Book Report
I.
Title – Gift from the sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Anne M. Lindbergh is a mother, pilot, explorer, writer and wife of famed
aviator Charles Lindbergh.
II.
Theme – Life, like the sea, may be unknown and often turbulent, yet it
also offers wonderful gifts – which are likened to shells – from which the
author draws inspiration about a woman’s life, its simplicity and complexities.
III. Setting – While
on vacation on Florida's Captiva Island in the early 1950s, Anne wrote this
essay-style work, which contains reflections on the lives of American women, in
the mid-twentieth century.
IV.
Plot
A.
Introduction/Exposition
·
Main character: Anne Morrow Lindbergh
·
Family members mentioned only (do not
appear) in the book: Anne’s husband, the aviator Charles, and their five
children
·
Secondary “characters” – the five major
shells and a few other shells
B.
Rising Action – tells the conflicts in the story.
1.
(Wo)man versus Nature – “The sea does
not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for
treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience,
patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith.”
2.
(Wo)man versus Society – “My life in
Connecticut, I begin to realize, lacks this quality of significance and
therefore of beauty, because there is so little empty space. Too many worthy
activities, valuable things, and interesting people. . . . We can have a
surfeit of treasures – an excess of shells, where one or two would be
significant.”
3.
(Wo)man versus Himself – “Solitude,
says the moon shell. Every person especially every woman, should be alone
sometime during the year, some part of each week and each day. . . You will
remind me that woman must be still as the axis of a wheel in the midst of her
activities, that she must be the pioneer in achieving this stillness, not only
for her own salvation, but for the salvation of family life, of society,
perhaps even of our civilization.
C.
Climax – This happens when
Anne reaches a realization while preparing to leave the beach: “Perhaps this is
the most important thing for me to take back from beach-living: simply the
memory that each cycle of the tide is valid; each cycle of the wave is valid;
each cycle of a relationship is valid. And my shells? I can sweep them all into
my pocket. They are only there to remind me that the sea recedes and returns
eternally.”
D.
Falling Action – When Anne leaves the beach behind and heads off to her family and
home in Connecticut, she thinks, “In the small circle of the home she [woman]
has never quite forgotten the particular uniqueness of each member of the
family; the spontaneity of now, the vividness of here. This is the basic
substance of life. … They are the essence of life itself.”
E.
Denouement / Resolution – “The waves echo behind me. Patience – Faith –
Openness, is what the sea has to teach. Simplicity – Solitude – Intermittency .
. . But there are other beaches to explore. There are more shells to find. This
is only a beginning.”
V.
Characters – Briefly explain who he/she is and how he/she is related to the
main character.
VI.
Character
Analysis – (For answers to nos. 1-4, please see text / chart above.)
1.
What is the physical description of
each of the main characters? Use quotes / details from the text to support your
answer.
2.
What motivates the main character to
behave the way she does?
3.
What is the internal mental, emotional
and spiritual state of the main character that she does not show others?
Use details from the text to support your answer.
4.
What are the external traits that the
main character shows others? Use details from the text to support your answer.
5. In your opinion, why does the main character hides truths about herself
from the other characters in the story?
In this essay-style work, Anne shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace,
solitude and contentment. She does not hide her thoughts and what she reflects
on as truths.
6. Describe events in the story that resulted in
the growth/development of the main character/s. – Please see section B and chart above.
7. In which part/s of the story did you become
involved in the emotions of the characters?
When the author goes to the beach and
hears the waves echo behind her: “Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea
teaches. Patience and faith.” I need to often remind myself to be patient with myself,
my loved ones and other people.
8. In which specific event would you have acted
in the same manner as the main character? Why do you say so?
There are two events: One, “I am seeking
perhaps what Socrates asked for in the prayer from the Phaedrus when he said, ‘may
the outward and inward man be at one’.” And, “I want first of all ... to be at
peace with myself. I want singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central
core to my life that will enable me to carry out these and activities as well
as I can.”
Like most youth, I have this struggle between
what I like to do (part of free expression and creativity) and what I am
supposed or expected to do (often obligations and responsibilities). Sometimes
I give in to the least resistance of the struggle, without thinking of the
consequences. I learn lessons from these occasions. As I mature, I hope to be
more focused and properly well-motivated.
9. In which specific event would you have acted differently from the main character? Describe what you would have done, instead.
In Anne’s being married – because I still
don’t think about getting married with a person and living with him. Now I can
only think of living with my mom forever.
10. As a reader, did you accept the main characters as plausible real
people? Why or why not?
Like Anne, I like picking shells along the
beach. I even talk to them at times. (I have a collection in my room.) I love
looking at them at times and when I do, I think of Jehovah God who created
them.
11. Did you find yourself totally immersed in the
world of the characters, or were
you unable to fully envision their lives and circumstances? Explain.
I found myself totally immersed. I even felt
I was along the coasts, like Anne, relaxing and meditating using God’s
creations.
12.
Which
characters did you find most relatable? Why?
I can relate to what the double sunrise shell
symbolizes – pure love, which in my case, my love for my mom. I learned some valuable
insights on how to love.
VII.
Conclusion
1.
What is your general impression about
the book? Discuss.
The book is very refreshing to read.
After reading it, the shells found on the beach will have meanings for me. I
think every girl should read the book. While
reading it, I also felt like the author herself is talking to me. I love the
way she takes up these conditions: simple, contented, alone, peaceful, loving
and young..
2.
Was the author successful in creating
authentic characters that helped in presenting the message of the story? Why or
why not?
Yes! J Even though the secondary “characters” are shells, they seem to be real
persons with qualities.
3.
Will you recommend the book to your
friends/loved ones? Why or why not?
Yes. First, because I think
the author is a great one. Second, because the book was recommended by my mom.