My Name Is Leon Key Quotes Flashcards
(64 cards)
“ the end of the pen is like a metal knife[ which Leon imagines stabbing] through the soft bit of earrings eye [ and writing] I fucking hate you. Black power. From leon”
- Leon- violence
> violent simile+ imagery+ profanity is shocking to the reader and emphasises Leon’s frustration & anger at Earring who seems like a ‘tick box’ kind of guy who does the bare minimum and sees Leon as just another child that needs help.
> innocent “ from leon “ is almost funny in its incongruity to the rest of the sentence and suggests leon isn’t aware of the full implications of the things he is saying
Maureen’s hair “ glows like a flaming halo” and she has a “ golden biscuit tin”
- happiness+ Leon’s relationship w adults
> semantic field of light associated with maureen symbolising how she is a positive influence in leons life.
> foil character to carol
“[ the allotments are] better than a park because everyone has their own bit of land to look after and they can do what they like with it”
- setting of allotments= happiness for leon
> leon likes being responsible and nurturing the plants as a metaphor for jake whom he no longer sees
> independence+ permanent home where he feels he belongs.
“ spit comes out of his mouth like a wild dog […] leave him! leave him! He can’t breathe”
- violence+ protest+ castro
> graphic and animalistic imagery implies that police don’t see castro as human but treat him like a animal because of the colour of his skin- mistreated
> frantic repetition of “ leave him!” - emotive and alludes to Eric Garner who was choked to death by police after repeating “ I can’t breathe” 11 times
> reminds reader of systemic racism + police brutality still exists.
“ like the hulk, he’s a warrior”
- Tufty+ admiration+ role model
> Leon’s description of Tufty after he first sees him
> simile expresses Leon’s tone of admiration and how Leon looks up to him and wants to be just like him.
“ the sun […] is a healer”
Tufty is archetypal sage= helps leon find his way and overcome his troubles- links to Bildungsroman genre of leon growing up throughout the novella.
Key theme= everyone in the book goes through bad periods in their life
> Tufty giving the message that everything is better when the suns out and we need to have a positive outlook.
“ we are the consequences of history. We are the warriors you made”
- ode to castro> evokes ideas of pride
shows mistreat of people following the windrush
> collective pronoun of ‘we’ shows how Tufty wants them to be unified.
> influential poem to leon who says some of the lines throughout the book:
eg: recites it to policeman when caught in the riot and reminds policeman of his humanity and stops a potentially violent action.
“ it’s a protest, except we don’t bomb people in their beds like you irish people”
Despite admiration, Tufty is flawed here- negative attitude
Mr Devlin is marginalised by xenophobic attitudes.
> motif of protest runs throughout the novel, De waal seems to be exploring the different ways people protest
“He can eat whatever he wants but if there’s…
nothing in the fridge and nothing in the cupboard then it doesn’t really count”
repetition of nothing emphasises carols neglectful attitude towards leon
A lot of people think…
Your older than you are
> Leon’s comments of height and looks from other adults.
> although they don’t mean anything personally they hope leon believes that he is seen older and more grown up so he feels less upset about jake
ADULTIFICTATION
Why does De Waal NOT choose a modern setting?
So the time is closer to her own childhood so she can use her own experiences to make leons perspective more realistic and relatable to the time
What do loose coins represent for leon?
Freedom
What is Leon’s love for carol?
Unwavering; despite the neglect he’s gone through that he is naive to.
Leon and jakes fathers…
Reject responsibility- parenting
What does Leon’s stealing symbolise?
Taking back what he has lost through carol and jake
What does leon feel when maureen falls ill?
A temporary loss and grief
> maureen was the light in leons life after the darkness of carols neglect
What disorder did carol have?
Post- natal depression; she becomes helpless and distant to her children, leading leon to take responsibility
Key themes in leon?
Race and identity, responsibility, relationships, loyalty, loss and grief, belonging, growing up, duty
[RRRLLBGD]
“We are not a warrior…
We have dignity and worth”
“ It’s been five days since…
leon went to school “
“Douff, douff, douff….
black pow-er “
Everyone steals things….
From me”
Reflects leons loss that he tries to take back through materialistic money
“This is one- quarter plot….
Belongs to you”
> motif of growth shows that when you nurture something it grows, foil to carol who neglects leon
what form of story is my name is leon?
Bildungsroman- leon grows up throughout the novella
