A Northern Light Author

Major Works Data Sheet: A Northern Light Title: A Northern Light Biographical information about the author: Author: Jennifer Donnelly Jennifer Donnelly was born in 1963 in Port Chester, New York. She attended the University of Rochester, and Publication Date: 2003 majored in English Literature and European History. Donnelly lives in both Brooklyn and Tivoli, New York. Genre: Historical Fiction She is married and has a daughter and two rescued greyhounds (source, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Donnelly). Historical/Contextual information: A Northern Light is based on the real murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. Detailed information on the real case can be found at: www.nycourts.gov/history/gillette.htm Plot summary: In 1906, Mattie Gokey is a 16-year-old girl that lives with her father and three sisters (ages 5, 11, and 14) in rural New York. She is torn between honoring a promise to her dying mother and following her dreams. She promised to stay and help out the family. That would mean marrying Royal Loomis and helping to run his farm. Or, she could go to New York City and go to college, staying true to her dreams. Either way, she wins and loses at the same time. The events of the novel alternate between what goes on at home and with Royal (such as helping around the house, the tense relationship between Mattie and her father, attending school, and Royal’s insensitivity toward her) and what occurs while she is working at the Glenmore Hotel (the apparent murder of a woman named Grace Brown). Mattie must choose between the North Woods and New York City. In the end, she chooses the big city and going to college. Describe the author’s style: An example that demonstrates style: Rich description and real-to-life dialogue. “Things you can’t see. A sigh trapped in a corner. Donnelly alternates between Mattie’s time at Memories tangled in the curtains. A sob fluttering the Glenmore and the time she spends with her against the windowpane like a bird that flew in and family and Royal. Figurative language can’t get back out. I can feel these things. They dart permeates the novel with personification, and crouch and whisper” (pp. 134-135) similes, and metaphors on nearly every page. “His smile was as warm as fresh biscuits on a winter She also incorporates allusions to numerous morning” (p. 163) works of literature. Each non-Glenmore chapter is headed by a word of the day—and that word comes to relate to that action in that chapter. Memorable Quotes Quote Significance “I wanted to ask her about promises, too, This quote is important because it is the first time that we and see if she thought you always had to understand how torn Mattie is over her promise to her keep the ones you made just the way you mother. made them, or if it was all right to alter them a bit” (Mattie, p. 88) “No, they’re not, Mattie, they’re books. Although there was a hint of it earlier, this quote really And a hundred times more dangerous” foreshadows the sad events to come regarding Miss (Emily Wilcox/Baxter, p. 204) Wilcox—Mattie’s teacher—who turns out to be a censored famous poet. “I wondered if he was supposed to have said he loved me when he told me about Royal offers to give her a ring, but he doesn’t tell her that he the ring. Or maybe that came later” loves her. Mattie knows deep down that he would never be (Mattie, p. 226) enough for her, but she also wants what all the other local girls have. “She looked small to me. Small and This is how Mattie describes Miss Wilcox after they say fragile and defenseless. She had not goodbye—Miss Wilcox’s true identity was found out and looked that way when I’d arrived” she was fired. Her husband is coming for her and if he finds (Mattie, p. 311) her, she will be sent to a sanatorium. Instead, she is running away to Paris in order to be free. But Mattie sees how men and society can knock down a once strong woman. Characters Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives Mattie Gokey Main character Narrator—must choose between Smart, witty, soulful, her heart and her head inquisitive Michael Gokey Mattie’s father He works hard but is an absent Sad, disengaged, father, caught up in grief over his disconnected wife’s death Ada, Lou, and Mattie’s younger Each has her own personality but Rough, oblivious, caring, Abby Gokey sisters none really understand Mattie We are never sure whether he Unaware, rough around Royal Loomis Asks Mattie to really loves/respects Mattie or the edges, not formally marry him just wants to marry her so he can educated get part of her land Famous banned poet hiding from Strong, devoted, clever, Emily Mattie’s teacher her husband caring Wilcox/Baxter He struggles with outright racism Angry, smart, witty, Weaver Smith Mattie’s friend; only and has the same dream as caring, devoted black boy in the area Mattie—to go to college in New York City Woman who Her letters provide another level Mysterious, sad, weak Grace Brown drowns; gave Mattie to the story; she was murdered a set of letters to because she was pregnant with destroy Carl Graham’s child Carl Graham took Grace out on Man that Grace the boat in order to kill her; then Evil, selfish, criminal Carl Graham/ Brown was last seen he ran off Chester Gillette with She is the stereotypical town Aunt Josephine Mattie’s aunt (her gossip and is more concerned Hypocritical, selfish, mother’s sister) with herself and her money than mean, self-important anyone else; she has the potential to be “good” to everyone in the story Setting Significance of the opening scene The setting is the North Woods part of New York The opening scene—July 12, 1906, at the (Adirondacks) in the year 1906. Specifically, most Glenmore—not only introduces the reader to of the action takes place during the summer. Some Mattie, it also sets up the two storylines: the murder events take place at the Glenmore Hotel, while of Grace Brown and Mattie’s conflict over the others take place on the Gokey farm. pursuit of knowledge or the pursuit of “love”; at that time in history, women could not have both. Symbols Significance of the ending/closing scene Grace Brown—becomes a symbol of how investing As Mattie writes it, “To New York City. To my too much in a man can ruin a woman. future. My life.” Leaving without an in-person goodbye is the only way that Mattie is able to leave The robin (p. 211) is a symbol of how close Mattie the North Woods and pursue her dream—departing feels she came to realizing her dream. just like Emily Wilcox/Baxter. The significance is Emily Wilcox represents all that Mattie thinks she that Mattie made her choice: college over what she wants in terms of a learned life; Minnie represents promised her mother and what was expected of her. the traditional, ideal for women at the time—both Also significant is that she had to choose one—she sides appeal to Mattie. could not have both. The fountain pen, a gift from her Uncle, symbolizes her dream of going to college and writing. Daisy the cow—at times she symbolizes Mattie in how she wails for the Loomis’ bull, just like Mattie swoons over Royal Loomis (the bull is on one side of the fence and Daisy is on the other, so the fence can become a symbol, too) Possible Themes Literary Theory(ies) Coming of age—In 1906 coming of age often Feminism is the most prominent theme to explore meant marriage and children. Mattie confronts that in the novel. Readers can study the expectations for and coming of age in terms of pursuing her dreams. women versus what Mattie wants. Questions to consider include: The role of women—Mattie is looked down upon • What differences between men and women by her father and Royal for wanting to read and appear to be highlighted in the novel? learn new things. • How do boys and girls perceive the older males and females in the novel? • Which characters have more power in the novel and which do not? Why? • Do the actions of the males and/or females appear to be stereotypical? In what ways? • Does the author challenge stereotypes? If so, how? • How does the novel portray boys/men and the effects they have on the girls’/women’s lives? .

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