can be persuaded very easily. There are three examples that show this. First, they are convinced that god is not real, and they should pray to their leader simply by bribing them with candy. Second, they are convinced to cut up the american flag, the symbol of our country, because they simply do not know any better. Lastly, they are convinced that the new teacher is a better teacher because she knew all their names right away, and also explained how a good teacher should be. The children listened to her because she fit the description. That is how easily kids can be persuaded.
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The story is called "The Childrens Story" because it is the general story of children in our world. It perfectly describes the way children act as well as the way their mind interprets information. It hold this title because it is the true life story of children everywhere.
In the story The Children's Story Clavell uses allegory in the story by using the hidden meaning behind what the new teacher meant. She basically sugar coated everything to the kids, and twisted the meanings so the kids wouldn't think it's bad. For the true meaning of the story you had to read deeply to understand it. She didn't really believe the flag was a beautiful thing or that the children's fathers were going to a school because they had strange thoughts. It was because we had lost the war, and their fathers were against what was happening and they were trying to stand up for their country.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of this story is the new teacher was introducing the students into her belief system. By saying stuff like if they pray hard, or who they pray to, no matter what they want they won't get what they want unless it's from another human being. She asked them what the real meaning of the pledge of allegiance, and "I think it's wrong for you to say something with long words in it if you don't understand what you are saying."
The story is called "The Children's Story" because the children own the story and the story focuses on the thoughts and views of the children.
Allegory is used when the children accept the candy and simply change their minds. It shows that the government can easily manipulate adults and children by bribery.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of this story is that the government has an impact on how the students will develop and how they will grow up. The new teacher was able to convince the children that they don't need to pray because that doesn't give them what they want. They have to work hard in order to see improvement.
Its called The Children's Story because it shows the impact made on kids at a young age by teachers. It shows their reactions and how quickly they could forget something. It focuses all on the mind of children.
Clavell uses allegory in The Children's Story in order to portray an event in history without actually mentioning it. An allegory is a piece of literature that has a hidden meaning. This story is an allegory of Nazi Germany in world war 2. However, the story treats the outcome of the war as though Germany won. Johnny's dad says that, "Just because THEY'VE conquered us there's no need for panic fear." This implies that wherever the setting is, they have lost a war. The class, after the new teacher has arrived, then begins to say the pledge of allegiance, implying that the story takes place in America. The new teacher interrupts the pledge of allegiance and has the students explain to her what it means. Whenever the students can't explain it, she begins to rant on about how the kids are promising support to a flag. The teacher asks the children how a flag can be more important than they are. The children agree that a flag can't be more important than they are. By this point, the reader can assume that the new teacher is negatively influencing the children from an American viewpoint. Miss Worden, the old teacher, had left the room crying, and the new teacher had the kids cut up the American flag. Whenever Danny asks if the war is over, the new teacher replies, "We - that's you and I and all of us - We won." Whenever Johnny says his dad left unwillingly, based on his patriotism for the U.S., you can further assume that the new teacher is manipulating them. Earlier in the story, Mary says that after she memorized the pledge, she was given a nickel. As a result, you can assume that the story took place when money was more valuable for each dollar. The largest war when money was treated this way was world war 2. Because of this, one can conclude that The Children's Story was an allegory for a fictitious outcome of world war 2 where Germany defeated the U.S..
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of The Children's Story is manipulation. Clavell delivers his theme through the new teacher. Since the unnamed country wins the war, you could believe that the country will try to manipulate the U.S.. Clavell has the new teacher manipulate the young students in a few ways. She has them cut apart a flag, reasoning that the flag isn't as important as them. She also has them ponder the idea of having all the students wear the same clothes, somewhat like the clothes of prisoners of the holocaust. Lastly, she has the kids pray for God and their leader, but only the prayer for candy to their leader gave them candy.
This short story is called The Children's Story for two reasons. The literal reason is the fact that the story is about elementary school children. The figurative reason is that the sort portrays the way kids can be manipulated in order to support something they know nothing about. They support the pledge of allegiance without knowing the true meaning. They also are persuaded to support the new teacher's ideas without realizing the true meaning behind those either.
Clavell uses allegory in this story by disguising the teacher and students. The teacher represents a persuasive dictator who can easily manipulate the students, who are the citizens. He creates characters in the story and also relates them to real life scenarios.
ReplyDeleteThe theme is manipulation of innocent minds by deceitful leaders. Clavell delivers this theme by using the teacher as a force to break the children, then comfort them with ideas that the children easily relate to. She also creates a false sense of trust as she compares herself to God and saying how only she can give them what they want.
The short story is called titled as is because all the realizations and correlations from the teacher's thoughts to the children's minds are from their perspective. It makes it easier to understand why the children think the way they do.
Clavell uses allegory in The Children's Story. With Clavell having some military background and being born 1924 and living until 1994 I believed he is referencing world war two in the story. James left the military in 1946 so world war two was a big part of history in his life time. In the story he shows through the kids eyes how they ask questions and are so easily minuplated. He shows how the importance of words and minuplated storys are powerful. He shows Hitler and the war through the kids and the questions they ask. The theme is reveled through the children especially Johnny. The children ask questions and the teacher minuplates them. She enforces new thoughts with positive and good tenquices that apply to the children. The new teacher changes there way of thinking and easily gets the children to beleav what she wants. For example with the pledge of alliance she changes the children s perspective on that. She makes them rethink why the do it and what it means to be free. She eventually gets johnny to go on her side. The theme is that progenaada and rhetoric used correctly is power to an individual. The story is called the children s story because it is shown through their eyes. It shows how children and the youth and groups of people can be minuplated so easily.
ReplyDeleteClavell implemented the use of allegory into his short story, The Children’s Story. Allegory is when a story has a double meaning, most commonly when a story seems to mean one thing, but has a deep underlying message in which the reader must interpret. Allegory was present throughout the entire story because although it seemed as though it was a simple tale of children in a classroom learning about the true meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance, it was really a twisted story of the United States being taken over by a foreign country. All policies were changed, and through the use of strong language and propaganda, the American citizens were brainwashed. The teacher, Mrs. Worden, represented a character who had qualities that resembled those of a prison warden, which sounds very similar to her name. She was skilled in the use of language and words, which is another possible reason for her name being Worden. The irony in her name also created allegory.
ReplyDeleteThrough strong language and effective propaganda, a person may achieve the unimaginable and completely change the mindset of others. This is one of the main themes present in The Children’s Story. It is shown when the teacher is able to convince the children that it is right to cut up the flag and that they are actually showing patriotism by doing so, in the sense that they would each be carrying around a small piece of it at all times. It is also present when the teacher is able to convince the children that all of their previous thoughts and ideas were wrong and that everything new they would learn was right. This entire story took place over the span of just twenty five minutes, proving how strong the power of language really is. This is present in today’s society every day. Our government uses similar propaganda to make us believe that everything they do is for the right reasons. This is also seen in North Korea, where their leader seems to have everyone brainwashed.
The story has its name because both the story, and the title, have strong allegorical meanings. It is seemingly a simple story for children, but really holds messages of communism and the problems with the American education system.
Clavell uses allegory in The Children's Story by revealing the secret message that humans are very vulernarable to an un-questioning society. What this means is that it people who live in this world, just try and get by every day and listen to almost anything that is said to them. They will almost believe anything that is told too them. There are only a select few that will stand out and do the questioning.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme of the story is how easy it is to manipulate the minds of the people, especially the younger generation. Clavell delivers this theme by ending the story by saying that the teacher has done this in just under 25 minutes. During this time, a new teacher arrives at the classroom and is responsible for reeducating the students. They are persuaded to abandon their religion and national loyalty. The story starts out with the children ritually reciting the pledge to the flag and by the end they are cutting one into pieces.
This story is called The Children's Story because it is supposed to impact the younger generation (children) to realize how easy it is to manipulate our minds. It also it to make us question the things we do and make sure that their is a valid reason to why it is being done.
The allegory in the story is the control the teacher has over the students. It shows that minds can be twisted into doing and approaching new things in a different way and not being able to know what is going on. The theme of the story is don't beleive everything you hear, cause it might not be true. The teacher twists the minds of the children like communism.
ReplyDeleteClavell uses allegory to portray how easily persuade society can be. Without the proper knowledge and facts, people are vulnerable to manipulation. Everyday, people are faced with ulterior motives and are challenged to what to choose and believe. With the lack of knowledge, people are unable to think abstractly to make proper decisions, and end up following what they are told. Also since many people want to feel accepted, they tend to bandwagon along with other people’s choices or opinions whether they be good or whether they be bad.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of the short story is the power of words and the vulnerability of an of an unquestioning society will cause them to blindly follow the leader. The new teacher was able in a matter of about twenty-five minutes, completely altering the way the children thought about their parents, country, and beliefs. The first act the teacher commits is placing all the blame on the previous teacher. This cause the children not to see her as an enemy but as a savior. Johnny was the only child that did not fall to the manipulation as quickly as the other children, but was eventually able to be persuaded. The teacher has an enormous amount of power and is able to twist words around to manipulate the susceptible children. She managed to methodically challenge and brainwash a classroom of children to turn them against their country, their parents, and even basic freedoms.
The short story is named “The Children’s Story” because it is about the power a teacher has over children. At a child’s stage in life they are developing their skills and knowledge, and the lack they have of those, makes them susceptible to persuasion. School is a main place where children are molded into the person they grow to be. Parent release their rights the second they ship their children to school. Children tend to follow people they trust, their teacher being one of them, and will follow that person and it can be hard to get them out of that system. In the story the manipulation of the teacher alters the way those children view and think about the world, people, and beliefs around them.
Clavell uses allegory to show how weak minded people can be. Also how easily people can be swayed into believing something even as absurd as this. Clavell relates this to modern day and almost taking a stab at how simple minded even adults can be.
ReplyDeleteThe main theme is manipulation. Manipulation of the mind and thoughts. The author also emphasizes on how quickly this can be done. For example he says this was done in under 25 minutes. Not only are the younger generation in this book swayed easily but also swayed quickly.
The younger generation is used to give an emphasis on the stupidity of people. Children and the younger generation are obviously an easier target due to their lack of experiences and intelligence. This author also relates this to adults by showing how unintelligent the adults can be too and how they arent that far away from stupidity of children.