Eric Davis
Literature Circle Book:
BEHEMOTH
BY:
SCOTT WESTERFIELD
SETTING
S
ISTANBUL
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One of the settings in Behemoth, Istanbul is a city
in the Ottoman Empire, ruled by a sultan. This city
is allied with “Clanker” powers, a way a life in a
country that uses machines as often as possible.
However, unlike other Clanker cities they still have
belief in nature along with machinery.
What Istanbul resembles.
THE LEVIATHAN
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S
A “hydrogen breather” airship created by “Darwinists” which is another way of life in
this story, that involves breeding species to create new animals made to do specific
things to help humans. “Hydrogen Breathers” are Zeppelin-type airships that are
also living creatures. The Leviathan appears as a strange mutant whale looking
creature. Much of the story takes place on this ship, as this is how they cross
countries.
The front of the Leviathan.
CHARACTERS
C
ALEK
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Alek is one of the main characters and an Austrian prince that’s parents
were killed by Germans for opposing an invasion that they were going to
start. Alek is a rash character who acts before he thinks, but is also very
daring, and helpful to the characters around him. He has short blonde-ish
hair, green eyes, and isn’t fat or thin. He is a dynamic character, learning
that most people are not like in the manor, and will do anything to get what
they want, and are almost always ruthless about it. As the story takes place
during a war there is not really good or bad, however, Alek can be
considered a protagonist because he just wants to end the war.
A symbol of Austrian royalty.
DERYN
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C
Deryn is a methodical person with short blonde hair and blue
eyes. She dressed as a male to join the military and become an
airman. She is static, but also a major/main character.
Sometimes the story is told from where she is, instead of Alek,
but the story is still told in first person. She is a protagonist as
she tries to ensure peace.
A World War 1
Emblem.(The story is in
an alternate WW1)
PLOT
MAIN PLOT (THE STORY OVERALL)
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P
The story takes place in Europe during WW1 with strange, genetically
engineered animals and heavy machinery. The 2 sides are Darwinists,
people who genetically engineer animals for a lifestyle, and the other side
are Clankers, who rely on their machines. Darwinist Britain has recently
declared war on Clanker Germany for invading other countries. To end the
war before it gets to widespread, the Leviathan goes on a flight to Istanbul
to deliver a gift to the sultan to prevent the Middle East (The Ottoman
Empire) from joining the war.
RISING ACTION (DEFINITION)
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P
The increase of tension or action leading up to the climax (highest point of
tension in a story, usually the finale) of a story.
P
RISING ACTION
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The Leviathan is nearly shot down by a “testla cannon”.
The Leviathan stops at Istanbul.
The parade elephants are hijacked by protesters, which raise chaos in the city.
Deryn and Dr. Barlow meet the sultan.
The German’s mech crushes the sultan’s gift.
Alek meets Eddie Malone, an American reporter.
Alek leaves Istanbul, to go to a nearby town.
Alek meets Lilit, someone who will ally with him.
Deryn heads out with her troops and they are captured.
Deryn escapes to find Alek.
A makeshift
testla cannon
image.
CLIMAX (DEFINITION)
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P
The climax of a story is the moment that the story has been leading up to
the entire time, is usually the finale, the moment of highest tension, and is
often a showdown with the main antagonist of the story.
CLIMAX
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P
The climax of the story is when the Darwinists unleash the Behemoth to
take down the biggest Ironclad (Battleship-type boats). The rebel force also
cripples the cannon tower, allowing the Leviathan to escape.
FALLING ACTION (DEFINITION)
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P
Falling Action is when the story comes to a close, appears after climax, and
can be the epilogue.
FALLING ACTION
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Leviathan rescues the rebels from the wreckage.
The Leviathan’s crew reunites.
Relations warm up with the Austria-Hungarians.
The battle ends.
The Leviathan heads to Asia.
What I imagine the battlefield looks like after the wreckage is cleaned up.
P
CONFLICT
C
CONFLICTS
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Darwinists vs. Clankers (Man vs. Man) The war between Darwinists and
Clankers is the idea of nature vs. a life of machinery.
Revolutionaries vs. Ottoman Empire (Man vs. Society) The Ottoman Empire
became ruled by a tyrannical sultan and the civilians organize a fight back.
Alek vs. The War (Man vs. Society) Since the war was started by a family
feud Alek feels he should be the one to end the war.
Man vs. Man
THEME AND RESOLUTION
THEME
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T
How war can change someone.
How Alek learns how his actions affect others, when he realizes he and his
family caused a war only he can stop.
When he watched in horror as he saw the battle field torn up by his actions.
R
RESOLUTION
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The resolution is the German ironclads being destroyed and the Ottoman
Empire being crippled and in no place to fight a war, leaving Germany and
Austria-Hungary as the only remaining Clanker countries, also making it look
like the war will end soon.
PROBLEM
CITATIONS
Title
http://ronreads.com/bookreview/book-review-scott-westerfelds-behemoth/ Book Cover
Setting
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CIpN_ydkxBI/SHC9LftufbI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/NLKkF5pEoGE/s400/domed.jpg
Domed City
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfOVVSnVfqU/T93T3dC1kOI/AAAAAAAAA2M/Ti0a4aZgs0o/s1600/leviathanscott-westerfeld-sophie-playle-blog.jpg Leviathan Image
Characters
http://cdn6.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP080/k0806118.jpg Austria Symbol
http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2011/post-4096-0-53139500-1299611661.jpg Emblem Image
Plot
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/6/9/0/1206570472506012656johnny_automatic_cannon_2.svg.hi.pn
g Cannon
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/J/l/G/6/d/4/black-lightning-bolt-hi.png Lightning Bolts
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091007091517/halflife/en/images/1/13/Wasteland_Airex_skybox.jpg Wasteland
Conflict
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61I2l2nntNg/T0H_ZpHd6yI/AAAAAAAAIb4/kbjpFmEh74/s1600/man+vs+man.jpg Conflict
Theme and Resolution
http://mouseclickerstudio.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/free_wrench_vector_art_5.png Wrench