Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: A Literary Analysis, Exams of Literature

Download Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: A Literary Analysis and more Exams Literature in PDF only on Docsity! Southwest Licking School District Literature Selection Review Teacher: Paula Ball School: Watkins Memorial High School Book Title: Les Miserables Genre: Fiction Author: Victor Hugo Publisher: Simon and Brown Book Summary and summary citation: From Barnes and Noble: One of the most widely read novels of all time, Les Misérables was the crowning literary achievement of Victor Hugo’s stunning career. Though he was considered the greatest French writer of his day, Hugo was forced to flee the country because of his opposition to Napoleon III. While in exile he completed Les Misérables, an enormous melodrama set against the background of political upheaval in France following the rule of Napoleon I. This newly abridged edition of Les Misérables tells the story of the peasant Jean Valjean— unjustly imprisoned, baffled by destiny, and hounded by his nemesis, the magnificently realized, ambiguously malevolent police detective Javert. As Valjean struggles to redeem his past, we are thrust into the teeming underworld of Paris with all its poverty, ignorance, and suffering. Just as cruel tyranny threatens to extinguish the last vestiges of hope, rebellion sweeps over the land like wildfire, igniting a vast struggle for the democratic ideal in France. A monumental classic dedicated to the oppressed, the underdog, the laborer, the rebel, the orphan, and the misunderstood, Les Misérables is a rich, emotional novel that captures nothing less than the entirety of life in nineteenth-century France. Instructional Rationale/Objectives: Analyze point of view world literature Analyze structure of text, order of events, and manipulation of time Review #1: From Library Journal Hugo's classic tale set against the backdrop of political upheaval in 19th-century France retains its timeless appeal in this notably condensed rendition of the struggles of former convict Jean Valjean. While the abridgment inevitably cuts many of the intricate subplots and minor characters who enrich Hugo's vast tome, this suspenseful central plot tracing Valjean's endeavor to emerge from desperate circumstances while being pursued by the duty-obsessed Inspector Javert remains intact and comprehensible to listeners. The principal characters retain their epic proportions, and the major themes of redemption through good works and the importance of authentic charity are undiminished. Narrator Michael York adds vigor and distinct characterizations to the broad cast of characters in this fittingly dramatic performance. Suitable for collections that do not already contain one of the many audio versions of this work (e.g., Audio Reviews, LJ 5/1/93).?Linda Bredengerd, Hanley Lib., Univ. of Pittsburgh, Bradford Review #2: From Borders: Few novels ever swept the world with such overpowering impact as LES MISERABLES. Within twenty-four hours of its publication in 1862, the first Paris edition was sold out. In other great cities throughout the world, it was devoured with equal relish. Sensational, dramatic, packed with rich excitement and filled with the sweep and violence of human passions, LES MISERABLES is not only a superb adventure but a powerful social document. The story of how the convict Jean Valjean struggles to escape his past and reaffirm his humanity in a world brutalized by poverty and ignorance became the gospel of the poor and the oppressed. One of the greatest works in Western literature, LES MISERABLES is an exhilarating and deeply profound reading experience.Sensational, dramatic, packed with rich excitement and filled with the sweep and violence of human passions, LES MISERABLES is not only superb adventure but a powerful social document. The story of how the convict Jean- Valjean struggled to escape his past and reaffirm his humanity, in a world brutalized by poverty and ignorance, became the gospel of the poor and the oppressed. What alternate text(s) could also fulfill the instructional requirements? Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo Document any potentially controversial content: One character is forced into prostitution, a child is conceived out of wedlock, violence of a revolutionary war including the death of several characters, and realistic depiction of the harsh conditions of the time period GRADE LEVEL(S): 9 and 10 Reading level of this title (if applicable): 9/10