ENG 224 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Historical Fiction, School Story

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: English
• Course: ENG 224
• Professor: Benjamin Febrile

Document Summary

Although jill as narrator is positioned as the protagonist, she can also be seen as the antagonist given her actions. Jill creates conflict, not only with linda but also with her neighbour, mr. machinist, and justifies her actions by stating that these characters. Character who is in opposition to the protagonist and creates conflict. Wendy is the antagonist in blubber by creating conflict, going against adult authority, and controlling the other children, including jill, the protagonist. Wendy"s actions contribute to the plot and to the development of jill. By leaving the resolution open-ended and wendy"s actions unpunished, the book is making a point about the irresolvability of bullying. Although usually the protagonist overcomes the conflicts created by the antagonist by the end of the story, in this one wendy"s actions simply fizzle out. The fat that bullying fizzles out rather than is resolved properly means that child readers are offered an open ended treatment.