Elliot Sutton wears many masks to change his reputation and become one of the popular people instead of the outsider he is. When you live under illusions, how do you know what the reality is anymore? If you need to change yourself, are you allowing yourself to be exploited by others? Or are you exploiting yourself? Can your desire to fit in to the crowd be a tragic flaw? What power does Louise give Elliot in his struggle with illusion versus reality? Start blogging about the Othello themes in this novel.
50 comments:
RantisidHenry2
Other than illusion versus reality in the novel, "Inventing Elliot," how does the theme gender and power relate to this book? Can Louise give power to Elliot for Elliot's problem of wanting to fit in the crowd?
lujanahenry2:
when ellliot is trying to change himself from a nobody to a somebody, elliot learns when people are using him and manipulating him especially in the begining of meeting Oliver. i think that while elliot is changing, he is learning how not to be manipulated anymore. but how does this relate to othello?
DeeJHenry7
I think Inventing Elliot relates to Othello because elliot and othello are outsiders. they have alot of similarities and some differences. It this two novels relates to their themes such as: manipulation and expoitation, gender and power, tragic flaw, illusion and reality, jealousy, and outsider.
Trinidadahenry2
To : RantisidHenry2
Other than illusion versus reality in the novel, "Inventing Elliot," how does the theme gender and power relate to this book? Can Louise give power to Elliot for Elliot's problem of wanting to fit in the crowd?
Hey well I remember talking about this with ms. Henry as a group do u still need help with it? Other than that try to read this in your spare time. It will get you somewhat of a more clear understanding of the book.
http://www.counterculture.co.uk/book-review/inventing-elliot.html#top
Written for the 'young adult' market, Inventing Elliot deals with something everyone goes through; finding a place for themselves in society.
For Elliot Sutton, the job is particularly tough. His father's a wreck in the aftermath of a brutal mugging, his mother's run ragged and desperate for cash, and he's small for his age. His lack of confidence and security marks him out as a victim and a magnet for bullies and thugs.
When his father's government compensation pays for a fresh start for the family, Elliot reinvents himself; a fresh image, a cool haircut, a place in his new school's swimming team. His aim – to stand out just enough to fit in, to pass unnoticed by the agencies that secretly police his new environment. But his plan misfires, and he soon finds himself co-opted into the ranks of The Guardians, the school's unofficial elite. Now he's the one who must punish the misfits, the freaks and the victims. Prey has become predator.
Gardner is excellent on character and relationship. Elliot's alliance with a younger boy who reminds him of his earlier self is tenderly drawn, as is his tentative relationship with the bright but virginal Louise, and there's a powerful portrait of a vulnerable English teacher who tries to get behind Elliot's increasingly inflexible mask.
But the plotting is not quite so strong. The novel takes too long to build up to Elliot's central moral conundrum, and its eventual outcome is anti-climactic, with important elements of the storyline left unresolved. Its influences (primarily Orwell's 1984) are a little too visible in places and we never really learn much about the human motivation behind the sinister Guardians' philosophy of control.
Nevertheless, this debut novel offers a powerful insight into the masks and armour we assume in an effort to defend ourselves from danger, and the moral sacrifices we make in order to maintain an illusion of security.
trinidada2henry
To : lujanahenry2
when Elliot is trying to change himself from a nobody to a somebody, Elliot learns when people are using him and manipulating him especially in the beginning of meeting Oliver. i think that while Elliot is changing, he is learning how not to be manipulated anymore. but how does this relate to Othello?
Answer: Othello (He wants to date Desdemona) and Elliot (Elliot’s lack of confidence and security marks him out as a victim and a magnet for bullies and thugs.)are outsides and they realized it, so that they both do things to help fit in. Elliot is changing for his own good. Elliot is aim – to stand out just enough to fit in, to pass unnoticed by the agencies that secretly police his new environment. Othello: remember the part when he asks for the Duke to decide; weather he should or shouldn’t go to jail or something like that, find that quote because that kind of shows that he knows how not to be manipulated. Like he finds a way.
This story relates to Othello because Elliot and Othello have differences, such as Elliot for being a weak and weird student and Othello for being black.
I dont get it why would the guardians want Elliot to be in there click...They kinda say why but I still dont understand. theres probably more kids that fit that criteria.Is there any body else that fit to the outsider theme besides Elliot?
carmonapHENRY2
ACCORDING TO "INVENTING ELLIOT BY GRAHAM GARDENER, DOES A TRAGIC FLAW IN THE STORY BE LIKE HOW HE CHANGES HIMSELF TO BECOME ACCEPTED AS A PERSON BECAUSE HE DOESNT FEEL ACCEPTED? AND IN OTHELLO IS HIS TRAGIC FLAW IS WHAT??
RantisidHenry2
I really don't understand why Elliot would listen to Richard, one of the Guardians, advice about the date he had with Louise? Why did Elliot have to take Richard's advice of making a move on a girl, because now Louise just thinks of Elliot as just another boy whom just wants that one thing?
i don't get how imagery is used in the story. its confusing. thanks april for helping me. but why does elliot befriend ben? is he just trying to save him from the guardians or is their more? and is elliot afraid of the guardians will find out? i think that elliot wants to tell ben how to survive from the guardians, but why doesn't elliot do that?
lujanahnery2:
i just published the blog post above me.
RantisidHenry2
To:lujanaHenry2
Answer: I think Elliot befriends Ben because Elliot is scared of the guardians. Since Elliot was chosen to be a guardian, he was afraid that one of his classmates will notice him in a wrong way. If anyone notices Elliot in a wrong way, he will get punished that would be ordered from Richard, one of the guardians. He doesn't want his life to be the same way it did in the old school. This is probably why he befriends Ben because Ben was talking bad about the guardians.
DipratnaBhenry3
Hey people i need some quotes from Inventing elliot about illusion vs reality...if you help find some i can relate it to othello
Trinidadahenry2
To: DipratnaBhenry3
Hey people I need some quotes from Inventing Elliot about illusion vs. reality...if you help find some I can relate it to Othello
Answer: hey you well what chapter are you on? Well I would advise you to read all the parts were Elliot thinks to him. It’s usually when the text is written in italics; this is were he sometimes gets confused with the illusion and reality.
lujanahenry2:
hey people,
i can't find any diction that the author uses. even when i do find some, i can't usually find any to go with manipulation and exploitaion. if you find any for the last two chapters, i would appreciate it
Im wondering if Louise would be considered an outsider and how? and there were lots of quotes that got to do with the outsider in the first couple chapers but im having trouble finding some in the last couple chapters so if anybody has any I would like the help.thanks
that last one was mine... quintanarc7henry
While Elliot is changing himself and learning to protect himself from people using and manipulating him, in a way Othello is doing the same thing. But Othello is taking a turn for the worse. Instead of protecting himself like Elliot, he is letting Iago get to his head and control his thoughts. Othello is changing his feelings towards Desdemona according to what Iago says. In a way, both Othello and Elliot are changing their attitudes, although Othello's is in a negative way.
Quintanarchenry7
Im having trouble finding any symbols that got to do with the outsider theme?
RantisidHenry2
To: quintanarc7Henry
To your question,Im wondering if Louise would be considered an outsider and how?
I think Louise can be an outsider because first of all, she is the only main chrcater that is a girl in this novel. Louise can be descripted as an outsider because before Elliot and Louise had talked, explainning that they were both sorry for what had happenend that night, Louise felt that she was missing a part of her, feeling alone in other words. This means that Elliot is her friend and she does not want to lose him for just that moment that Elliot made which was stupid for him to do since he also got the advice from Richard. Louise wants Elliot as a friend of hers and he feels the same.
lujanahenry2:
to dina,
louise is considered an outsider because she seems to know nothing about the guardians and what they do. i have not heard anything about her saying how awful the guardians are and that she should say something about it. from her character, she obiviously likes to speak her mind and if she knew about the guardians, she would probably say something about what she feels is being done. elliots mom can also be considered an outsider because she is clueless in what elliot is becoming by the influence of the guardians and is basically an outsider in his life because she does not seem to be apart of anything and does not know what he is and what he is thinking.
Quintanarchenry7
Would George Orwell's book 1984 be a symbol for the Outsider theme?
Does anyone know any examples I can use for the literary term diction for the tragic flaws theme?
RantisidHenry2
Since Elliot and his mother had a long conversation, they both shared many things that were important to one another. I think having these relationship bonds between either mother-son or father-daughter are very special and are needed in family realationships. After having that talk with his inspirational mother, he finally went to school and had made the right decisions for him and his classmates, which was to inform the principle, of Holminister High School, about everything that is going wrong.
Arevaloahenry7:
Does anyone know a symbol that would relate to manipulation or exploiation?
a symbol for manipulation and expliotation would be the relationship between elliot and louise becaquse richard manipulates elliot by saying all girls want is physical contact, but when elliuot listens to him all it got him was a break-up and louise tells him that all guys are the same and all men are just after pleasure and never wanting committment.
wheelerkhenry2
sorry i forgot to type my info.
a symbol for manipulation and expliotation would be the relationship between elliot and louise becaquse richard manipulates elliot by saying all girls want is physical contact, but when elliuot listens to him all it got him was a break-up and louise tells him that all guys are the same and all men are just after pleasure and never wanting committment.
wheelerkhenry2
why do you think elliot changes his mind and goes to the principle's office?
RantisidHenry2
To:wheelerkhenry2
why do you think elliot changes his mind and goes to the principle's office?
I thnk the long conversation with his inspirational mother made Elliot chage his view on everything. His mother was telling Elliot that she will always love and trust him no matter what bad thing comes up. Elliot also, was just tired of being so many different Elliots to everyone. For example, Elliot had to be different to Ben, Louise, the Guardians and to his parents. There were too many Elliots control. This is why Elliot chaged his mind and just decided to make that right decision to go and tell the principle everything that is going wrong in Holminister High School.
RantisidHenry2
To: carmonapHENRY2
ACCORDING TO "INVENTING ELLIOT BY GRAHAM GARDENER, DOES A TRAGIC FLAW IN THE STORY BE LIKE HOW HE CHANGES HIMSELF TO BECOME ACCEPTED AS A PERSON BECAUSE HE DOESNT FEEL ACCEPTED? AND IN OTHELLO IS HIS TRAGIC FLAW IS WHAT??
A tragic flaw can be how Elliot is trying to fit himself to fell accepted. This is about Elliot's problem to try to fit in the crowd so that he can be noticed, so yes this can be a tragic flaw towards Elliot's position.
RantisidHenry2
What do you think will happen, after Elliot tells the principle of Holminster High School, about everything that is going wrong?
RantisidHenry2
To: Arevaloahenry7:
Does anyone know a symbol that would relate to manipulation or exploiation?
Maybe the handkerchif can be a symbol for manipulation or expoiation. This can be a symbol because Iago, purposely, had lost it so that Cassio could find it and that would make Othello believe that Desdemona did have an affair with Cassio. Iago is exploitating Othello by doing this.
lujanahenry2:
to arevoloahenry7:
a symbol for manipultaion and exploitation can be 1984.
if you read the last chapter, elliot goes back to what louise was saying how the man disobeyed the system and becomes the hero.
this can show how elliot can become the hero and stand up to the guardians.
RantisidHenry2
When Elliot goes to tell the principle of Holminister High School, do you think that something bad will happen to Elliot after telling the principle everything that has been going wrong?
ArevaloaHenry7:
To RantisidHenry2
I believe that Elliot will face negative consequences as a result of his actions, however,he will no longer have to hide who he truly is and be himself.
To: RantisidHenry2
Yeah, If he confesses to the principal, The guardians would beat the crap out of him, Louise would dump her, Ben would get mad and probably put him on his hit list and his mom would cry, talk to him several hours and move to another home or japan where no one would bother them.
in the end do you think it took more guts to confress to the principle... or does it show a sign of weakness?
wheelerkhenry2
that one was mine....in the end do you think it took more guts to confress to the principle... or does it show a sign of weakness?
wheelerkhenry2
in the end do you think it took more guts to confress to the principle... or does it show a sign of weakness?
wheelerkhenry2
to dina's question:When Elliot goes to tell the principle of Holminister High School, do you think that something bad will happen to Elliot after telling the principle everything that has been going wrong?
i think that nothing will happen and if something does happen he can handle it ... and the staff is there so...
lujanahenry2:
to answer part of dina's question, i think both good and bad will happen.
elliot will be the hero for the young boys who were tormented by the guardians because he has disobeyed the guardian system, just like the hero in 1984. but bad things will happen because if the guardians find out about what elliot has done, he will likely become the next tormented boy.
but i also have a question. is there any other symbols that have to do with manipulation/exploitation through out the novel?
To : wheelerkhenry2
It shows weakness because he can't take it anymore. And why would he confess to the principal if the new Elliot he invented was going well?
quintanarchenry7
I think it took strength for Elliot to say he truth. I don't think of it as a weakness because he had a long time to think about it. And it seems that he became stronger as the story went on..I think it showed that Elliot was destroying the many "masks" he created. He's trying to be himself now.
RantisidHenry2
To: wheelerkhenry2
in the end do you think it took more guts to confress to the principle... or does it show a sign of weakness?
In th end of the book, i think Elliot had more guts to confess to the principle of Holminister High School, because Elliot has been wanting to do this so that everyone would be equally treated and not punished. Also, because Elliot was just frustrated to have so many Elliots and since his mother is finally there for him, he decided he would start from start again, but this time to be ONE ELLIOT!
I need some help finding some quotes for jealousy and suspicion.
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