Summary Of Bridge To Terabithia By Katherine Paterson
‘It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength’ (Patterson, 1995, p.141.)
Bridge to Terabithia (1977), by Katherine Paterson is a coming-of-age, heart-wrenching but exciting book about Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke who rule an imaginative land called Terabithia to escape the pressures of school, bullies and family. In the novel, Leslie’s friendship acts as a guide for Jesse as he faces these challenges and difficulties of adolescence. Leslie helps Jesse grow and develop as a person. Her words of advice give him the courage and confidence to conquer his foes and her friendship fosters his imaginative growth.
Jesse becomes more courageous and confident by facing his rivals,
with the assistance of Leslie. In the novel, Jesse and Leslie confront imaginary foes that invade Terabithia in their long absence. Jesse is initially scared. But with Leslie’s words of advice, they fight the imaginary creatures with confidence that they will win the conflict. ‘We must have courage, my king. ‘(Patterson, 1995, p.17.) Leslie’s words of guidance encourage Jess to have strength and defeat the enemies. This encounter gives Jesse the confidence of a different kind, preparing him for the reality of bullies at school. Jesse gives Leslie back her advice when he encourages her to help Janice Avery, the school bully. Leslie finds Janice crying in the girls’ room and Jess convinces Leslie to comfort her. ‘Well, you’re the one who’s always telling me I gotta care’ (Patterson, 1995, p.81.) This quote demonstrates Jesse having the confidence to overlook the horrible things Janice has done and still help her. ‘Leslie, I swear – I’d go in there if I could’ (Patterson, 1995, p.81.) By facing these enemies, Jesse’s courage and confidence grows so that he can overcome any challenge.
Leslie’s friendship ignites Jesse’s imagination and allows it to grow and develop. Before Leslie came into Jesse’s life; his father did not understand or approve of Jesse drawing. This hampered Jesse’s imagination and as a result he is unsure of his identity. ‘How he yearned to reach out and capture the quivering life about him and how when he tried, it slipped past his fingertips, leaving a dry fossil on the page?’ (Paterson, 1995, p. 45.) This is an example of how Jesse’s creativity is limited. On the other hand, Leslie helps Jesse realise that he is an artist and influences his creativity. One way she did this was by giving him a box of watercolours for a present at Christmas. ‘He wanted to tell her how proud and good she made him feel, that the rest of Christmas didn’t matter because today had been so good’ (Patterson, 1995, p.68.) For Jesse, this present symbolises Leslie’s belief in him and helps him to discover his identity. The growth of Jesse’s imagination was promoted by Leslie when she encouraged him to draw.
Bridge to Terabithia is about Jesse Aarons and how Leslie Burke’s friendship lead him to become a more courageous, confident and imaginative person. Leslie offers words of advice to Jesse giving him the strength to conquer his foes. Her friendship gives him vision and nurtures his imaginative growth. This is evident when Jesse is moved by her Christmas present. Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke teach one another and Leslie’s friendship guides Jesse to evolve and become a better person.
Bridge to Terabithia (1977), by Katherine Paterson is a coming-of-age, heart-wrenching but exciting book about Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke who rule an imaginative land called Terabithia to escape the pressures of school, bullies and family. In the novel, Leslie’s friendship acts as a guide for Jesse as he faces these challenges and difficulties of adolescence. Leslie helps Jesse grow and develop as a person. Her words of advice give him the courage and confidence to conquer his foes and her friendship fosters his imaginative growth.
Jesse becomes more courageous and confident by facing his rivals,
with the assistance of Leslie. In the novel, Jesse and Leslie confront imaginary foes that invade Terabithia in their long absence. Jesse is initially scared. But with Leslie’s words of advice, they fight the imaginary creatures with confidence that they will win the conflict. ‘We must have courage, my king. ‘(Patterson, 1995, p.17.) Leslie’s words of guidance encourage Jess to have strength and defeat the enemies. This encounter gives Jesse the confidence of a different kind, preparing him for the reality of bullies at school. Jesse gives Leslie back her advice when he encourages her to help Janice Avery, the school bully. Leslie finds Janice crying in the girls’ room and Jess convinces Leslie to comfort her. ‘Well, you’re the one who’s always telling me I gotta care’ (Patterson, 1995, p.81.) This quote demonstrates Jesse having the confidence to overlook the horrible things Janice has done and still help her. ‘Leslie, I swear – I’d go in there if I could’ (Patterson, 1995, p.81.) By facing these enemies, Jesse’s courage and confidence grows so that he can overcome any challenge.
Leslie’s friendship ignites Jesse’s imagination and allows it to grow and develop. Before Leslie came into Jesse’s life; his father did not understand or approve of Jesse drawing. This hampered Jesse’s imagination and as a result he is unsure of his identity. ‘How he yearned to reach out and capture the quivering life about him and how when he tried, it slipped past his fingertips, leaving a dry fossil on the page?’ (Paterson, 1995, p. 45.) This is an example of how Jesse’s creativity is limited. On the other hand, Leslie helps Jesse realise that he is an artist and influences his creativity. One way she did this was by giving him a box of watercolours for a present at Christmas. ‘He wanted to tell her how proud and good she made him feel, that the rest of Christmas didn’t matter because today had been so good’ (Patterson, 1995, p.68.) For Jesse, this present symbolises Leslie’s belief in him and helps him to discover his identity. The growth of Jesse’s imagination was promoted by Leslie when she encouraged him to draw.
Bridge to Terabithia is about Jesse Aarons and how Leslie Burke’s friendship lead him to become a more courageous, confident and imaginative person. Leslie offers words of advice to Jesse giving him the strength to conquer his foes. Her friendship gives him vision and nurtures his imaginative growth. This is evident when Jesse is moved by her Christmas present. Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke teach one another and Leslie’s friendship guides Jesse to evolve and become a better person.