1. Written by Barack Obama Presentation by Joshua Won (MS10135)
Dreams from my Father
Written by Barack Obama
Presentation by Joshua Won (MS10135)

2. Summary
Story about Barry’s (Obama’s) childhood when he was living with his grandparents and his mother in Hawaii, United States.
Wasn’t able to adapt to school environment well, but became better when he became friends with a black girl named Coretta.
Boys fooled Barry by describing him as Coretta’s boyfriend, so Barry pretended he did not know Coretta at all.
Barry and Coretta broke their relationship as friends, but Barry was able to have better relationship with other boys.
One day Barry’s father came to see Barry from Kenya; Barry was very excited because it was the first time in his life meeting his father.
Father and Barry shared a lot of stories from when Barry was a baby until that day; grandparents and mother had lots of fun and talk with father, too.
However, grandparents felt that they were acting like servants of father, and mother had to act according to grandparents.

3. Summary
Also, father didn’t let Barry enjoy his free time and wanted Barry to study in his room, but it was two days before Christmas so Barry was very disappointed.
Plus, grandparents and father had conflict with each other because grandparents thought father was acting just by himself, and he shouldn’t act like that when he came back years afterwards.
But, the next day father came to school for a special talk with Barry’s class.
Barry was very nervous because he lied to his friends that his grandpa was a king of a tribe Luo, where Barry belonged to, and his father was a prince.
However, as father talked about the special customs and morals inside Luo, and Kenya’s hard work for freedom, the whole class was very impressive to father’s speech.
From that day Barry felt himself as a special one, and his father was incredible.

4. Summary
The day father departed for Kenya came; so Barry and Father danced matching the rhythms of an old, exciting song of Kenya. Also, Father gave Barry his last present to him: a brown basketball.
Today Barack still remembers that day because that day was the last time he had seen his father.

5. Pictures A cartoon Obama watched in Christmas
Obama at Punahou School with his classmates.
A beach near Obama’s house.
An old CD Player father brought for dancing

6. Plot
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Denouement
Barry has conflict when adapting to school and father comes to see him.
Explains the setting and the time of the story.
Barry and Father have a fun dance night with each other.
Father has a speical class with Barry’s class and the whole class was impressive
Father and family has a serious conflict

7. Literary Elements
First Person’s Point of View The author, Barack Obama, narrates the story.
‘……I sat, embarrassed, until the door finally opened and we went up the stairs to our classroom.’ (Page 834, Lines 33-34)
Autobiography This story is about a true person’s story, Barack Obama’s childhood.
Suspense When father was having conflict with Barry, the acts of father and Barry makes curiosity what the next part of the story might be.
‘……“I tell you, Barry, you do not work as hard as you should. Go now, before I get angry with you.” I went to my room and slammed the door, listening as the voices outside grew louder, Gramps insisting……’ (Pages , Lines )

8. Literary Elements Simile There’s a simile in this story.
‘…… When I finally said “Luo,” a sandy-haired boy behind me repeated the word in a loud hoot, like the sound of a monkey.’ (Page 834, Lines 49-50)
Alliteration A repetition of consonant sounds reveal in the story.
‘……”I’m not her boyfriend!” I shouted. I ran up to Coretta and gave her a slight shove; she staggered back and looked up at me, but still said nothing.’ (Page 835, Lines 91-92)
Flashback In the story, Barry rethinks the day of his father’s departure.
‘……Two weeks later he was gone. In that time, we stand together in front of the Christmas tree and pose for pictures,……’ (Page 842, Lines )

9. Literary Elements
Prop It refers to physical objects that are used in the story; in the story, props are the old CD player, Old Analog TV, etc.
Assonance Repetition of vowel sounds reveal in the story.
‘……She carefully folded the paper and slipped it into a drawer in the kitchen.’ (Page 836, Line 128)
Characterization Barack Obama directly describes the traits of his father.
‘……for whenever he spoke – his one leg draped over the other, his large hands outstretched to direct or deflect attention, his voice deep and sure, cajoling and laughing …’ (Page 839, Lines )

10. Literary Elements
Understatement When father gave some presents to Barry, he understates the presents.
I. ‘……until he finally pulled out three wooden figurines – a lion, an elephant, and an ebony man in tribal dress beating a drum – and handed them to me.’
II. ‘…...“They are only small things,” father said softly.’
I. (Page 838, Lines ) II. (Page 839, Line 208)

11. Thank You!!