Standing Alone HUM 3285: Postmodern Adolescent Literature Spring 2012 Dr. Perdigao February 1, 2012

Revelations Reality of death “‘We are all mortal’”; “‘We must all die someday’” (208) Representation of mother (200, 201) Fragmentation Hope for father’s escape, rewriting ending Trauma Repression Screaming ( , 199)

Surviving Adolescence? Third annual questioning Age 17? Adam’s precarious placement at the novel’s end Surviving adolescence, trapped within it, retreat to childhood Perversion of MacLeod’s notion of the guide/guru in Brint “‘I am merely your guide to the past. I don’t direct you. In fact, I often follow where you lead’” (170). Here, manipulation, power games

Deconstructing the Narrative Narratives intersect between questions and narrative filled in (201) Brint as Grey? What Adam knows Man “taller than ever” as Thompson/Grey? (201) Gray pants Does he suppress the knowledge that Brint wants?

Cycling, Circling Narratives Retreating as journey on bike Relationship between the narratives Intersection of narratives when Whipper pushed him into the ditch, unresponsive (96-97) Already has forgotten Amy and the phone calls when he returns to the bike (204) Trapped inside the gates, enclosed system (205)

CLUE First two letters of mystery novel as key: “‘I’ll show you a mystery novel in which the first two letters of the first word of the first chapter hold the secret to the book!’” (33). Resolution with identified characters Mr. Harvester, maintenance man=man at the gas station Whipper, Dobbie, Lewis Luke, switchboard operator=diner Arthur, Junior Varney

Resolutions? Asks what happened to his father, doesn’t know what happened (208) Learns father is dead (208) Dupont and the box Keeps singing, finally finishes the song Pokey the Pig Adam forgets identity, Paul, Adam Farmer, other name (210) Only identifies as the cheese

Final Transcripts File Data Subject A Personnel #2222 Department I-R Witness #599-6 Termination Whether the knowledge is there, repressed, “psychological residue” (212) His death as advisory, terminated or kept until he dies

Loopiness Begins again Mirrors chapter 1