A Monster Calls Reader Response
Victoria Hernandez
Rodney Rather
English 1302
Reader’s Response: “A Monster Calls”
In “A Monster Calls”, the yew tree is a confusing character, one moment it wants to help Conor and the next you think he is trying to get him into trouble. For instance, when Harry tells Conor that he “no longer sees” him. The monster is the one that attacks Harry “then the monster leapt forward to make Harry see.” Although the monster is the one that destroyed Conor grandma’s sitting area. The monster also shelter’s Conor, the night his mother dies. The tree may not heal his mother, but he does heal Conor at least starts him down the road to recovery.
“A Monster Calls” also uses the cancer that Conor’s mother has, for a metaphor for change, and loss. In the scene in which Conor's grandma tells him he's got a home with her and Conor tells her he won't need one, she says, "She'll seem better tomorrow, but she won't be, Conor.” We see change and loss in two ways here: not only is Conor's life changing dramatically, his mom's condition changes from day to day. He never knows if today will be the day he loses her or not. Cancer is, in effect, jerking them all around.
The Author of “A Monster Calls” Patrick Ness described grief and pain, and use of imagery. I loved Conner, our main character, and I was with him every step of the way, throughout his confusion, anger and sadness. The addition of the ‘monster’ may sound silly and infantile it’s not just a ‘monsters under the bed’-type story. The monster is terrifying at times but also is a unique character that serves a positive purpose.
Rodney Rather
English 1302
Reader’s Response: “A Monster Calls”
In “A Monster Calls”, the yew tree is a confusing character, one moment it wants to help Conor and the next you think he is trying to get him into trouble. For instance, when Harry tells Conor that he “no longer sees” him. The monster is the one that attacks Harry “then the monster leapt forward to make Harry see.” Although the monster is the one that destroyed Conor grandma’s sitting area. The monster also shelter’s Conor, the night his mother dies. The tree may not heal his mother, but he does heal Conor at least starts him down the road to recovery.
“A Monster Calls” also uses the cancer that Conor’s mother has, for a metaphor for change, and loss. In the scene in which Conor's grandma tells him he's got a home with her and Conor tells her he won't need one, she says, "She'll seem better tomorrow, but she won't be, Conor.” We see change and loss in two ways here: not only is Conor's life changing dramatically, his mom's condition changes from day to day. He never knows if today will be the day he loses her or not. Cancer is, in effect, jerking them all around.
The Author of “A Monster Calls” Patrick Ness described grief and pain, and use of imagery. I loved Conner, our main character, and I was with him every step of the way, throughout his confusion, anger and sadness. The addition of the ‘monster’ may sound silly and infantile it’s not just a ‘monsters under the bed’-type story. The monster is terrifying at times but also is a unique character that serves a positive purpose.