The High Mountains Of Portugal (Yann Martel) Section B Notes--Balay
Group Discussion #2: Guiding question (s)--be prepared to share with your group
YOUR impressions about...conflict(s) in this first part of the book and how they
relate, HOW the author is revealing the story to you and how effective you feel this
is, what subplots and character stories are being profiled in this first half of the
book...
Central conflict:
**primary conflict is his search for MEANING—the crucifix is something
unusual/important to him—he “connects” to it through the journal—it’s a sense
of importance he is searching for…not just the crucifix itself
**sub-conflicts: environmental situations (vehicle breakdowns, attacked by
villagers, he accidentally kills a child which causes him great mental anguish—
significant because it is in an exhausted, stressed, dirty state that he makes his
great discovery and has an epiphany…God is just an animal!
Plot structure:
**linear narrative vs fragmented narrative—centers around Tomas’ journey and
reflects the physical countryside—as he travels UP into the hills, toward his
discovery/quest (discovery/quest for “God” or “higher power”) and the first
section PEAKS at the top of the hill as he finds the monkey crucifix.
Character stories being profiled:
Father Ullisses (the priest to the slaves who MADE the crucifix in 1832) is revealed
to have his OWN story—how he went to minister to the slaves, couldn’t “reach”
them, became disgusted with the place, people, and out of that disillusionment
made a crucifix that seems to mock all that he had stood for his whole life—HA!
He too, like Tomas’ has reached the end of a quest only to be greatly
disappointed—it breaks him.