There are several relationships that revolve around Elliot in the novel. Most importantly are Elliot's relationships with his mother, an early acquaintance Oliver, his Guardian mentor and primary antagonist Richard, his friend Ben, and his love interest Louise. Elliot is originally very close to his mother, but as the story unfolds Elliot distances himself from her, afraid she'll hate Elliot for what he's done at school. Oliver begins an enigma, an all-knowing and mysterious guy who tells Elliot about the Guardians. He acts almighty when he first meets Elliot, though cowers in total respect once Elliot becomes a Guardian, and soon becomes insignificant. Richard gives Elliot the most trouble. he terrifies Elliot when they first meet, and once Eliot is one of his, he teaches Elliot the philosophy of the Guardians, revealing just how evil his organization is. He is also one of the major reasons Elliot has problems with Ben and Louise. Elliot and Ben felt happy with eachother, each being an escape from eachother's troubles. Elliot and Louise had a mutual romantic bond with eachother, and Elliot felt happy with her as well. However, Elliot cut his ties with both of them since they were closest to bringing the truth out of him, and if Elliot's identity as a Guardian was disclosed to anyone, he would become a victim all over again. Most of Elliot's relationships, and all of his good ones, are ruined by his selfish will to survive. Ironically though, it was his bonds with his friends and family that kept his will to live going. "He had pushed away and cut himself off from everything that mattered - everyone he cared for and who cared for him." (Gardner 182) In a sense, Elliot destroys himself while trying to stay intact; that makes his relationships ironic and thoughtful.
Maria Kostakis Ms. Morris ENG 1D1 4 May 2009 ISU Part 2-Optional Question #5
One of the relationships that existed in the novel was Elliot and his father’s relationship. The relationship between the two of them developed in a bad way. They kept growing farther and farther apart ever since his father’s accident, to the point where Elliot wished his own father to be dead. His father and him used to be so close that they would go to the library every Saturday together, which was a ritual to them. After his father’s accident though he missed going to the library, his father’s jokes, having dinner altogether as a family with or without conversation. “It’s a question of putting your mind to it, he used to say-usually when they were eating dinner in the evening. If you’re serious about something you put your mind to it, and if you put your mind to it you will get it done.” (Gibbons 13-14) This quote is an example of what his father spoke to him about at the dinner table sometimes and how much he had missed repeating himself over and over again. Their relationship was obviously very strong but unfortunately after what had happened to his father, the relationship they once had would never be the same again.
Elliot has many relationships, good and bad in this novel. I will go in order of appearance. Elliot used to have a good relationship with his dad, until… “His dad had been attacked walking back to his car. Whoever it was – his dad didn’t remember anything, and there had been no witnesses – had taken his wallet and car keys and mobile. And fractured his skull, broken his ribs, ruptured his spleen. Left him lying on the pavement bleeding to death. Dying.” (Gardiner 12-13) That happened 3 years prior to the beginning of the novel, and ever since then, Elliot’s dad didn’t do anything other than sit in the couch and watch TV. Elliot’s relationship with his mom is an okay one, because they still talk, just not as much because Elliot’s mom has to spend most of her time working, because Elliot’s dad doesn’t do anything. On the day that Elliot started at Holminster High, he met a student called Oliver. He immediately distrusted him, but later on in the novel, Oliver leads Elliot to the forest to become a Guardian. Elliot meets a boy named Ben. He isn’t a very popular person at Holminster, so Elliot and Ben don’t interact at school. But, on the weekends, they hang out with each other. They met while swimming. This girl at Holminster named Louise bumped into Elliot, and he fell in love with her. They end up being really great friends, and eventually, they go out.
Santhia Sivasuntharam Ms. Morris ENG 1D1 May 7 2009
ISU Part Two - Optional Question 5 Throughout the whole novel, there were many relationships. One of the relationships Elliot had was with his mother. They became very close after his fathers accident. Later, when they moved to have a new start everything changed. Elliot re-invented himself into someone, he didn’t want to be. After this incident his mother didn’t even know who Elliot was. She had no clue about his behavior and the way he acted. Elliot’s mother tells him that she doesn’t even know who he is anymore and that they don’t talk anymore. “Suddenly you look-different. More grown up, I suppose. Not the -. She looked down. I couldn’t expect you never to change.” (Gibbons 176) He lost his relationship with her when he becomes a new Elliot. Before his fathers accident he had really good relationship with his father. “His dad had been attacked walking back to his car. Whoever it was – his dad didn’t remember anything, and there had been no witnesses – had taken his wallet and car keys and mobile. And fractured his skull, broken his ribs, ruptured his spleen. Left him lying on the pavement bleeding to death. Dying.” (Gardiner 12/13)Every Saturday they both went to the library to get books. Elliot and his family always sat together at dinner and had a conversation. One day when his father got into an accident, his father changed. His father is not the same father he was before. The only thing his father does is sit, eat, and watch television and sleep. Sometimes Elliot even wishes his father was dead. He believes that his father already died and the man sitting in his house is just a man who looks like his father. Elliot misses the times when his father always said “It’s a question of putting your mind to it; he used to say-usually when they were eating dinner in the evening. If you’re serious about something you put your mind to it, and if you put your mind to it you will get it done.” (Gibbons 13-14) He also had a secret relationship with a boy named Ben. Ben was one of the targets for the Guardians. Elliot was the only friend Ben had and since Elliot was so afraid of the Guardians and the students at school would find out, he ruins his relationship with him. After, Elliot realizes everything that he has done, and who he has become he feels guilty. "He had pushed away and cut himself off from everything that mattered -everyone he cared for and who cared for him." (Gardner 182)
Question 5: There are many relationships in the book “Inventing Elliot”. Some of them are: Elliot/Richard, Elliot/Oliver, Elliot/Louise, and Elliot/Mother. The author helps to develop the relationship between his mother and himself when the night approaches in which him and his mother have a big fight, and the night in which him and his mother have a big talk at the end or the near end of the book. The author also develops Elliot’s relationship with Louise when they also get into a scramble.
There are many relationships in Inventing Elliot. For example, the relationship between Elliot and Oliver, Elliot and Richard, Elliot and Ben and Elliot and Louise. Those are the most important ones. Lets start of with the first one. Elliot and Oliver. These people meet near the beginning of Inventing Elliot. Oliver was the first person to ever talk to Elliot. He is the guy who introduces Elliot to Holminster High. He told Elliot about the Guardians and how things work in Holminster High. They quickly became friends. Elliot and Richard is the next relation. Richard is the leader of the Guardians. He is the one that wants Elliot to be a Guardian because he believes that Elliot has what it takes. Elliot lied to a teacher right in front of everyone, he is athletic (made the swim team and is third fastest) and he has good grades. Those are the qualities that Richard was looking for. Richard was Elliot’s leader. Elliot listened to what he had to say. And Elliot had to answer his questions. When Elliot got them right, Richard would be impressed. Richard was like Elliot’s mentor for power. Elliot and Ben is next. These two met when Elliot had noticed him in the change room after he was swimming. He is small is scared. The Guardians bully him. Elliot found his belonging and returned it to Ben. After that, they were kinda friends. Ben invited Elliot to his home and they looked at some photos. Elliot felt nervous being around Ben, because Ben was like one of the Guardians wanted. Next is Elliot and Louise. These two met is the hallway when Elliot bumped into her. She was holding a book called “Ninety Eighty Four” by George Orwell. She offered to let Elliot borrow it after he stared at it for a long time. After that they became friends. They starting going out after that. They had a small relationship but quickly broke up when Elliot did the wrong move because of Richard. Those are the relationships in Inventing Elliot.
Maria Kostakis Kostakis 2 Ms. Morris ENG 1D1 12 May 2009 Blogging Response for Question #5 The relationships Santhya had chosen to state are definitely agreeable and have clearly existed in the novel. Elliot did have many relationships including the relationship between Ben, his mother, his father, and a few others. For instance it is agreed that the relationship between his father and him has grown very distant ever since the accident his father had gone through. Before his father’s accident both of them used to be very close to the point where they went to the library every Saturday together, ever since then he missed going there with him, he missed his father’s jokes and his advice. “It’s a question of putting your mind to it, he used to say usually when they were eating dinner in the evening. If you’re serious about something you put your mind to it, and if you put your mind to it you get it done.” (Gibbons 13-14) Therefore, it is agreeable to suggest that the relationship they once had was no more.
Santhia Sivasuntharam Ms. Morris ENG 1D1 May 13 2009
ISU Part B - Optional Question 5-Reply
Ryan the relationships you haven chosen are good. The relationship with Elliot and his mother and how he messes it up after they move is agreeable. “Suddenly you look-different. More grown up, I suppose. Not the -. She looked down. I couldn’t expect you never to change.” (Gibbons 176) Unfortunately you are missing the important and main relationships in the book. For example, the relationship between Elliot and his father. When he looses his relationship with his father he starts to wish the man sitting in his living room is dead. Therefore, the relationship Ryan has chosen is agreeable and these relationships help the plot develop.
Holly Lecours Mrs. Russell ENG1D1 – 05 May, 15th, 2009
In the novel, Inventing Elliot, a strong relationship over time grows between Elliot the protagonist of the story and his mother. After Elliot and his family move to a new city, he and his mother start to grow apart. They are completely isolated from each other, living in the same house but their bond is as if their in two different worlds. Elliot would wake up in the middle of the night to find his mother crying on the couch. The two of them argued over every little thing; from buying a new uniform to getting a haircut. Elliot began to take up swimming again and made new friends but his mom did not notice or really want any part in it. As the book advances forward, Elliot personally grows and their relationship grows too. At one point Elliot just wants to give up and has no idea what to do. His mom finally realizes she was missing out on her child’s life and not explaining how she feels. “But I want you to understand this: I will never give up on you. Not while I’m still standing and breathing. Do you understand? Whatever happens, whatever you’ve done, I will never give up on you.” (Gardener 131) Just from this quote, it shows that even though their relationship struggled and the Sutton family went through some tough points earlier in life, she will always be their for him and never give up; no matter what. This represents her true love and caring for him, and how their relationship grew. Over time in the book Inventing Elliot the connection between Elliot Sutton and his mother developed into a strong and meaningful bond.
The relationships that Santhya has chosen to express in her response are definatley exsistant in the novel. I like how you picked out a couple of the main relationships in the novel to speak into detail about, but I feel that you should have mentioned some of the others ones, even if you were not going to elaborate on them. For example, maybe you should have mentioned the relationship between Elliot and Richard, who highly influenced Elliot and his decisions from the point the met on, and who also tore the relationship with Elliot and his mother a little more apart, as he was trying to hide that from her!! “Suddenly you look-different. More grown up, I suppose. Not the -. She looked down. I couldn’t expect you never to change.” (Gardner 176).
I feel I should also agree with how you described Elliot's relationship with his father, and how it worsed near the beginning of the book, following his accident.
I agree with Daniel, because when i did my own post, i forgot to add in Richard. Although, in my opinion, the relationships that Daniel mentioned were not all that important. i agree with "Elliot and Oliver, Elliot and Richard, Elliot and Ben and Elliot and Louise", but there are much more important relationships than these characters'. how about Elliot and his mother? because Elliot takes for granted how much his mother works, and his mother has no idea about how hard Elliot's life is. And what about Elliot and his father? how they "once upon a time" did many things with each other, how they used to love each other, but now sometimes Elliot wishes that his father was dead.
Also, i believe that almost everyone that posted a comment on "Question 5" did NOT remember to put some minor relationships. I know, I know, the question doesn't state that one must repeat every single relationship, but i thought that i should name a few, just to make it interesting. Oliver/Richard, Elliot's mother/father, louise/Guardian's... just to name a few.
In the one scene that Oliver takes Elliot to the Guardians, Elliot notices that Oliver is really afraid of the Guardians, especially Richard, because he is the leader. Elliot's mother keeps telling Elliot that his father will become better soon, although, it is clearly portrayed that she has a lot of doubt when it comes to her husbands health. It also states in the book that Elliot's mother and father get into lots of fights... well actually, she just yells at him a lot because she is tired of doing all the work while he just sits there. Louise hates the Guardians. she thinks that they are a bunch of phoneys that are afraid to fight there own battle. and although she hasn't met them, she is one of the few at Holminster that actually stands up for themselves when it comes to the Guardians.
Daniel, in my opinion, your post was great, it was just lacking a little. XD
Katie Konstantopoulos Mrs. Russell ENG 1D1 05 May 17/09 Response
In response to Daniel’s answer, I have to say that I do not agree with a few statements that he makes. The statement that Elliot and Oliver become friends is one of them. In reality, Oliver only talked to Elliot since the Guardians had expressed an interest in him. You can tell after since after Elliot becomes a Guardian, Oliver only respects him and stays away. I also don’t agree with the opinion that Elliot and Ben are ‘kinda friends’. Ben is the type of kid that Elliot would have been Elliot’s good friend had they met before. Elliot and Ben are good friends, they just don’t show it excessively because of their differences during school and since they are shy. I also have to disagree that Elliot is only loaned the book because he seems to be conveying an interest in. In fact, the book was one that Richard often quoted from to explain power and control, and Elliot was surprised that a girl like her would be reading that type of material. Therefore, I feel that some of the statements made were incorrect, yet I agree with the choices in relationships. Good job, Daniel!!! :-)
i really liked romans answer because of how he put it in order. i liked how he gave the quote which made me realize that there was once a relationship with his dad. i also liked his answer because he named all the relatonships even the littler ones like him and oliver. also i never saw that he had this many relation ships, i only could think of him and the girl so after reading this it made me think more about the book. thats why i liked romans answer
Question 5: In the novel, there were many relationships going on between Elliot and other characters. The strongest relationship between Elliot and another character was with Louise. It had all started with a conversation in the hallway, but grew into something stronger. They both liked eachother so they decieded to see eachother more. They would talk and walk home together, bringing up mostly opinions and feelings, although Louise mostly talked. The relationship between them did not end very well, but that was only because Elliot was not strong enough to listen to himself and what he believed. Another relationship Elliot had with a character was Ben. Ben was the small boy who got beaten up in the washroom just because the Guardians had chosen him. Ben and Elliot accidently met up at the place where they both share a strong passion for swimming, and although it was bad for Elliot to be seen with such a kid, he befriended Ben. Elliot and Ben hung out every Saturday after swimming, mostly viewing all of Ben's pictures. This relationship also did not end well. It did not end well because Elliot was to scared that he was going to get caught by the Guardians and Ben had revielled to Elliot that he was moving. It hurt Elliot deeply to think that Ben was leaving him and now he would be left alone. Another main relationship between Elliot and a character in the novel was the relationship between his mother. His mother had given up everything just so that she would be able to provide for her family and to be a good mother. After the family had moved in, things did not change. Matters between the family got worse. Elliot barely saw his mom and when he did, she was exhasted. Tehy barely spoke to eachother anymore. In the novel, at one time she had asked Elliot to come home a bit earlier so that he would be able to prepare dinner. Elliot had declinded because he had other things to do. This was really upsetting for the both of them and had resulted in a large argument. All of the relationships that Elliot was in, had all ended badly. They all ended badly because they all had to do with Richard and the Guardians. This caused Elliot to do the right thing at the end of the story.
In response with Terry's answer: I agree competently with Terry's answer to this question. He stated all of the relationships between Elliot and the other characters in the novel. Terry also stated the quotes from the book to give promising reassurance of these relationships. Also, I really liked the fact that Terry had connected all of the relationships together and showed that because some of the relationships were not in the best conditions, was because of a main source (the Guardians). Terry showed that Elliot's alliance with the Guardians was destroying his relationships and friendships between the other characters in the novel.
Roman, I agree with this. Oliver is also like Elliot’s personal school guide. Without Oliver Elliot’s school life could’ve been tough. Oliver was like a guy who gathers information and also a friend of Elliot’s. Ben has a good relationship with Elliot too. Elliot said that “He didn’t know if they counted as friends, or if they were just two people searching for a way of escape who had found it, temporarily, in each other.” (Gardner 102). Louise on the other hand, was a great friend to Elliot. Very shortly after they had their relationship, they broke up when Elliot had done something wrong. Something Richard had told him to do.
Elliot had several relationships in this novel including the relationships with his mom, Oliver, Richard, Ben and Louise. Elliot's relationship with his Mom used to be quite strong but then they stopped communicating and their relationship began to weaken. Oliver had been a good friend since Elliot's first day of school. Oliver was the first person Elliot had somewhat gotten along with at his new school and Oliver helped Elliot get to know the school. Oliver was also the one who told him about the Guardians, which brings us to Elliot's relationship with Richard, the Guardian leader. Richard was very powerful and was controlling Elliot's decisions and actions. Elliot was quite terrified of Richard but once he was around him more often, he understood how the organization worked. Oliver met Ben and Louise later on in the novel. Oliver met Ben at a swim practice, but since Ben wasn't very popular, Elliot and Ben only met after swimming t keep their friendship secretive. Oliver met Louise when they collided in the hallway one day during school. Louise played hard-to-get at first but then they grew quite fond of each other and like being together.
18 comments:
There are several relationships that revolve around Elliot in the novel. Most importantly are Elliot's relationships with his mother, an early acquaintance Oliver, his Guardian mentor and primary antagonist Richard, his friend Ben, and his love interest Louise. Elliot is originally very close to his mother, but as the story unfolds Elliot distances himself from her, afraid she'll hate Elliot for what he's done at school. Oliver begins an enigma, an all-knowing and mysterious guy who tells Elliot about the Guardians. He acts almighty when he first meets Elliot, though cowers in total respect once Elliot becomes a Guardian, and soon becomes insignificant. Richard gives Elliot the most trouble. he terrifies Elliot when they first meet, and once Eliot is one of his, he teaches Elliot the philosophy of the Guardians, revealing just how evil his organization is. He is also one of the major reasons Elliot has problems with Ben and Louise. Elliot and Ben felt happy with eachother, each being an escape from eachother's troubles. Elliot and Louise had a mutual romantic bond with eachother, and Elliot felt happy with her as well. However, Elliot cut his ties with both of them since they were closest to bringing the truth out of him, and if Elliot's identity as a Guardian was disclosed to anyone, he would become a victim all over again. Most of Elliot's relationships, and all of his good ones, are ruined by his selfish will to survive. Ironically though, it was his bonds with his friends and family that kept his will to live going. "He had pushed away and cut himself off from everything that mattered - everyone he cared for and who cared for him." (Gardner 182) In a sense, Elliot destroys himself while trying to stay intact; that makes his relationships ironic and thoughtful.
Maria Kostakis
Ms. Morris
ENG 1D1
4 May 2009
ISU Part 2-Optional Question #5
One of the relationships that existed in the novel was Elliot and his father’s relationship. The relationship between the two of them developed in a bad way. They kept growing farther and farther apart ever since his father’s accident, to the point where Elliot wished his own father to be dead. His father and him used to be so close that they would go to the library every Saturday together, which was a ritual to them. After his father’s accident though he missed going to the library, his father’s jokes, having dinner altogether as a family with or without conversation. “It’s a question of putting your mind to it, he used to say-usually when they were eating dinner in the evening. If you’re serious about something you put your mind to it, and if you put your mind to it you will get it done.” (Gibbons 13-14) This quote is an example of what his father spoke to him about at the dinner table sometimes and how much he had missed repeating himself over and over again. Their relationship was obviously very strong but unfortunately after what had happened to his father, the relationship they once had would never be the same again.
Roman Lapshin
Ms. Morris
ENG 1D1
May 7 2009
Elliot has many relationships, good and bad in this novel. I will go in order of appearance. Elliot used to have a good relationship with his dad, until…
“His dad had been attacked walking back to his car. Whoever it was – his dad didn’t remember anything, and there had been no witnesses – had taken his wallet and car keys and mobile. And fractured his skull, broken his ribs, ruptured his spleen. Left him lying on the pavement bleeding to death. Dying.” (Gardiner 12-13)
That happened 3 years prior to the beginning of the novel, and ever since then, Elliot’s dad didn’t do anything other than sit in the couch and watch TV.
Elliot’s relationship with his mom is an okay one, because they still talk, just not as much because Elliot’s mom has to spend most of her time working, because Elliot’s dad doesn’t do anything.
On the day that Elliot started at Holminster High, he met a student called Oliver. He immediately distrusted him, but later on in the novel, Oliver leads Elliot to the forest to become a Guardian.
Elliot meets a boy named Ben. He isn’t a very popular person at Holminster, so Elliot and Ben don’t interact at school. But, on the weekends, they hang out with each other. They met while swimming.
This girl at Holminster named Louise bumped into Elliot, and he fell in love with her. They end up being really great friends, and eventually, they go out.
Santhia Sivasuntharam
Ms. Morris
ENG 1D1
May 7 2009
ISU Part Two - Optional Question 5
Throughout the whole novel, there were many relationships. One of the relationships Elliot had was with his mother. They became very close after his fathers accident. Later, when they moved to have a new start everything changed. Elliot re-invented himself into someone, he didn’t want to be. After this incident his mother didn’t even know who Elliot was. She had no clue about his behavior and the way he acted. Elliot’s mother tells him that she doesn’t even know who he is anymore and that they don’t talk anymore. “Suddenly you look-different. More grown up, I suppose. Not the -. She looked down. I couldn’t expect you never to change.” (Gibbons 176) He lost his relationship with her when he becomes a new Elliot. Before his fathers accident he had really good relationship with his father. “His dad had been attacked walking back to his car. Whoever it was – his dad didn’t remember anything, and there had been no witnesses – had taken his wallet and car keys and mobile. And fractured his skull, broken his ribs, ruptured his spleen. Left him lying on the pavement bleeding to death. Dying.” (Gardiner 12/13)Every Saturday they both went to the library to get books. Elliot and his family always sat together at dinner and had a conversation. One day when his father got into an accident, his father changed. His father is not the same father he was before. The only thing his father does is sit, eat, and watch television and sleep. Sometimes Elliot even wishes his father was dead. He believes that his father already died and the man sitting in his house is just a man who looks like his father. Elliot misses the times when his father always said “It’s a question of putting your mind to it; he used to say-usually when they were eating dinner in the evening. If you’re serious about something you put your mind to it, and if you put your mind to it you will get it done.” (Gibbons 13-14) He also had a secret relationship with a boy named Ben. Ben was one of the targets for the Guardians. Elliot was the only friend Ben had and since Elliot was so afraid of the Guardians and the students at school would find out, he ruins his relationship with him. After, Elliot realizes everything that he has done, and who he has become he feels guilty. "He had pushed away and cut himself off from everything that mattered -everyone he cared for and who cared for him." (Gardner 182)
Question 5: There are many relationships in the book “Inventing Elliot”. Some of them are: Elliot/Richard, Elliot/Oliver, Elliot/Louise, and Elliot/Mother. The author helps to develop the relationship between his mother and himself when the night approaches in which him and his mother have a big fight, and the night in which him and his mother have a big talk at the end or the near end of the book. The author also develops Elliot’s relationship with Louise when they also get into a scramble.
Daniel Jubandhu
Mrs Russell
ENG 1D1
10 May 2009
There are many relationships in Inventing Elliot. For example, the relationship between
Elliot and Oliver, Elliot and Richard, Elliot and Ben and Elliot and Louise. Those are the most
important ones. Lets start of with the first one. Elliot and Oliver. These people meet near the
beginning of Inventing Elliot. Oliver was the first person to ever talk to Elliot. He is the guy who
introduces Elliot to Holminster High. He told Elliot about the Guardians and how things work in
Holminster High. They quickly became friends. Elliot and Richard is the next relation. Richard is the leader of the Guardians. He is the one that wants Elliot to be a Guardian because he believes that
Elliot has what it takes. Elliot lied to a teacher right in front of everyone, he is athletic (made the
swim team and is third fastest) and he has good grades. Those are the qualities that Richard was
looking for. Richard was Elliot’s leader. Elliot listened to what he had to say. And Elliot had to
answer his questions. When Elliot got them right, Richard would be impressed. Richard was like
Elliot’s mentor for power. Elliot and Ben is next. These two met when Elliot had noticed him in the
change room after he was swimming. He is small is scared. The Guardians bully him. Elliot found
his belonging and returned it to Ben. After that, they were kinda friends. Ben invited Elliot to his
home and they looked at some photos. Elliot felt nervous being around Ben, because Ben was like
one of the Guardians wanted. Next is Elliot and Louise. These two met is the hallway when Elliot
bumped into her. She was holding a book called “Ninety Eighty Four” by George Orwell. She
offered to let Elliot borrow it after he stared at it for a long time. After that they became friends.
They starting going out after that. They had a small relationship but quickly broke up when Elliot
did the wrong move because of Richard. Those are the relationships in Inventing Elliot.
Maria Kostakis Kostakis 2
Ms. Morris
ENG 1D1
12 May 2009
Blogging Response for Question #5
The relationships Santhya had chosen to state are definitely agreeable and have clearly existed in the novel. Elliot did have many relationships including the relationship between Ben, his mother, his father, and a few others. For instance it is agreed that the relationship between his father and him has grown very distant ever since the accident his father had gone through. Before his father’s accident both of them used to be very close to the point where they went to the library every Saturday together, ever since then he missed going there with him, he missed his father’s jokes and his advice. “It’s a question of putting your mind to it, he used to say usually when they were eating dinner in the evening. If you’re serious about something you put your mind to it, and if you put your mind to it you get it done.” (Gibbons 13-14) Therefore, it is agreeable to suggest that the relationship they once had was no more.
Santhia Sivasuntharam
Ms. Morris
ENG 1D1
May 13 2009
ISU Part B - Optional Question 5-Reply
Ryan the relationships you haven chosen are good. The relationship with Elliot and his mother and how he messes it up after they move is agreeable. “Suddenly you look-different. More grown up, I suppose. Not the -. She looked down. I couldn’t expect you never to change.” (Gibbons 176) Unfortunately you are missing the important and main relationships in the book. For example, the relationship between Elliot and his father. When he looses his relationship with his father he starts to wish the man sitting in his living room is dead. Therefore, the relationship Ryan has chosen is agreeable and these relationships help the plot develop.
Holly Lecours
Mrs. Russell
ENG1D1 – 05
May, 15th, 2009
In the novel, Inventing Elliot, a strong relationship over time grows between Elliot the protagonist of the story and his mother. After Elliot and his family move to a new city, he and his mother start to grow apart. They are completely isolated from each other, living in the same house but their bond is as if their in two different worlds. Elliot would wake up in the middle of the night to find his mother crying on the couch. The two of them argued over every little thing; from buying a new uniform to getting a haircut. Elliot began to take up swimming again and made new friends but his mom did not notice or really want any part in it. As the book advances forward, Elliot personally grows and their relationship grows too. At one point Elliot just wants to give up and has no idea what to do. His mom finally realizes she was missing out on her child’s life and not explaining how she feels. “But I want you to understand this: I will never give up on you. Not while I’m still standing and breathing. Do you understand? Whatever happens, whatever you’ve done, I will never give up on you.” (Gardener 131) Just from this quote, it shows that even though their relationship struggled and the Sutton family went through some tough points earlier in life, she will always be their for him and never give up; no matter what. This represents her true love and caring for him, and how their relationship grew. Over time in the book Inventing Elliot the connection between Elliot Sutton and his mother developed into a strong and meaningful bond.
The relationships that Santhya has chosen to express in her response are definatley exsistant in the novel. I like how you picked out a couple of the main relationships in the novel to speak into detail about, but I feel that you should have mentioned some of the others ones, even if you were not going to elaborate on them. For example, maybe you should have mentioned the relationship between Elliot and Richard, who highly influenced Elliot and his decisions from the point the met on, and who also tore the relationship with Elliot and his mother a little more apart, as he was trying to hide that from her!! “Suddenly you look-different. More grown up, I suppose. Not the -. She looked down. I couldn’t expect you never to change.” (Gardner 176).
I feel I should also agree with how you described Elliot's relationship with his father, and how it worsed near the beginning of the book, following his accident.
Great Work Santhya!!!!!
Roman Lapshin
Ms. Morris
ENG 1D1
May 15 2009
I agree with Daniel, because when i did my own post, i forgot to add in Richard. Although, in my opinion, the relationships that Daniel mentioned were not all that important. i agree with "Elliot and Oliver, Elliot and Richard, Elliot and Ben and Elliot and Louise", but there are much more important relationships than these characters'. how about Elliot and his mother? because Elliot takes for granted how much his mother works, and his mother has no idea about how hard Elliot's life is.
And what about Elliot and his father? how they "once upon a time" did many things with each other, how they used to love each other, but now sometimes Elliot wishes that his father was dead.
Also, i believe that almost everyone that posted a comment on "Question 5" did NOT remember to put some minor relationships. I know, I know, the question doesn't state that one must repeat every single relationship, but i thought that i should name a few, just to make it interesting. Oliver/Richard, Elliot's mother/father, louise/Guardian's... just to name a few.
In the one scene that Oliver takes Elliot to the Guardians, Elliot notices that Oliver is really afraid of the Guardians, especially Richard, because he is the leader.
Elliot's mother keeps telling Elliot that his father will become better soon, although, it is clearly portrayed that she has a lot of doubt when it comes to her husbands health. It also states in the book that Elliot's mother and father get into lots of fights... well actually, she just yells at him a lot because she is tired of doing all the work while he just sits there.
Louise hates the Guardians. she thinks that they are a bunch of phoneys that are afraid to fight there own battle. and although she hasn't met them, she is one of the few at Holminster that actually stands up for themselves when it comes to the Guardians.
Daniel, in my opinion, your post was great, it was just lacking a little.
XD
Katie Konstantopoulos
Mrs. Russell
ENG 1D1 05
May 17/09
Response
In response to Daniel’s answer, I have to say that I do not agree with a few statements that he makes.
The statement that Elliot and Oliver become friends is one of them. In reality, Oliver only talked to Elliot since the Guardians had expressed an interest in him. You can tell after since after Elliot becomes a Guardian, Oliver only respects him and stays away. I also don’t agree with the opinion that Elliot and Ben are ‘kinda friends’. Ben is the type of kid that Elliot would have been Elliot’s good friend had they met before. Elliot and Ben are good friends, they just don’t show it excessively because of their differences during school and since they are shy. I also have to disagree that Elliot is only loaned the book because he seems to be conveying an interest in. In fact, the book was one that Richard often quoted from to explain power and control, and Elliot was surprised that a girl like her would be reading that type of material.
Therefore, I feel that some of the statements made were incorrect, yet I agree with the choices in relationships. Good job, Daniel!!! :-)
i really liked romans answer because of how he put it in order. i liked how he gave the quote which made me realize that there was once a relationship with his dad. i also liked his answer because he named all the relatonships even the littler ones like him and oliver. also i never saw that he had this many relation ships, i only could think of him and the girl so after reading this it made me think more about the book. thats why i liked romans answer
Question 5:
In the novel, there were many relationships going on between Elliot and other characters. The strongest relationship between Elliot and another character was with Louise. It had all started with a conversation in the hallway, but grew into something stronger. They both liked eachother so they decieded to see eachother more. They would talk and walk home together, bringing up mostly opinions and feelings, although Louise mostly talked. The relationship between them did not end very well, but that was only because Elliot was not strong enough to listen to himself and what he believed. Another relationship Elliot had with a character was Ben. Ben was the small boy who got beaten up in the washroom just because the Guardians had chosen him. Ben and Elliot accidently met up at the place where they both share a strong passion for swimming, and although it was bad for Elliot to be seen with such a kid, he befriended Ben. Elliot and Ben hung out every Saturday after swimming, mostly viewing all of Ben's pictures. This relationship also did not end well. It did not end well because Elliot was to scared that he was going to get caught by the Guardians and Ben had revielled to Elliot that he was moving. It hurt Elliot deeply to think that Ben was leaving him and now he would be left alone. Another main relationship between Elliot and a character in the novel was the relationship between his mother. His mother had given up everything just so that she would be able to provide for her family and to be a good mother. After the family had moved in, things did not change. Matters between the family got worse. Elliot barely saw his mom and when he did, she was exhasted. Tehy barely spoke to eachother anymore. In the novel, at one time she had asked Elliot to come home a bit earlier so that he would be able to prepare dinner. Elliot had declinded because he had other things to do. This was really upsetting for the both of them and had resulted in a large argument. All of the relationships that Elliot was in, had all ended badly. They all ended badly because they all had to do with Richard and the Guardians. This caused Elliot to do the right thing at the end of the story.
In response with Terry's answer:
I agree competently with Terry's answer to this question. He stated all of the relationships between Elliot and the other characters in the novel. Terry also stated the quotes from the book to give promising reassurance of these relationships. Also, I really liked the fact that Terry had connected all of the relationships together and showed that because some of the relationships were not in the best conditions, was because of a main source (the Guardians). Terry showed that Elliot's alliance with the Guardians was destroying his relationships and friendships between the other characters in the novel.
Roman, I agree with this. Oliver is also like Elliot’s personal school guide. Without Oliver Elliot’s school life could’ve been tough. Oliver was like a guy who gathers information and also a friend of Elliot’s. Ben has a good relationship with Elliot too. Elliot said that “He didn’t know if they counted as friends, or if they were just two people searching for a way of escape who had found it, temporarily, in each other.” (Gardner 102). Louise on the other hand, was a great friend to Elliot. Very shortly after they had their relationship, they broke up when Elliot had done something wrong. Something Richard had told him to do.
Elliot had several relationships in this novel including the relationships with his mom, Oliver, Richard, Ben and Louise. Elliot's relationship with his Mom used to be quite strong but then they stopped communicating and their relationship began to weaken. Oliver had been a good friend since Elliot's first day of school. Oliver was the first person Elliot had somewhat gotten along with at his new school and Oliver helped Elliot get to know the school. Oliver was also the one who told him about the Guardians, which brings us to Elliot's relationship with Richard, the Guardian leader. Richard was very powerful and was controlling Elliot's decisions and actions. Elliot was quite terrified of Richard but once he was around him more often, he understood how the organization worked. Oliver met Ben and Louise later on in the novel. Oliver met Ben at a swim practice, but since Ben wasn't very popular, Elliot and Ben only met after swimming t keep their friendship secretive. Oliver met Louise when they collided in the hallway one day during school. Louise played hard-to-get at first but then they grew quite fond of each other and like being together.
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