English 11

Fiction Book Study

I. Information about the author and novel.
A. Title
1. Flags of Our Fathers.
2. The title is appropriate for the book because one of the authors father was one of
the men whom raised the flag on Iwo Jima and since the men became so popular
they became people to look up to like fathers.
B. Author
1. James Bradley/ Ron Powers
2. February 1954, Wisconsin/ September 1941, Missouri
3. Ron Powers is a novelist, non-fiction writer and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist.
His works include White Town Drowsing: Journeys to Hannibal, Dangerous
Water: A Biography of the Boy Who Became Mark Twain, and Mark Twain: A
Life. James Bradley is also a non-fiction writer and Pulitzer Prize winner; he
focuses in historical non-fiction chronicling the Pacific theatre of World War II.
C. Publishing Information
1. Published in 2000 in the U.S. by Bantam Books.
2. The book has 203 pages.
II. Plot
A. Exposition
1. Setting.
a. The novel takes place in parts of the U.S. and the island of Iwo Jima.
b. The time period of the novel is World War 2 (1939 to 1945).
2. Background
a. What sets up the story is that all of the 6 boys join the American armed forces.
3. Conflict
a. The conflict of the novel is that the American forces need to get hold of Iwo
Jima, so they can move on without any resistance.
b. The conflict is internal and external.
B. Climax
1. Main climax discussion.
a. The climax of the story is when the flag is raised up by the 6 boys and the
famous picture is taken.
b. This was the highest point of the action because it is what the world
remembers from the misery, a little hope in a small island named Iwo Jima.
c. The climax had an effect on the 6 boys because for some their life purpose
had ended, for others a nightmare had begun, and for one it was a dream come
true.
C. Resolution
1. The conflict was never solved, neither external nor internal.
D. Plot Summary
1. The conflict of the story was that there was a war going on, and the Americans
had to end it by defeating the Japanese. Many were needed for the job, and out of
all those many, 6 stood out like other few. The climax happened when the
American forces reached the top of Mount Suribachi. However, there were many
more conflicts, the battle was not over right away, 3 of the 6 boys died, and 3
faced internal problems because of what they had to live through and the things
that awaited them. The only conflict that was solved was that the battle of Iwo
Jima was won.
III. Point of View
A. The point of view in which the book is written is in third person.
1. Im not a professional researcher, but I figured that if I could somehow dig deep
enough, I might be able to learn something about these six boys,and specially
about my silent father.
IV. Characters
A. Protagonist: Harlon Block, Rene Gagnon, Jack Bradley, Franklin Sousley, Mike
Strank and Ira Hayes.
1.
2. He's not really interested in business or money but in systems. Once a system that
he designed is running, he loses interest in it. He also likes to think about women
and how each could make his life different.
B. Antagonist: Martin Dressler
1. Enemy forces, people surrounding the boys and the boys were also their own
worst enemies.
V. Literary Elements
A. Imagery
1. Thousands of Marine and Navy personnel had been watching the patrol as they
climbed to the volcanos rim. When the small swatch of color fluttered, Iwo Jima
was transformed, for a few moments, into New York Citys Time Square on New
Years eve. (pg. 106).
2. Discussion.
a. This imagery appeals to the visual senses.
b. This imagery is important because it shows how just a little action gave so
much hope and also it shows how much civilians are unaware of what actually
happened.
B. Irony
1. . When the small swatch of color fluttered, Iwo Jima was transformed, for a few
moments, into New York Citys Time Square on New Years eve. (pg. 106).
2. Discussion.
a. This is situational and dramatic irony.
b. This irony contributes because even though the first flag raising is greatly
celebrated by all the soldiers present, it did not had an impact on people as the
second one that was greatly celebrated by most people back home. Also, it is
ironic because the soldiers and people get the idea that once the flag was
raised the war was over; when in reality it was only halfway through.
C. Tone
1. The tone of the story is very direct.
2. There were no cheering crowds to see Mike, Harlon, Ira, Doc, Rene, and
Franklin off as they departed Camp Tarawa. To maintain military secrecy they
journeyed in the dead of night. (pg. 292)
D. Mood
1. The mood of the story is serious.
2. We buried fifty at a timeWe didnt know if they were Jewish, Catholic or
whatever, so we said a general committal I buried eight hundred boys.
E. Symbol
1. An important symbol is the 6 boys whom raised the flag.
2. They represented and still do today represent every single men or woman in the
war; different backgrounds, different life styles, but that same spirit to fight on.
F. Allusion
1. The greatest allusion was the flag.
2. The allusion adds meaning to the text because that flag signifies how bad the U.S.
wanted to win and it also shows that just a little flag can be light to follow for
millions and millions of people.
VI. Theme
A. The theme of the story is that war is bad, even for war heroes who not only have to
live knowing what they know but now they are reminded every single day until their
deaths.
1. This lesson about human nature is universal because it shows that war takes out so
much from people, and it also shows the ignorance from those who dont have to
fight.
2. An occasion in which this applies to life is in any war, any conflict, or anything
that includes death and destruction.
VII. Evaluation
A. This novel represents life because it shows that true war isnt glory and celebration,
as many governments show it as, but death, horror and just the greatest nightmare of
all.
B. I loved this novel because not only it depicts war as it really is, but it also teaches that
war heroes have to face many things after the actual fighting is over, for example the
constant reminder of the all the death they saw.