This piece of plague fiction was gripping, had complex and interesting characters, philosophical musings and themes. Station eleven by emily st john mandel themes, characters, tips for study. This study guide consists of approximately 79 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of station eleven. This post apocalyptic novel is set in toronto, and the great lakes area, which is a bonus for canadian readers but not a hinderance to anyone from somewhere else. Emily st john mandels station eleven a book that builds cumulative power i n her muchtipped fourth novel, longlisted last week for a us national book award, canadian author emily st. Mandel uses a few specific and tragic deaths to show how personal death is and consequently, how precious life is.
Most indicative of this turn is the recent success of canadian author emily st. Deeply melancholy, but beautifully written, and wonderfully elegiac. One of the major themes i identified in this book was how art makes us human. The book was also a finalist for the penfaulkner award in fiction in 2015 and the national book award in fiction in 2014. John mandels postapocalyptic novel station eleven, which was shortlisted for. A national book award finalist a penfaulkner award finalist. We meet kristen 20 years later into the future, where theres no such thing a countries, nations, or states. Essays on station eleven station eleven is a novel published in 2014 by emily st. These characters already speak to some of the major themes that formulate the novel. In both the pre and postflu worlds, characters pursue their art. An overview of the key themes and ideas in emily st.
Mandel, a 35yearold former dancer whose first three novels, released by the small press unbridled books, were all literary noir. Equal parts pageturner and poem entertainment weekly, the novel is. Station eleven by emily st john mandel lisas study guides. An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilizations collapse, station eleven tells the spellbinding story of a hollywood star, his wouldbe savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the great lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity. Clarke award in 2015 the novel was well received by critics, with praise emphasizing the understated nature of. Plague closed the theaters again and again, death flickering over the landscape.
Station eleven joins falls crop of dystopian novels. The novel takes place in the great lakes region after a fictional swine flu pandemic, known as the georgia flu, has devastated the world, killing most of the population. Station eleven study guide contains a biography of emily st. Station eleven is an adult post apocalypticdystopian novel written by emily st. A major theme in the book is the pursuit of artistic creation. Station eleven is so compelling, so fearlessly imagined, that i wouldnt have put it down for anything. Well, let us start with the main theme of the whole book. Her previous novels were last night in montreal, the singers gun, and the lola quartet. Arthur leander is an actor who suffers a fatal heart attack shortly after station eleven begins. Being a huge fan of station seven, and all they create, it was a no brainer choosing their parker theme for the all new design seeds site. In this way, the novel explores death both on a personal and global scale.
Station eleven themes from litcharts the creators of. This study guide consists of approximately 79 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis. John mandels fourth novel station eleven recently made the national book awards shortlist for fiction. I will be describing the two i felt were the most important. After kirsten and august meet one of the prophets men sayid. Arthurs death happens to coincide with the arrival of the georgia flu. His son, hamnet, died at eleven and left behind a twin. John mandels novel station eleven which was a finalist for a 2014 national book award. In the novel, the world has been torn apart by a deadly pandemic.
The washington post, san francisco chronicle, chicago tribune, buzzfeed, entertainment weekly, time, milwaukee journal. Station eleven is the kind of book that speaks to dozens of the readers in methe hollywood devotee, the comic book fan, the cult junkie, the love lover, the disaster tourist. Clarke award, which is given for the best science fiction novel in the united kingdom, and the toronto book award in the same year. From the font, to the responsive design, to all they pack into their themes, i can personally vouch for their products. Station seven squarespace templates, wordpress themes. The first chapter of the book begins with arthur leander acting as king. Although the novel describes events after a catastrophic fictional swine flu pandemic, it can be considered an introspection into our society both at the collective and. When station eleven was first published almost two years ago, i read the press release, flipped through it. This is my second favourite book in the entire vcaa english study design. The novel was listed as one of the best books of the year by the following publications. Exploring the theme of legacy in station eleven diy mfa. Station eleven opens with an individuals passing on the eve of the death of the majority of the worlds population, a contrast that is interrogated throughout the novel. One night, in a toronto theater, onstage performing the role of king lear, 51yearold arthur leander.
Although there are many tense and intriguing moments, the plot is not presented in a linear way. Kirsten runs into the prophet and he tries to kill her. John mandels fourth novel, station eleven, begins with a spectacular end. Station eleven is usually studied in the australian curriculum under. John mandel and im actually quite surprised by how enjoyable it was, especially considering that i bought this book on a whim two days ago without knowing anything about it whatsoever. The first scene of the book which takes place on the evening of the collapse and the first scene. Station eleven is a critically acclaimed 2015 novel by upandcoming author emily st. Station eleven themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. She distracts him with quotes from station eleven and a young boy n his cult kills him. Station eleven by mandel is a compelling look at what could have happened if sars had eliminated most of the population.
Station eleven is the fourth book by american novelist emily st. How do shakespearean motifs coincide with those of station eleven, both the novel and the comic. A model of a plot diagram, a format which station eleven does not follow. The novel is generally categorized as science fiction, due to its postapocalyptic setting and themes. Clarke award, was a finalist for the national book award and penfaulkner award, was an amazon best book of the month, and was named one of the best books of the year by more than a dozen publications. Station eleven study guide literature guide litcharts. Station eleven by emily st john mandel lisas study. Station eleven begins with the death of arthur leander from a heart attack, and then quickly moves to portray a world in which 99 percent of the population has died from a global flu pandemic.
Throughout station eleven the idea of change is evident. Doug knoop, the seattle times mandels spectacular, unmissable new novel is set in a nearfuture dystopia, after most seriously, 99. This ambitious story tackles a postapocalyptic world in which a super flu has wiped out the majority of the population. Many times through out the book they have to hunt to eat so we thought a great game would be to members try their hand at shooting toy bows at a target. Unlike most books you have read station eleven has no true climax. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including the best american mystery stories 20 and venice noir. Station eleven timeline by astacia franklin on prezi. Station eleven was a national book award finalist and a penfaulkner award finalist.
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