Summary Of The Book 'Unbroken'
Louie Zamperini, an olympic runner, WW2 officer, and a survivor. Louie ran in the 1936 Olympic games in Germany. Not doing as well as he expected, Louie planned to race again in 1940, but his dreams were displaced with the start of WW2. Louie then joined the air force and was later a castaway due to the plane crashing over sea. The book Unbroken, written by Laura Hillenbrand, focuses on the strong character traits of Zamperini such as his resourcefulness and determination.
Louie is very resourceful. On page 84, Louie and the rest of his flight crew were on the Superman and they couldn’t close the bay doors. “Louie had an idea. What if they tied parachutes to the plane, pitched them out the windows at touchdown, and pulled the rip cords?...
it was all they had.” (p. 84). Louie used the resources around him to find a compromise and fix the problem before them. Later into the book Louie, Phil, and Mac were stranded on a raft after their plane crashed over the ocean and needed a way to collect fresh water. “They had to find a way to save the water… Louie grabbed the air pump cases, tore the seams, spread the fabric into bowls and let the rain pool, sucking it up and spitting it into the cans.” (p. 112). Louie knew they need to save water if they were going to survive, so he used some of the supplies they managed to save to create an efficient way to collect and save it. Lastly on page 173, Louie started a box on fire in a POW Camp. “Louie saw a discarded apple box nearby. Remembering his boy scout training, he pried a slat from it, fit a stick into a hole in the slat, wound a bootlace around the stick, and began alternately pulling the ends, turning the stick until it began to smoke.” (p. 173). Louie, remembering his boy scout training, used his knowledge to his advantage while being in captive. Louie’s resourcefulness is one of his strong traits that helped him stay alive through all the terrible feats he endured.
Throughout all the hardships Louie encountered, his determination kept him alive. On page 113 Louie, Phil, and Mac were stranded on a raft and were in dire need for food. “Louie tied a small hook to a fishing line, baited it with albatross meat, and fed it into the water. A snark bit down and severed the line. Twice more, Louie tried... Louie felt a tug and pulled up the line, On it hung a slender fish.” (p. 113). Louie was determined to stay alive and to catch a fish. On page 114 Louie talked to the other two men to keep their brains moving. “Louie was determined to keep himself and the others lucid. … Louie began peppering Phil and Mac with questions on every conceivable subject.” (p. 114). Louie was convicted that by doing this he could keep their brains stimulated and prevent the men from becoming deranged. Finally on page 120 the Japanese were trying to bomb their raft. “The bomber circled back. Phil and Mac played dead, and Louie tipped back into the ocean.” (p. 120) Louie, determined to live got back into the shark filled water to avoid getting shot.
Throughout the book, Louie showed, in many different ways how resourceful and determined he is a person. These traits help readers understand the struggles Louie went through and how these traits kept him going. Throughout the book he was resilient and kept pushing forward. Louie’s resourcefulness and determination showed that he wasn’t ready to give up and that kept him alive. Louie is more than just an Olympic runner, and an Air Force enlistment. He is a survivor.
Louie is very resourceful. On page 84, Louie and the rest of his flight crew were on the Superman and they couldn’t close the bay doors. “Louie had an idea. What if they tied parachutes to the plane, pitched them out the windows at touchdown, and pulled the rip cords?...
it was all they had.” (p. 84). Louie used the resources around him to find a compromise and fix the problem before them. Later into the book Louie, Phil, and Mac were stranded on a raft after their plane crashed over the ocean and needed a way to collect fresh water. “They had to find a way to save the water… Louie grabbed the air pump cases, tore the seams, spread the fabric into bowls and let the rain pool, sucking it up and spitting it into the cans.” (p. 112). Louie knew they need to save water if they were going to survive, so he used some of the supplies they managed to save to create an efficient way to collect and save it. Lastly on page 173, Louie started a box on fire in a POW Camp. “Louie saw a discarded apple box nearby. Remembering his boy scout training, he pried a slat from it, fit a stick into a hole in the slat, wound a bootlace around the stick, and began alternately pulling the ends, turning the stick until it began to smoke.” (p. 173). Louie, remembering his boy scout training, used his knowledge to his advantage while being in captive. Louie’s resourcefulness is one of his strong traits that helped him stay alive through all the terrible feats he endured.
Throughout all the hardships Louie encountered, his determination kept him alive. On page 113 Louie, Phil, and Mac were stranded on a raft and were in dire need for food. “Louie tied a small hook to a fishing line, baited it with albatross meat, and fed it into the water. A snark bit down and severed the line. Twice more, Louie tried... Louie felt a tug and pulled up the line, On it hung a slender fish.” (p. 113). Louie was determined to stay alive and to catch a fish. On page 114 Louie talked to the other two men to keep their brains moving. “Louie was determined to keep himself and the others lucid. … Louie began peppering Phil and Mac with questions on every conceivable subject.” (p. 114). Louie was convicted that by doing this he could keep their brains stimulated and prevent the men from becoming deranged. Finally on page 120 the Japanese were trying to bomb their raft. “The bomber circled back. Phil and Mac played dead, and Louie tipped back into the ocean.” (p. 120) Louie, determined to live got back into the shark filled water to avoid getting shot.
Throughout the book, Louie showed, in many different ways how resourceful and determined he is a person. These traits help readers understand the struggles Louie went through and how these traits kept him going. Throughout the book he was resilient and kept pushing forward. Louie’s resourcefulness and determination showed that he wasn’t ready to give up and that kept him alive. Louie is more than just an Olympic runner, and an Air Force enlistment. He is a survivor.