1. Everything is Illuminated
by Jonathan Safran Foer
OR Presentation by Mrs HR

2. Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
born February 21, 
1977 in Washington,  DC
begins writing at 
Princeton University 
under J.C. Oates
very modern writer (uses non-linear plots, poetic devices, stream of consciousness, etc.)
so far has written:
Everything is
Illuminated
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Eating Animals
Tree of Codes

3. Everything is Illuminated Plot
Climax: Jonathan, Alex, and Grandfather may -or may not- have found 
Trachimbrod
Rising Action: 
Jonathan learns more and more about his family's past
Exposition: Readers meet Jonathan and Alex as the two begin writing letters back and forth
Falling Action: The two
return home - Jonathan to
his writing and Alex to his
abusive father and guilt-
ridden grandfather
Resolution: Alex's Grandfather commits suicide; Alex is able to express his feelings and take his brother and mother away    

4. Literary Elements in the Novel
Dynamic character: Alex
At the beginning of
the novel Alex is
fearful for his
brother, lies to
Make himself
appear cooler, 
and holds on
to some slightly
racist ideas about Jewish people.
At the end of the novel, all this changes.
Textual evidence:
"My many friends dub me Alex...  I am always elsewhere with
friends 
disseminating  so 
much currency 
and performing so
many things that
can spleen a mother...I  have many, many girls, believe me, and they all have different names for me"

5. Literary Elements in the Novel
Motif: Collecting
Throughout the novel the characters collect
things:memories
of their families'
pasts, guilt from
actions they 
once took, and 
items that
Represent the
lost lives of other 
people.
Textual evidence:
"'Excellent, Didl said, pulling Volume IV of the Book of Recurrent 
Dreams...
Most 
excellent!  It 
won't be long 
before another 
volume is 
complete!...
But 
first we must review last week's entries..."

6. Literary Elements in the Novel
Internal conflict: Believe the stories of his family's past?
Jonathan is writing
the memoirs of his
family in
Trachimbrod,
but it is unclear
whether these stories
actually happened or
not.  He is conflicted
inside about whether or not he should believe this history.
Textual evidence:
“No hateful words were ever spoken, and no 
hands raised. More
 than that, no angry 
words were ever 
spoken, and 
nothing was 
denied. But more 
than that, no unloving words were ever spoken.... Love me, because love doesn't exist, and I have tried everything that does.” 

7. Themes in Everything is Illuminated
People's identities are shaped by both who they come from and who
they choose to be.
What happens in the
past directly affects
what happens
in the present and
what will 
happen in the future.
Friendships can overcome 
backgrounds, languages, 
and beliefs.

8. Evaluation of Everything is Illuminated
My Rating:
Recommend?: YES! (Especially
for students who like interesting
plots and poetic writing)
Why I love this book:  It blurs the
line between what we think is real
and what may not have happened
as we've been told it has.  It's
written with thought and beautiful
word choice.  It makes me both
laugh and cry.  It reminds me of
my own family, whose history may
not be as we say it is.