Book Report

1) MLA citation:
Ende, Michael. The Neverending Story. Ed. Roswitha Quadflieg. Trans. Ralph Manheim.Harmondsworth, Middlesex, Eng.: Penguin, 1984. 445pages.


2) RESPONDING TO THE PLOT: e) which incidents in the novel did you find wonderful, surprising, comical, or even shocking?

I got really shocked the scene Artax, who is the Atreyu’s partner and his appearance looks like a centaur, sunk to death marsh. Simultaneously with that, I respected his nobly behavior. He is always loyal to Atreyu and not to hesitate supporting his risky adventure whatever happened to them. When he is dying in the death marsh, he said to his master” Will you grant my last wish? I beg you to go away. I do not want you to see my end. Will you do me that favor? Farewell, Atreyu, my master, and thank you.” (62p, chapter3, Morla the Aged One) I am sure there is a close bond beyond master and servant relationship between them. It must be a strong friendship.


3) LITERARY TERMS
1, Setting
The setting of this story is a little bit complex and it can be roughly divided into the two sections. All incidents happening in the first half of the story are described as the real world especially in London and in the duty storeroom at Bastian’s high school. On the other hand, the setting of the last half of story is in the Fantastica where is the magical world created by Bastian’s imagination.


2, Point of View
This story is told by the omniscient. Not only the protagonist, but also about more than twenties characters are described their appearances, acting, feeing and emotion on each scene in detail. These descriptions are full of sophisticated adjective and objectively.


3, Conflict:
There are many conflicts in this story. In the beginning of the story, Atreyu conflicts with an evil to save his world. In the middle part of the story, Bastian conflicts with an avaricious in his mind to obtain everything whatever he likes. In the end of the story, Bastian conflicts with his own weakness in his mind.


4, Climax
　At the end of this story, Bastian realizes that what the most crucial for overcoming his own weakness in his mind. His biggest achievement in this story is relying on someone around him. After he was saved by Atreyu, who is the closest friend for Bastian, he opens his mind little by little and shares the common purpose with him. Through communicating with Atreyu, Bastian learns from him that it is impossible for all human being to live alone and he is not only the person who feels loneliness in the life.


5, Symbol
　　 Bastian symbolized the inferiority complex, loneliness and weakness lurking in people’s mind. In the first half of story, his personality and appearance are described as timid, restrained, otherworldliness, not so handsome and plum. He cannot get alone with people and does not have any friends. What is more, he is the typical person who is bullying in his high school. Moreover, he is not good at sporting and studying. His only strength is imaging something in his head.


6, Irony
The irony of this story is that Bastian could not discern the importance of friendship until Atreyu left from him. After Bastian became an absolute monarchy and obtained authority power, nobody refused his order and scolded against his arrogance behavior no matter how outrageous he was. However, Atreyu was the only friend who strongly and directly warned his dirty behavior. He always persuaded Bastian to change his mind, but his effort was over in vain. What the worse thing, because of criticizing Bastian’s behavior, Atreyu were banished forever from Fantastica. This cruel penalty given to him caused unrest among the people in Fantastica because Atreyu was bravely and reliable person and he was loved by everyone. After he left from Fantastica, people around Bastian and Atreyu’s friend finally started to rebel his forcible style. Bastian did not know what he should do for preventing from rebel because there was no friend who advices to him anymore.


7, Theme
The theme of this story is that it does not mean anything in this world without human imagination.
In the middle part of the story, Bastian gives the name to Childlike Emperss, and its name is moon which comes from his imagination. It means that Bastian’s imagination saved the Fantastica. In addition, after Bastian goes to Fantasitica, he obtains authority power that he can create whatever he like. Thanks to his creative imagination, the Fantastica started shining and full of beautiful and grander nature, elegant and attractive architecture, what is better, various kind of people who have different skin color, languages and region would get alone with each other. In conclusion, imagination and coming up with creative idea can be solved the social issue such as environmental problem and racial discrimination.


4) REFLECTING ON THE STORY: h) what is something you learned from the story?

I got two worthwhile things when I finished reading this book. The first worthwhile thing l learned from this story is that people who do not have any troubles and inferior complexes never existed in the world. In other words, it is impossible to be the perfect, so it is necessary for human being to help and encourage each other. At the end of story, one idea came to his mind that he is not only the person who feels loneliness in the life. It is the most impressive phrase while I am reading this story. The second one is that human being is the greediest creature on the earth and no matter how wealthy and wise they are, cannot help comparing with other superior people. This is not negative aspect for human being and it is reason for all human. However, when people compare with someone, not to be too negative and greedy is important. Too much negative mood and greedy behavior can be harmed not only oneself, but also other people such as friends and family.