Analysis of the Portrayal of the Protagonist in Scot Gardnerâs Burning Eddy.
ABSTRACT
Dalam tugas akhir ini, penulis membahas perkembangan karakterisitik tokoh
utama dalam novel yang berjudul Burning Eddy yang ditulis oleh seorang penulis
berkebangsaan Australia, Scot Gardner. Melalui tokoh utamanya, Gardner mencoba
untuk
menggambarkan
kehidupan
seorang
remaja
yang
memiliki
banyak
permasalahan dalam hidupnya.
Tokoh utama dalam cerita ini bernama Daniel Fairbrother, yang biasa
dipanggil Dan. Dan adalah seorang remaja berusia lima belas tahun. Ia tinggal di
sebuah desa di Victoria dengan kedua orangtuanya, seorang kakak dan seorang adik.
Dan memiliki hubungan yang buruk dengan ayahnya, ia merasa tidak memiliki
teman, dan ia juga sering dirundung di sekolah. Hal-hal inilah yang membuatnya
memiliki karakter yang negatif, pasif, dan merasa kesepian.
Karakteristik Dan mulai berubah setelah ia bersahabat dengan seorang wanita
tua bernama Eddy dan setelah ia melepaskan rasa bersalahnya atas sebuah kejadian di
masa lalu. Dan berubah menjadi seseorang yang lebih optimis, percaya diri, dan
pengertian. Melalui novel ini, Gardner menunjukkan perubahan kehidupan dan
karakteristik dari seorang remaja dalam perjalanannya menuju kedewasaan dan
tentang betapa pentingnya arti memaafkan.
ii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………
i
ABSTRACT....……………………………………………………………....
ii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study……………………………………………...
Statement of the Problem………………………………………..........
Purpose of the Study…………………………………………….........
Method of Research………………………………………………......
Organization of the Thesis………………………………………........
1
3
3
3
4
CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS OF THE PORTRAYAL OF THE
PROTAGONIST IN SCOT GARDNER’S BURNING EDDY……
5
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION……………………………………... 19
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………...
23
APPENDICES
Synopsis of Burning Eddy…………………………………................. 25
Biography of Scot Gardner……………………………………........... 26
i
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Scot Gardner is an Australian novelist known for his children and young
adult novels. He has written fourteen novels such as White Ute Dreaming, The
Other Madonna, One Wheel Drive, and many others. Gardner often writes about
troubled people who may either fall apart when they have troubles or become
complete after surviving their troubles. His writing inspiration comes from his
experience as a counselor and his love for listening to people’s stories, both the
old’s and the young’s because in his opinion, “young people dream big, old
people have lived.” His novels cover a wide range of topics, from absurd fantasies
for children to the unpleasantness of life and tragic comedy for young adults
(“Scot Gardner”).
Gardner has written some novels, such as Gravity, which was shortlisted
for The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2007, Happy as Larry, which won
the 2010 WA Premier’s Book Awards for the category of young adult book, and
1
Maranatha Christian University
The Dead I Know, which was short-listed for WA Premier's Book Awards: Young
Adults and won the 2012 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the
Year Awards for the category of older readers (“CBCA Book of the Year:
Congrats to Scot Gardner and Kate Constable!”). His third novel, Burning Eddy,
was shortlisted in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards for the Ethel Turner Prize
for Books for Young Adults and for the Children's Book Council of Australia
Book of the Year for Older Readers (“Burning Eddy”).
In this thesis, I choose to analyze one of Gardner’s novels, Burning Eddy
because the story is very interesting. The story gives the readers a different
perception of life and a way of handling problems for young adults, and this is
very helpful for the readers. “Burning Eddy is a poignant story about growing up,
about family, and about friendship” (Murphy). The protagonist of the novel is a
fifteen-year-old boy named Daniel Fairbrother. He is unhappy about his life
because he has a bad relationship with his father. He does not have any friends
and he does not have a girlfriend, either. Furthermore, he is bullied at school. One
day, he meets Eddy, who teaches him about the meaning of life, how to forgive
others, and many other things. Daniel’s life starts to change after he meets Eddy.
He then develops into a better person in the last chapters of the novel. The
changes of Daniel’s characteristics are very prominent in the novel. Thus, I decide
to analyze the portrayal of the protagonist of the novel as the topic of my thesis.
The literary element that I choose to analyze in this novel is the portrayal
of the protagonist. “Portrayal, which comes from Latin words meaning “to draw
forth,” “to depict,” refers to the portrait (characterization) of individuals presented
in literary selections…” (Shaw 295) while the definition of protagonist is “the
2
Maranatha Christian University
leading character of a drama, novel, or other literary works. The person is not
always a hero of a work, but he is always the principal and central character”
(Shaw 305). In analyzing this novel, I use formalism because the issues in
Burning Eddy are clear and I do not need to use any sources from other books.
Statement of the Problem
The problems I would like to discuss are:
1. How is the protagonist portrayed in the novel?
2. What is the purpose of the author in portraying such a protagonist?
Purpose of the Study
Based on the above problems, the purpose of the study are:
1. to show the portrayal of the protagonist in the novel.
2. to show the purpose of the author in portraying such a protagonist.
Method of Research
In writing this thesis, I use the library research. I begin the study by
reading the primary text, Scot Gardner’s Burning Eddy. Then, I search for some
additional information to support my analysis. This is done by browsing the
internet and reading some reference books. Next, I analyze the portrayal of the
protagonist of the novel. Finally, I draw a conclusion from my analysis.
3
Maranatha Christian University
Organization of the Thesis
The thesis is presented in three chapters and is preceded by Table of
Contents, and Abstract. Chapter one is Introduction, which consists of
Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study,
Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two presents
Analysis of the Portrayal of the Protagonist in Scot Gardner’s Burning Eddy. I
conclude my analysis in Chapter Three. This thesis ends with Bibliography and
Appendices, which present the synopsis of Burning Eddy and the biography of
Scot Gardner.
4
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
After analyzing the portrayal of Daniel Fairbrother of Scot Gardner’s
Burning Eddy, I would like to draw some conclusions. In this novel, Gardner
portrays the development of the character Dan when he gradually changes to be a
better person. At first, Dan is described as someone who is negative, passive, and
desolate.
Dan’s negative characteristic can be seen in the negative thoughts he
always has about his father, Steven. Dan thinks that Steven is always grumpy and
he constantly blames his father for some conditions at home that he is not satisfied
with. Dan also thinks negatively about his life. He tells the story about his life in
just two minutes to Eddy because he thinks there is nothing special or interesting
in his life.
Dan’s passive characteristic can be seen when Michael teases Dan as Dan
is
about
to
ask
a
question
to
his
teacher.
Dan
actually
does
19
Maranatha Christian University
not like being treated that way but he does not say a thing to Michael. The same
thing happens when Dan gets bullied by Amy. Amy says something bad about
Dan and his sister but Dan does nothing to oppose Amy.
Dan’s being desolate can be seen when he is bullied by Michael and his
friends. Dan gets hurt physically and mentally because of that. He thinks that
everything in his life is wrong, everything he has is ugly, nothing good ever
happens to him, and his life is miserable.
After Dan meets Eddy, his life gradually changes to be better. Dan starts to
change after he lets go of his past, too. These factors affect Dan so that he
develops into a better person. Later he becomes someone who is confident,
understanding, and optimistic.
Eddy advises Dan that people must not fight fire with fire. After getting
this advice, Dan becomes confident so he can see and mend his relationship with
Michael and they become friends. Dan can also reveal his feelings to Chantelle
after Eddy gives him encouragement.
Eddy shares her experience with Dan. Eddy tells him that she has been
raped by an American soldier during World War II but in the end, she can forgive
the man who has raped her. Eddy’s experience opens Dan’s mind. Dan becomes
understanding toward his father. Steven has beat him up but Dan is willing to
forgive him and visit him in prison. Dan also becomes understanding toward his
father after Steven tells Dan his secret. Dan feels sympathy for his father’s
misfortune and he forgives his father for all the things that he has done.
20
Maranatha Christian University
Dan lets go of his past and stops blaming himself over the death of his best
friend, Chris. After that, Dan becomes optimistic toward his life. He feels stronger
and he hopes for the better future in his life. Dan also feels optimistic that he is
not alone, even when Eddy dies, because Eddy has taught him that alone is just a
state of mind. Dan has family, friends, and a girlfriend who can always be there
for him.
Through the portrayal and development of Dan, I conclude that Gardner
wants to show the life of a teenager in the process of growing up and about the
importance of forgiveness. Many teenagers experience hardship in the process of
growing up because they have to deal with the issue of acceptance, fitting in and
many others. Some teenagers may be bullied at school, have bad relationship with
their parents, or have guilty feeling of something that happened in the past. These
will affect their characteristics. They need friends that they can trust, they need
someone to love and accept them for who they are, they need to forgive others
who have hurt them, and to forgive themselves in order to let go of their past. That
process of growing up develops and shapes their characters, making them a better
person than before.
I think Burning Eddy is worth reading because the story is funny,
dramatic, captivating, and realistic. I think it is realistic because the story
represents a real life story that happens to many teenagers. In my opinion, Dan is a
life-like character. We can find such a character in real life. After reading this
novel I get some valuable lessons of life such as we have to forgive others and
throw away hatred in our heart in order to be free and happy inside, cherish our
21
Maranatha Christian University
time with our loved ones before it is too late, be brave to be ourselves and live our
life to the fullest every day.
22
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Text:
Gardner, Scot. Burning Eddy. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited,
2004. Print.
References:
”2011 Catalogue-Children’s Books.” Curtis Brown Australia. Curtis Brown, n.d.
Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
“Burning Eddy.” Scot Gardner. Scot Gardner, n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
“CBCA Book of the Year: Congrats to Scot Gardner and Kate Constable!”
Booked Out. Booked Out. 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
“Confident.” Def. 2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Desolate.” Adj, Def. 2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Murphy, Sally. “Burning Eddy by Scot Gardner.” Aussie Reviews. Aussie
reviews. 27 May 2003. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
23
Maranatha Christian University
“Negative.” Adj, Def. 2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Optimistic.” Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, 2016.
Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Passive.” Adj, Def. 1. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Portrayal.” Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1972. 295. Print.
“Protagonist.” Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1972. 305. Print.
“Scot Gardner.” Booked Out Speakers Agency. Booked Out, n.d. Web. 31 Oct.
2014.
"Scot Gardner." Macmillan. Pan Macmillan Australia, 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
“Understanding.” Adj. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“WA Premiere’s Book Awards.” Booked Out. Booked Out. 24 June 2014. Web. 3
Nov. 2014.
24
Maranatha Christian University
Dalam tugas akhir ini, penulis membahas perkembangan karakterisitik tokoh
utama dalam novel yang berjudul Burning Eddy yang ditulis oleh seorang penulis
berkebangsaan Australia, Scot Gardner. Melalui tokoh utamanya, Gardner mencoba
untuk
menggambarkan
kehidupan
seorang
remaja
yang
memiliki
banyak
permasalahan dalam hidupnya.
Tokoh utama dalam cerita ini bernama Daniel Fairbrother, yang biasa
dipanggil Dan. Dan adalah seorang remaja berusia lima belas tahun. Ia tinggal di
sebuah desa di Victoria dengan kedua orangtuanya, seorang kakak dan seorang adik.
Dan memiliki hubungan yang buruk dengan ayahnya, ia merasa tidak memiliki
teman, dan ia juga sering dirundung di sekolah. Hal-hal inilah yang membuatnya
memiliki karakter yang negatif, pasif, dan merasa kesepian.
Karakteristik Dan mulai berubah setelah ia bersahabat dengan seorang wanita
tua bernama Eddy dan setelah ia melepaskan rasa bersalahnya atas sebuah kejadian di
masa lalu. Dan berubah menjadi seseorang yang lebih optimis, percaya diri, dan
pengertian. Melalui novel ini, Gardner menunjukkan perubahan kehidupan dan
karakteristik dari seorang remaja dalam perjalanannya menuju kedewasaan dan
tentang betapa pentingnya arti memaafkan.
ii
Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………
i
ABSTRACT....……………………………………………………………....
ii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study……………………………………………...
Statement of the Problem………………………………………..........
Purpose of the Study…………………………………………….........
Method of Research………………………………………………......
Organization of the Thesis………………………………………........
1
3
3
3
4
CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS OF THE PORTRAYAL OF THE
PROTAGONIST IN SCOT GARDNER’S BURNING EDDY……
5
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION……………………………………... 19
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………...
23
APPENDICES
Synopsis of Burning Eddy…………………………………................. 25
Biography of Scot Gardner……………………………………........... 26
i
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Scot Gardner is an Australian novelist known for his children and young
adult novels. He has written fourteen novels such as White Ute Dreaming, The
Other Madonna, One Wheel Drive, and many others. Gardner often writes about
troubled people who may either fall apart when they have troubles or become
complete after surviving their troubles. His writing inspiration comes from his
experience as a counselor and his love for listening to people’s stories, both the
old’s and the young’s because in his opinion, “young people dream big, old
people have lived.” His novels cover a wide range of topics, from absurd fantasies
for children to the unpleasantness of life and tragic comedy for young adults
(“Scot Gardner”).
Gardner has written some novels, such as Gravity, which was shortlisted
for The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2007, Happy as Larry, which won
the 2010 WA Premier’s Book Awards for the category of young adult book, and
1
Maranatha Christian University
The Dead I Know, which was short-listed for WA Premier's Book Awards: Young
Adults and won the 2012 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the
Year Awards for the category of older readers (“CBCA Book of the Year:
Congrats to Scot Gardner and Kate Constable!”). His third novel, Burning Eddy,
was shortlisted in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards for the Ethel Turner Prize
for Books for Young Adults and for the Children's Book Council of Australia
Book of the Year for Older Readers (“Burning Eddy”).
In this thesis, I choose to analyze one of Gardner’s novels, Burning Eddy
because the story is very interesting. The story gives the readers a different
perception of life and a way of handling problems for young adults, and this is
very helpful for the readers. “Burning Eddy is a poignant story about growing up,
about family, and about friendship” (Murphy). The protagonist of the novel is a
fifteen-year-old boy named Daniel Fairbrother. He is unhappy about his life
because he has a bad relationship with his father. He does not have any friends
and he does not have a girlfriend, either. Furthermore, he is bullied at school. One
day, he meets Eddy, who teaches him about the meaning of life, how to forgive
others, and many other things. Daniel’s life starts to change after he meets Eddy.
He then develops into a better person in the last chapters of the novel. The
changes of Daniel’s characteristics are very prominent in the novel. Thus, I decide
to analyze the portrayal of the protagonist of the novel as the topic of my thesis.
The literary element that I choose to analyze in this novel is the portrayal
of the protagonist. “Portrayal, which comes from Latin words meaning “to draw
forth,” “to depict,” refers to the portrait (characterization) of individuals presented
in literary selections…” (Shaw 295) while the definition of protagonist is “the
2
Maranatha Christian University
leading character of a drama, novel, or other literary works. The person is not
always a hero of a work, but he is always the principal and central character”
(Shaw 305). In analyzing this novel, I use formalism because the issues in
Burning Eddy are clear and I do not need to use any sources from other books.
Statement of the Problem
The problems I would like to discuss are:
1. How is the protagonist portrayed in the novel?
2. What is the purpose of the author in portraying such a protagonist?
Purpose of the Study
Based on the above problems, the purpose of the study are:
1. to show the portrayal of the protagonist in the novel.
2. to show the purpose of the author in portraying such a protagonist.
Method of Research
In writing this thesis, I use the library research. I begin the study by
reading the primary text, Scot Gardner’s Burning Eddy. Then, I search for some
additional information to support my analysis. This is done by browsing the
internet and reading some reference books. Next, I analyze the portrayal of the
protagonist of the novel. Finally, I draw a conclusion from my analysis.
3
Maranatha Christian University
Organization of the Thesis
The thesis is presented in three chapters and is preceded by Table of
Contents, and Abstract. Chapter one is Introduction, which consists of
Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study,
Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two presents
Analysis of the Portrayal of the Protagonist in Scot Gardner’s Burning Eddy. I
conclude my analysis in Chapter Three. This thesis ends with Bibliography and
Appendices, which present the synopsis of Burning Eddy and the biography of
Scot Gardner.
4
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
After analyzing the portrayal of Daniel Fairbrother of Scot Gardner’s
Burning Eddy, I would like to draw some conclusions. In this novel, Gardner
portrays the development of the character Dan when he gradually changes to be a
better person. At first, Dan is described as someone who is negative, passive, and
desolate.
Dan’s negative characteristic can be seen in the negative thoughts he
always has about his father, Steven. Dan thinks that Steven is always grumpy and
he constantly blames his father for some conditions at home that he is not satisfied
with. Dan also thinks negatively about his life. He tells the story about his life in
just two minutes to Eddy because he thinks there is nothing special or interesting
in his life.
Dan’s passive characteristic can be seen when Michael teases Dan as Dan
is
about
to
ask
a
question
to
his
teacher.
Dan
actually
does
19
Maranatha Christian University
not like being treated that way but he does not say a thing to Michael. The same
thing happens when Dan gets bullied by Amy. Amy says something bad about
Dan and his sister but Dan does nothing to oppose Amy.
Dan’s being desolate can be seen when he is bullied by Michael and his
friends. Dan gets hurt physically and mentally because of that. He thinks that
everything in his life is wrong, everything he has is ugly, nothing good ever
happens to him, and his life is miserable.
After Dan meets Eddy, his life gradually changes to be better. Dan starts to
change after he lets go of his past, too. These factors affect Dan so that he
develops into a better person. Later he becomes someone who is confident,
understanding, and optimistic.
Eddy advises Dan that people must not fight fire with fire. After getting
this advice, Dan becomes confident so he can see and mend his relationship with
Michael and they become friends. Dan can also reveal his feelings to Chantelle
after Eddy gives him encouragement.
Eddy shares her experience with Dan. Eddy tells him that she has been
raped by an American soldier during World War II but in the end, she can forgive
the man who has raped her. Eddy’s experience opens Dan’s mind. Dan becomes
understanding toward his father. Steven has beat him up but Dan is willing to
forgive him and visit him in prison. Dan also becomes understanding toward his
father after Steven tells Dan his secret. Dan feels sympathy for his father’s
misfortune and he forgives his father for all the things that he has done.
20
Maranatha Christian University
Dan lets go of his past and stops blaming himself over the death of his best
friend, Chris. After that, Dan becomes optimistic toward his life. He feels stronger
and he hopes for the better future in his life. Dan also feels optimistic that he is
not alone, even when Eddy dies, because Eddy has taught him that alone is just a
state of mind. Dan has family, friends, and a girlfriend who can always be there
for him.
Through the portrayal and development of Dan, I conclude that Gardner
wants to show the life of a teenager in the process of growing up and about the
importance of forgiveness. Many teenagers experience hardship in the process of
growing up because they have to deal with the issue of acceptance, fitting in and
many others. Some teenagers may be bullied at school, have bad relationship with
their parents, or have guilty feeling of something that happened in the past. These
will affect their characteristics. They need friends that they can trust, they need
someone to love and accept them for who they are, they need to forgive others
who have hurt them, and to forgive themselves in order to let go of their past. That
process of growing up develops and shapes their characters, making them a better
person than before.
I think Burning Eddy is worth reading because the story is funny,
dramatic, captivating, and realistic. I think it is realistic because the story
represents a real life story that happens to many teenagers. In my opinion, Dan is a
life-like character. We can find such a character in real life. After reading this
novel I get some valuable lessons of life such as we have to forgive others and
throw away hatred in our heart in order to be free and happy inside, cherish our
21
Maranatha Christian University
time with our loved ones before it is too late, be brave to be ourselves and live our
life to the fullest every day.
22
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Text:
Gardner, Scot. Burning Eddy. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited,
2004. Print.
References:
”2011 Catalogue-Children’s Books.” Curtis Brown Australia. Curtis Brown, n.d.
Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
“Burning Eddy.” Scot Gardner. Scot Gardner, n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
“CBCA Book of the Year: Congrats to Scot Gardner and Kate Constable!”
Booked Out. Booked Out. 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
“Confident.” Def. 2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Desolate.” Adj, Def. 2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Murphy, Sally. “Burning Eddy by Scot Gardner.” Aussie Reviews. Aussie
reviews. 27 May 2003. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
23
Maranatha Christian University
“Negative.” Adj, Def. 2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Optimistic.” Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, 2016.
Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Passive.” Adj, Def. 1. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“Portrayal.” Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1972. 295. Print.
“Protagonist.” Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1972. 305. Print.
“Scot Gardner.” Booked Out Speakers Agency. Booked Out, n.d. Web. 31 Oct.
2014.
"Scot Gardner." Macmillan. Pan Macmillan Australia, 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
“Understanding.” Adj. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Oxford University Press,
2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
“WA Premiere’s Book Awards.” Booked Out. Booked Out. 24 June 2014. Web. 3
Nov. 2014.
24
Maranatha Christian University