Blog #6

Theme Statement: In chapter six of The Other Wes Moore the author shows how not everyone accomplishes their goals.

Literary Device: Foreshadowing

"When it was Woody's turn, he practically danced up to the principal. The crowed laughed as Woody shook the principal's hand and looked up at his family, throwing his arms in the air in a triumphant stance. He carefully jogged down the steps at the end of the stage. As he turned the corner and looked at the dozens of folding chairs where the graduates were sitting, his mind wandered to the people who weren't there." (Moore 109)

Analysis: In chapter six, the other Wes Moore's friend, Woody, and other people are graduating high school except for some students like Wes. Woody is happy until he realizes that Wes isn't there to celebrate the joyous occasion with him. The author uses foreshadowing in this quote because at the end he writes "his mind wandered to the people who weren't there," allowing the reader to wonder  just who didn't graduate. The quote supports the theme statement because those people, or Wes, who weren't graduating didn't accomplish their goal of successfully completing high school. Foreshadowing advances the plot by allowing the reader to develop a deeper understanding of the story. Specifically, it allows them to see Wes's future without a high school diploma. A connection between the story line and real world knowledge reveals that students who fail to graduate have fewer opportunities in life than those who do.