LITERATURE ANALYSIS #1

Crispin The Cross of Lead
By Avi

In this novel many exciting events occurs during a small period of time. In the exposition we start out with a young boy and his mother who dies, both start out to be nothing; living in a small village where they're treated like trash by everyone who inhabits the small village. In the inciting incident the main character is blamed for crime which he has not committed. He is then tittled a "Wolf's head" which back in that time period was considered a real big deal and extremely bad. The main character doesn't really have a name, he's known and goes by Asta's son. Asta was his mother who earlier in the novel dies. Soon after the main character is proclaimed a Wolf's head, the priest of the village, and only friend of the character, reveals to him his true name. The character is astonished to discover his true name, his name has been Crispin. Crispin is wanted and looked for all over his town so that he can pay in death for the crime which he was acussed for. Crispin trys to avoid the charged crime so he runs away from the town. He later on meets a man that goes by Bear. Bear end up claiming Crispin as his own and they become friends. Bear helps Crispin escape and teaches him new ways. They travel far and end up in a great big town where they end up face to face with one of the soldiers from Crispin's old town. The solider attempt to capture Crispin, but do not successfully capture him. In the climax bear gets captured by the soldiers and crispin goes to his aid and saves Bear. In the resolution Crispin also discovers that he is not trash, but royalty and comes from fine blood. Crispin is then left alone and allowed to live a happy life with his new father, Bear. The setting has to do sometime around 1373.  The purpose for the author I think is to reach out to readers who feel as if they are to small to over come big obstacles and too inspire readers.


I feel as if the theme of the story was struggle, friendship, adventure, loyalty and death.

literary elements: In one of the chapters of the book Bear tells Crispin that he's as ignorant as a turnip. Quote, "True, youre as ignorant as a turnip." pg. (156)
example of struggle," his bloodstained body was stripped and walted as if he had been whipped." pg. (282)
Example of adventure in the book, "Over the next twenty days , we sometimes followed roads, sometimes only paths. Now and again we made our way through open fields." pg. (152)
Example of imagery, "A steady, hissing rainhad turned the ground to clinging mud. No birds sang. no bells tolled. The sun hid behind the dark and lowering clouds." pgs. (1,2)
Great supporting example of struggle and death, "I peered closer only to see his throat had been slit. His blood made, made black by night, lay pooled upon the ground." pg. (55)