FRQ 1
In the novel “Cloud Cuckoo Land” Anthony Doerr utilizes a book, Cloud Cuckoo Land, in order to convey the connection that literature has throughout generations as well as the life changing impact the stories have on each character. Ultimately illustrating, literature is a key component to navigating one's life as well as connecting with others.
Cloud Cuckoo land is first acknowledged as being a 15th century manuscript and is later presented in fragments in the far future showcasing the longevity and connectedness. Anna is a girl who lives in a 15th century village in Constantinople as a seamstress. She comes across the book and uses it as a means of comfort and a way of mentally escaping the dangerous times of war she lives in. The book also helps her to further her reading abilities. Far in the future a girl, Konstance, is presented parts of this story and she uses it as comfort after her family is quarantined during their time on a spaceship. Konstance uses the stories to learn more about history. Because both girls are in difficult situations they turn to literature as a means of comfort. This shows the connectedness of the book being passed through generations and still having a comforting impact. Cloud Cuckoo Land creates a soothing nature as well as a learning experience for both girls. Without Anna’s preservation of the book, it may never have gotten to Konstance, emphasizing the connections between generations. Consequently, longevity in literature can often still have a significant impact. Therefore, the usage of Cloud Cuckoo Land symbolizes the long lasting effect and the continuing comfort it provides. Konstance’s experiences in the future are not only thanks to Anna, but also Seymour's actions. Seymour becomes distraught after environmental destruction. He becomes obsessed with protecting the environment, and after being incarcerated, he creates a virtual reality library where he plants owls based on Cloud Cuckoo Land that actually reveal the truth about the environment. Konstance later finds this virtual library and becomes knowledgeable on the environmental destruction. Because Seymour was impacted by the story, he uses it as a means to deliver something important to him to further generations. Consequently, literature can create purpose and inspire a person to spread their admiration and discoveries to later generations. Therefore, the book is used symbolically to transfer information and reality through different ages.
Not only does the book have a long lasting presence and connectedness, but it also plays an integral role in the individual lives of the characters. Zeno’s life is largely impacted by the attachment he has to Cloud Cuckoo Land. Zeno is presented the stories by his fellow prisoner of war, Rex. After Rex dies Zeno uses the book as a way to stay connected to Rex. He later translates the story in the way of a play with students. This serves as a way for Zeno to express himself. Because Zeno and Rex went through traumatic times together, the story brings them together and leads to Zeno eventually breaking out of his shell to represent the stories and the emotional attachment he has towards it. The stories have a lasting impact on Zeno’s life and give him a sense of purpose. Consequently, stories can create lasting bonds and can help fulfill an individual. Therefore, Cloud Cuckoo Land symbolizes the effect literature has on relationships and a person finding a sense of self worth. While Zeno is largely impacted by the book, Anna also grows emotionally due to the same stories. Anna uses Cloud Cuckoo Land in many ways. Most importantly she uses the stories to escape from her harsh reality. She lives in a war as an orphan seamstress. Her sister is in bad condition and all of this weighs on her mind. She is able to relate to the story because it consists of someone’s search for a better world. Because the story is relatable, Anna feels comforted and can focus on another's search for better instead of her own. She is able to just read and forget about her own troubles. Consequently, literature can create a relatable content that creates not only comfort, but a shift of focus from one’s own problems. Therefore, the story becomes a symbol for escape and comfort in difficult situations.
Ultimately, Doerr utilizes the manuscript of Cloud Cuckoo land to create connections throughout generations and create a purpose within individuals. The stories are used to create bonds, self worth, an escape, and ambition. By creating a variety of uses for the book, Doerr emphasizes the importance of literature through showcasing how it affects the contents of a person's life and the choices they make leading to self fulfillment.
FRQ 2
In the novel All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr employs brutal realities of World War II in the eyes of Marie-Laure and Werner Pfenning and the difficult decision they make questioning whether survival or morality is more important ultimately illustrating in times of conflict is can be hard decide whether life is more significant than doing the right thing.
Doerr implements Werner’s choices to show how a person can choose right over wrong even when his life is on the line. They are in destructive times of war and Werner is ill and exhausted. Werner finds Marie-Laure in a threatening situation. Von Rumpel is about to kill Marie because of his obsession with a gem that is said to give mortality to the owner. Werner jumps in and shoots Von Rumpel before he can take Marie’s life. Because Werner is sick and Von Rumpel is powerful, he puts his life in danger by trying to save Marie. Werner’s moral compass is shown as he could have left her to die, but ultimately decided not to. Also by killing a nazi officer he cannot return back to his home. Werner’s selflessness is emphasized through his heroic acts to save Marie. Consequently, it can be easier for a person to choose duty over humanity but it is important to realize which one is overall fulfilling. Therefore, Werner saving Marie emphasizes his sense of morality over survival. Werner is aiding the Nazi’s in finding possible resistance fighters using equipment that shows signals. While doing this task Werner finds an area with a mother and child. Instead of broadcasting their whereabouts he convinces the soldiers it is actually nothing. Because the brutal murder of an innocent mother and child is morally wrong, Werner does not alert the soldiers. By doing this Werner proves his sense of right and wrong in his attempts to save the family. If the soldiers knew he was lying, the punishments would be brutal, showing that Werner cares more about saving the innocent people than his own well being. Consequently, it can be difficult to put another person’s life over their own, moral strength is more important than adherence. Therefore, Werner’s actions highlight his commitment to morality over his own life.
While Doerr implements Werner’s actions as choosing right over wrong, Marie’s action play toward survival vs morality in the ways of her choosing to fight. Marie laure is utilized to show her choosing to fight for something over her convenience and comfortableness. Marie decides to join the French Resistance. She helps by receiving bread that has tiny scrolls that give information on her allies. Marie chooses to put herself in a dangerous situation because of her resistance to the Germans. Because Marie chooses to help the resistance she is ultimately putting her life on the line. Nobody forced her to join and she could’ve stayed hiding. Marie’s choices emphasize her want to help and make things right over her need for survival. If she was caught she would most likely be executed, presenting her moral strength and lack of fear for the worst.Consequently, while it may be easier to hide, hiding does not build one’s moral strength.Marie continues to help the resistance by broadcasting coordinates to allies. Against her uncle’s wishes, Marie continues to broadcast knowing that it could be a deadly situation. Because continuing to broadcast could be deadly and Marie still chooses to act, she has more care for helping the resistance than keeping her and her uncle safe. Marie’s moral responsibility outweighed her sense of survival. Consequently, a person may become indifferent to their survival when their moral standards are significant. Therefore, Marie showcases her moral standards by letting them take stride over her need for survival.
All the light we cannot see features two characters put in difficult situations where they are forced to choose between survival and morality. Overall, the characters choose moral strength over corruption and survival. When put in dangerous situations that make a person question their moral standards it is important to do the right thing and realize the reward that comes with the ethical decision.