The Story of Edgar Sawtelle By David Wroblewski Ashton Evans

David Wroblewski Born in Wisconsin near where The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is set Raised on a farm where his mother raised dogs most of his life Has lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, and Colorado Attended University of Wisconsin where he started as a theater major, switched to computer sciences, and finally graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts The Story of Edgar Sawtelle was his first book.

Background Story set in Chequamegon National Forest, near where Wroblewski grew up Modern day “Hamlet” Used Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book”, Shakespeare, and Stephen King as inspiration Main character is a mute who can communicate best with the dogs they raise Basis of story comes from past and childhood of growing up in rural Wisconsin, raising dogs

Background continued Edgar was born mute and lives on a farm with his parents raising dogs. Edgar’s uncle reappears in their lives and his dad dies Claude, the uncle, starts to force himself into their lives Tries to prove Claude’s a murder Edgar leaves but returns to prove Claude killed his father Claude poisons Edgar and they both die in a fire in the barn

Important Characters Edgar Sawtelle- Main character, a mute Trudy-Edgar’s mother Gar- Edgar’s father who is killed by Claude Claude- Edgar’s uncle, Gar’s murderer

Conflicts Claude vs. Gar- greed towards power Claude vs. Edgar- revenge towards killer Edgar vs. wilderness-struggle for survival Edgar vs. self- isolation from being mute

Themes & Motifs Family- how does this change before and after Claude comes Revenge-why is this important Truth-who is Claude really Anger-towards Claude Murder-lots of it Fate-how do their actions seal their fate Isolation-how does Edgar being mute affect him

Symbols Edgar’s mute- ability to see more than others, isolation Dogs-companionship Ghost-truth, purity

Author’s Style Prose-straight to the point and lacking flowery language Not many metaphors “natural and unfettered” voice