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Skellig Theme Analysis

Michael 8C

Skellig is a fantasy realism novel written by David Almond. It follows the perspective of Michael, a ten year old boy with an inner struggle, caused by the fight for the life of his baby sister, and the fight for the life of Skellig, the strange creature in the garage. Skellig expresses many different themes, one important theme being that it is important to treasure the important features in life. Almond expresses this theme in many different ways, including Michael feeling the babys heartbeat amongst his own, treating Skellig with very delicate care, and listening to the smallest, sweetest sounds of nature. One way that the theme is expressed is through Michael feeling his baby sisters heartbeat in his own chest. This can be interpreted in two different ways, literal and metaphorical. In a literal sense, due to Michaels limitless love towards his sister, it is as if he feels his own life is connected to her. In the scene where Michaels sister is getting her heart operated on and seemingly dies, his heartbeat appears to stop, as if he himself is his own sister. This is expressed when Michael says (referring to his heartbeat), But its only mine. Its not the babys shortly after waking up from fainting (150). Michael has such a connection to his own sister that they seem to suffer as one human being. As well as taking events of the story literally, one can also use the baby as a metaphor. At the end of the book, the family decides to name the baby: We thought a little longer, and in the end we simply called her Joy (182). This means that the whole time, Michaels connection to his sister was actually a connection to Joy. In a similar way to Michaels own literal connection with his sister, anyone may have a connection in their chest to the feeling of joy, an emotion that is overlooked by many in todays busy society. Michael, both literally and metaphorically, can sense the baby in his chest, showing that life and joy are possessions that should be treasured. Also, the theme is also expressed through Michaels delicate care for Skellig. At the beginning of the book, when Skellig is found in the old, abandoned garage, he is at the state of feeling hopelessness. This is shown when Skellig responds to Michaels questions about his identity, saying Nobody. Mr Nobody. Mr Bones and Mr. Had Enough and Mr. Arthur It is. Now get out and leave me alone (56). This leads on to Skellig realizing that care was all he ever needed. The indication that Skellig understands this is when he says, Thank you for 27 and 53. Thank you for giving me my life again (168). This means that, throughout the book, Skellig slowly comes to appreciate the care that he gets, something that - even though a very important quality of life many people take for granted. The comparison between the two quotes in the book shows that care is an extremely important feature in life to have. Finally, the theme is expressed through the time when Michael was listening to the small sounds of the blackbird chicks. Michaels focusing on the one small, fine detail in life caused him to see how many more important details there were to be found. This is shown in the book where Once I had found it, I could hear it along with all the other, stronger noises. I could open my eyes. I could look at Mina. Then I could close my eyes again and could imagine them there (60). Almond clearly shows that once small details (the chirp of the chick of a blackbird) are found, they can come in harmony with the rest of the world (the traffic, the breeze in the trees, and Michaels own breathing). In conclusion, Almond clearly expresses his theme of treasuring important features of life, such as joy, care, focus on detail, and life itself. He shows this through Michael having a connection to this baby sister, caring for Skellig, and listening to small, sweet sounds of nature, such as the chirping of the chicks of the blackbirds. This theme does not only appear in this book though. This is a theme that is thought of universally. It appears in my own life, where I sometimes need to sit back and appreciate the values that I already have, such as an education, literacy, health,

and food. This is also something that many others take for granted in society, as many are caught up in day to day issues such as work. When one sits back and thinks about the state they are in now, they would be much happier. In the end, this universal theme will show that thinking about the important values of life will make one much happier as a person.

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