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Analyzing Bravery in "Dear Mr. Kilmer"

The document discusses the novel "Dear Mr. Kilmer" by Anne Schraff. It analyzes the character of Richard, who kept his passion for poetry a secret due to fears of disapproval from his community. However, Richard demonstrates bravery in several ways. He writes a letter sharing his feelings with Mr. Kilmer. Richard also signs a sympathy card for his friend Hannah despite threats of bullying, and stands up to the bullies when they confront him. Richard turns down a role in a play to support Hannah, despite facing criticism from his father. These events show how Richard overcomes his fears to take courageous actions.

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252 views2 pages

Analyzing Bravery in "Dear Mr. Kilmer"

The document discusses the novel "Dear Mr. Kilmer" by Anne Schraff. It analyzes the character of Richard, who kept his passion for poetry a secret due to fears of disapproval from his community. However, Richard demonstrates bravery in several ways. He writes a letter sharing his feelings with Mr. Kilmer. Richard also signs a sympathy card for his friend Hannah despite threats of bullying, and stands up to the bullies when they confront him. Richard turns down a role in a play to support Hannah, despite facing criticism from his father. These events show how Richard overcomes his fears to take courageous actions.

Uploaded by

noraini
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The following are the novels studied in the literature component in English

Language.

Captain Nobody - Dean Pitchford


Dear Mr. Kilmer - Anne Schraff
Sing To The Dawn - Mingfong Ho

Choose any one of the novels above and answer the question below.

Bravery shines when one’s courage is put to test.

Using the details from the novel you have studied, choose a character and
events that show his or her bravery. Support your answer with close
reference to the text.

Sample answer

The novel that I have studied is Dear Mr. Kilmer by Anne Schraff. The
novel is about Richard who did not share the same interest as his other family
members and the people in his community.

One character that shows bravery is Richard. He was a timid boy who
enjoyed writing poems but kept it a secret as he knew his family and the
society would not approve of it. They even thought that writing poetry was
unmanly. That was why Richard was afraid to tell anyone about his passion in
poetry. Despite his timidy, Richard was actually a brave person and he took
brave actions.

One event that shows Richard’s bravery is when he wrote a letter to


Mr. Kilmer to share his feelings of being lonely although he did not know him.
In his reply, Mr. Kilmer advised Richard to overcome his fear. He had to tell
others about his interest in writing in order to lead a fulfilling life. Then Richard
got the reply from Mr. Kilmer who advised him to overcome his fear. He told
his family about his poems. Then he told Mrs. Hansen about it. Mr. Kilmer’s
advice gave him the courage to reveal his interest.

Another evidence that shows Richard is a brave person is the day


Mrs. Hansen brought the sympathy card for Hannah when her family tavern
was vandalised. This event was the big event that tested his bravery. School
bullies like Abner Lewis warned the students in the class not to sign the card.
Many students were afraid and did not dare to sign it. Richard the only person
who was not afraid of the threat from the bullies. He signed the card to show
his sympathy for Hannah and her family. After school, he had to fight against
the school bullies. Because of his was determination to stand up for his friend,
Hannah, he managed to beat the two bullies.

Richard was also brave when he turned down the role as a


Doughboy in a play. He did it to show his support for Hannah who had to
decline the role as Lady Liberty due to pressure from other people. He
sincerely believed that Hannah deserved the role. Because of his action,
Richard was labeled a Hun lover and a traitor. He also had to answer to his
father who disagreed with his action. However that did not stop him from
being close to Hannah because he knew he was doing the right thing.

Richard’s fear had put him in a difficult situation. He could not enjoy
writing poems as he was afraid of how people would react. However, the he
was actually a brave person who would take necessary actions and stood up
for what he believe in.

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