Script:
(Music)
J: Hello, welcome to the NJM podcast.
N: Today we will be discussing Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons.
M: Yup that’s right.
J: Let’s start by introducing ourselves ladies!
N: Hey so name is Noor.
M: My name is Meghan
J: and I’m Josephine.
(Claps)
N: Let’s get this show on the road you guys.
J: Ellen Foster is about an 11 year old girl whose mother died and lives with an alcoholic
dad so she is forced to move from house to house to find the life that she yearns for. Man
oh man… I don’t blame her.
M: Let's talk a little bit about how Kaye uses diction and metaphors, it shows how family
by blood doesn’t always have your back because they don't always have your best
interest in mind.
N: Good point well; first off diction was used all through the novel especially due to the
strong emotions within the text.
J: I agree with you Noor, Ellen's use of diction was really apparent when she was
discussing her thoughts about her family problems.
M: Good point! Like when she talks about her father and says “ I have rage and desire for
the lighting to strike vengeance on him” on page 7.
N: True! You know this use of diction really establishes her thoughts on her family.
J: You know, words such as “vengeance and “rage” really say a lot about Ellen’s
emotions!
N: Yeah I mean that sounds like a tough life for such a young girl!
N: Another is on page 69 when mama's mama says “your bastard of a daddy is dead and
then she hit me on the face.” the use of diction really shows how her family didn't have a
filter and they used offending words.
J: Yeah really though girl, like towards the end when Ellen was thrown out of her aunt's
house and “Nadine said I was a ungrateful little bitch and I needed to have the hell beat
out of me. on page 113 I was really surprised I mean that's just so mean and once again
her family is offending her.
M: I feel that Gibbons use of metaphors and similes helped the reader to understand how
Ellen’s life was a challenge that she overcame because of her dysfunctional family.
J: Yeah the quote on page 71 “I looked out my window and saw her standing by a wood
fire she had made herself poking what was left of some stripes further into the flame.”
Here Gibbons’ uses the flag to represent Ellen’s father and how Ellen’s grandmother
detests him, therefore she pushes him deep into the fire.
M: I agree Ellen’s grandma was a tough lady. The simile on page 68 “Meanness made
her quick like a jungle animal.” describes her nature perfectly. And Ellen’s grandmother
didn't always have Ellen’s best interest at heart.
J: Yeah, Ellen’s grandma was so mean she was a difficult person. Ellen’s father was a
difficult person as well it stinks. The simile on page 3 “Carrying on set up in his E-Z
lounger like he is King for a day. You bring me this or that he might say.” expresses
exactly how entitled and demanding Ellen’s father was, even towards his little girl.
J: Yeah she was so young and yet she was like forced to be his servant. So all in all what
do you guys think of the book?
N: Well I mean Ellen Foster was a very um… I guess you could say eventful book. It was
actually really surprising how she overcame all her you know difficulties and struggles
while she was going from place to place. I personally don’t think I could've done that.
J: Yeah really though, like I would hate to like move from house to house you know
cause she had to carry around stuff around everywhere she went in that box right? Wasn't
it a box she carried around?
N: Yeah.
J: Yeah I would hate that like I hate having to like go away for a week and then come
back it's just such like a waste of energy.
J: So Megers what do you think?
M: I second that Josephine I think the novel showed its message of being able to build
your own family really clearly.
J: Yeah I agree with what you said Meghan.
N: Well unfortunately, we are running out of time folks but thank you so much for
listening to today’s edition of NJM podcast. Um if you are interested in Ellen Foster it is
available in all of your local bookstores and further than that, there is a sequel so you
guys should check that out too! Thanks for listening and have a great day.
Everyone: Bye!!
Meghan: Blue, Josephine: Purple, Noor: Red
Message: Family by blood doesn’t always have your back because they don't always have
your best interest in mind.
Style Elements: Diction and use of metaphors/similes. Gibbons’ use of diction helps the
reader to understand Ellen based on her maturity and her family with offending language.
Gibbons’ makes Ellen sound very intelligent and mature for a girl her age, as opposed to
the people around her (ie her father, her grandmother, etc.) Gibbons’ use of metaphors
and similes helped the reader to understand how Ellen’s life was a challenge that she
overcame because of her dysfunctional family.
(Diction 1) “And oh how I have my rage and desire for the lightning to come and strike a
vengeance on him.” (7)
(Metaphor/Simile 2) “That night I woke up from my sleep because i heard something
outside and I looked out my window and saw her standing by a wood fire she had made
herself poking what was left of some stripes farther into the flame.” (71)
(Diction 2)“He would kill me and my mama both with a knife. He looks at the two of us
and rubs her pocketbook, patient, like he sits and waits for folks to die all the time.” (9)
(Diction 3)“She said your bastard of a daddy is dead and then she hit me in the face. That
does not make sense but that is what she did” (69).
(Diction 4) “Nadine said I was a ungrateful little bitch and I needed to have the hell beat
out of me.” (113)
(Metaphor/ Simile) “Carrying on. Set up in his E-Z lounger like he is King for a Day.
You bring me this or that he might say.” (3)
(Metaphor/Simile 2) “Meanness made her quick like a jungle animal” (68).
“I started to think she wanted me around as a substitute for my daddy. And each day I
was not exactly him but just enough for his eyes or nose to tease her oh she boiled violent
inside” (68).