They look over Jim when a boy comes running calling for help, saying Mr. Dark is after him. Will?s dad says, ?Take me to him,? the boy and Will?s dad run off. Will?s dad asked the boy some questions and when he failed to answer them, Will?s dad grabs the boy. He sees the tattoos and illustrations on the boy, its Mr. Dark. They get in a scuffle but Charles still has him in his grasp. The boy threatens him with his power. Charles says, ?Evil only has the power we give it, starve, starve, starve.? The candles in Mr. Dark?s eyes blew out, hitting the ground he dropped to dust. For he would not help Jim.
Charles stood over the bones of Mr. Dark, watching as the illustrations and tattoos slowly faded away. The freaks did not know what to do. They all just stood around dumb struck at the sight. They went running about knocking off tent poles now free of Dark. Marauding freaks were dismantling the carnival. Now it was all over, But Miss Foley, Mr. Crosetti, the lightning rod salesman, why don?t they come back? Jim was cold as spaded earth.
Will thought Jim was dead. Wills dad yelled at him not to cry because, that?s what makes the night people stronger. They have to make some noise, hoot and holler. After some time Charles was able to get Will to loosen up. They went wild, they made an awesome ruckus, singing songs, laughing at everything, and mocking death. They were hooting and going all out, laughing all the way. They sang and danced around Jim?s body. Being as illogical about situations as anyone can, denying and undermining the people of the night?s strength. Jim awoke stripped from the powers of the people of the night, he was laughing and dancing with Will and his dad. They eventually wound down and looked around, the carnival was completely dead, and barren of anything that once was. They head for home. Talking of future battles with evil. They decide to destroy the carousel, if they get back on, they would only come back later. Then they all simultaneously ran off toward the horizon, and strolled into town.
After Reading
A single paragraph summarizing the novel.
This story is about the adventures of two boys growing up in an ever-changing environment. The boys are neighbors and are best of friends; their names are Jim and Will. They are put through the many tests of trust, friendship and loyalty, when they are pushed through the adventures and intrigue and mystery of the carnival. They discover the true purpose of the carnival and what its doing to people. It is a soul hunting carnival and it has come to town to feed. When the boys attempt to defeat the carnival and learn as much as possible about it fail, Will?s father steps in to help. Then the story turns into a father/son epic struggle against evil, meanwhile, confronting their differences, in the name of the good and the righteous. They inevitably come out on top and defeat the evil that walked amongst them, completely disregarding all the causalities to the carnival prior to their intervention.
Passage from the book
?Evil only has the power we give it.? Charles Halloway
This is indicative of the context in which Charles Halloway speaks. Will?s dad would always have good catch phrases that would seize the moment. Well that?s indicative of an over the hill deranged person who lives in the local library, instead of going home like normal people. A person that has nothing else better to do than think of good metaphoric passages at times, strong phrases that would stop you dead. A person who is completely detached from the world around them as Will?s dad was, until he joined in the epic quest to defeat evil. Where he became an attached deranged person, attached to his family, his son, the world around him, full of joy and victory, and happy go lucky liberal hoo ha.
Chosen Following
*Refer to attached*
Personal Responses
? What generalizations do the novel make about life?
No matter what you think, there is always something more to a situation than you believe.
? Do they agree with your personal philosophy?
Yes.
? Does your personal experience show them to be true or false?
True.
? Specifically, what personal criticisms do you have about the author?s work?
The author is another liberal; we already got enough of them. The story started out good then it just got cheesy.
? Is the plot credible?
Yes, in places, especially in the beginning.
? Are there enough suspense, excitement, and interest to keep you reading?
Yes, I enjoyed it.
? Are you concerned with the outcome of the story?
No, I?m not concerned about something I know is not real.
? Do you identify with the characters?
Yes. I battle evil on computer games and war RPG?s, roll playing games. I do not identify with them personally though.
? Are you personally involved with their problems?
No, because it is a little too much fantasy.
? Does the outcome fit your predictions?
Yes, all liberal outcomes are predicable. Father and son come together to defeat evil side by side. Nothing can defeat family bonding.
? Do you want to know what happens to the characters in the future?
No
? Is the outcome of the story logical?
It?s logical in an illogical state of mind. It is logical in a fictional book.
? Does the nature of the characters determine the outcome, or has the author relied on out side influences to determine the ending?
The author has relied on outside influences to determine the ending by using his beliefs to react upon the characters.
? Is the point of view consistent with the development of the novel?
Yes.
? Would you have chosen another person through whom to tell this story?
No.
? Does the point of view shift too often?
No.
? Are you able to tell who is the narrator?
Yes, always, it is the author, it never changes.