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Stylistic analysis of the novel “ Number the stars” by Lois Lowry
Lois Lowry (born Lois Ann Hammersberg on March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of several books for children and young adults, including The Giver Quartet and Number the Stars. She is known for writing about difficult subject matters and complex themes in works for young audiences. Lowry has won two Newbery Medals: for Number the Stars in 1990 and The Giver in 1994. Her book Gooney Bird Greene won the 2002 Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Lowry was the middle child, with an older sister, Helen, and a younger brother, Jon. Helen died of cancer in 1962, but Lowry and her brother still share a close relationship. Lowry's father had a career as an Army dentist whose work moved the family all over the United States and to many parts of the world. Lowry's work Number the Stars was published in 1989, and received multiple awards, including the 1990 Newbery medal. Lowry received the Newbery medal again in 1994, for The Giver (1993). After writing The Giver, she published two companion novels which take place in the same universe: Gathering Blue (2000) and Messenger (2004). In 2012, she published Son, which tied all three of the previous books together. As a set, they are considered The Giver Quartet.
The first chapter opens with a street scene in Copenhagen. Annemarie, her younger sister Kirsti, and her best friend Ellen Rosen come home from school. On the way, two German soldiers stop them. The soldiers asked a lot of questions from the girls. Annemarie does most of the talking. The soldiers let the girls go, warning them not to run any more because it makes them "look like violent people" In silence, the girls walk home as quickly as possible. They reach the building where their families live, careful to avoid notice by another pair of soldiers on their corner. As they part, Ellen admits that she was scared and Annemarie says she was, too. They agree not to tell their mothers about the incident. In the Johansen's apartment, Mrs. Johansen and Mrs. Rosen are waiting for their daughters to arrive. The women are drinking what they call coffee, which is actually only herbs in water because of the rationing. Kirsti gets to the door first and tells her mother what happened, exaggerating the story. Both mothers are concerned. Mrs. Johansen explains to Mrs. Rosen that the soldiers are "not calm because of the latest Resistance incidents." Annemarie pretends not to be listening to the discussion. Her mother whispers that their friend Peter Neilsen has brought the illegal Resistance newspaper, De Frie Danske. The girls are to take a different route to school from now on. Mrs. Rosen leaves to talk to her daughter Ellen. The girls are hungry, but there is little to eat. They have bread, but no butter. Kirsti wants a cupcake. Mrs. Johansen gently explains to her daughter that there is no sugar and there will be none until the war ends and the soldiers leave.
The general mood of the novel is very pathetic. Because in this chapter events of the war and difficulties of the people at that time were described sadly.
The novel is narrated by the author. But there are some scenes which are told in the dialogue forms. For example, conversations between soldiers and Annemarie, talks among mothers of young girls are written in dialogue forms.
From the first moments of Number the Stars, Lowry writes about the difficulty of war when you are a child. Young girls are scared immediately when they come across soldiers because they know about fearful war and its results. Though Annemarie is not the narrator of the novel, “Number the Stars” is told from her point of view. Much of the novel is filled with her thoughts and feelings about the events surrounding her.
Ellipsis “ What is in here?” “ Schoolbooks” she answered truthfully.
Simile “She is pretty like my own little girl”….
Metaphor “ Where is Ellen? Mrs. Rosen had a frightened look.”
Epithet: “She was a stocky ten year old, unlike lanky Annemarie”
Interjection “ Oh, it`s all right….”
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