Critical Lens Essay Sample
Yann Martel once said, “You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best
of it.” This quotation means that life experiences, both positive and negative, must be accepted
and the best should be made of each circumstance. Life may not always present its best side,
but when faced with difficult obstacles we can learn to embrace the challenges, overcome the
problems, and learn from the mistakes. This quotation is valid because it is often difficult to
meet life’s tests, but if we remain positive, life can truly be a wonderful journey. This
quotation relates to the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and the short story “The Scarlet
Ibis” by James Hurst because many of the characters must learn to overcome obstacles and
make the best of their difficult situations. These works use literary elements such as theme and
conflict to illustrate how individuals can learn to cope with life’s challenges. For example,
Johnny and Ponyboy struggle to overcome their difficulties amidst social clashes, while
Doodle’s older brother, the narrator, must survive his younger brother’s death, knowing the
part he played in it. In each literary work, the authors show the reader how the characters face
obstacles, rise above them, and turn challenges into positive learning experiences.
Throughout The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton uses many literary elements that help connect
the novel to the critical lens. Two examples are theme and conflict. Typically, authors use
themes to teach valuable lessons or morals. One important theme in the novel is coming of
age. Throughout The Outsiders, characters experience a coming of age after going through
life-changing experiences. These experiences cause the characters to mature as they come to
an understanding of the world, drop mistaken beliefs, and accept the responsibilities of
adulthood. For example, when the story opens, we learn that two rival gangs, the Socs and the
greasers, have a long-standing feud. Ultimately, one of the greasers, Johnny, kills a Soc and
chooses to run away. Johnny soon realizes, however, that he must accept the consequences of
his actions and turn himself into the police. Although Johnny meets a tragic end, he learns
some valuable lessons along the way. In fact, he passes them onto Ponyboy before he dies,
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telling Pony to “stay gold.” In other words, he should appreciate the beauty of life and not let
its difficulties harden him but rather look upon the struggles as opportunities to grow and make
the most of life. He continues by telling Pony that the gang fighting is useless and that their
decision to save the children from the burning church was the right thing to do, even if it meant
losing his life in the process. Johnny’s experiences are proof that we can all truly overcome
obstacles, turn negatives to positives, and learn valuable life lessons.
A second literary element that helps connect the novel to the quotation is conflict,
which is the presence of opposing forces. At the novel’s outset, the reader learns of the Curtis
brothers’ tragic death of their parents. The novel’s narrator, Ponyboy, tells us that the oldest
brother, Darry, assumes the parental role, giving up college and taking on two jobs in order to
keep the brothers together. Pony tells us of his struggle to get along with Darry, believing that
his older brother fails to understand him, treats him strictly, and does not love him. After
Ponyboy ends up in the hospital as a result of the church fire, he sees Darry weeping tears of
relief upon his realization that his younger brother has not perished. It is at this moment that
Pony begins to realize his error in judgment about his relationship with his older brother. It
becomes clear to Pony the many sacrifices Darry has made to keep the brothers together. His
older brother is not strict with his younger brother because he did not love him, but rather
because he takes his parental role so seriously. Pony comes to grips with the fact that Darry
selflessly did his best at the tender age of twenty to keep the Curtis family together, and in the
process compromises his own future. At novel’s end, the middle brother Soda becomes
entangled in an argument between Pony and Darry and conveys the difficulty he has being
caught in their tug-of-war. He asks them to appreciate the fact that they are all they have now
that their parents are gone, and they should rely on one another for support and guidance. It is
at this moment that Pony and Darry promise Soda that they will do their best to get along and
cherish their bond. Pony’s journey through his relationship with Darry is a rocky one, as a
result of the personal difficulties he must face. By the story’s conclusion, however, Pony
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views these struggles as a means through which to mend the tension with Darry and not only
appreciates the sacrifices his older brother has made, but also values the care and concern
Darry provides.
“The Scarlet Ibis” is a second piece of literature that contains the literary elements of
inner conflict and theme to connect the short story to the critical lens. In this case, the author,
James Hurst, uses inner conflict to illustrate Doodle’s older brother’s inner struggle with his
embarrassment about and his desire to help his invalid brother Doodle. The narrator is
ashamed at having a handicapped younger brother, but his wish to be the caring big brother and
help Doodle do the things other boys and girls can do creates an internal conflict. The narrator
knows that Doodle will never be able to walk, run, swim, box, or row like other children, but
his shame at having an invalid for a brother gets the best of him and forces him to push Doodle
to his death. The narrator must then face the reality that he is partially responsible for killing
his younger brother and finds it difficult to think about his part in it. By facing the
consequences, however, the narrator learns a valuable lesson in tolerance, which he can then
use for the rest of his life.
Theme is a second literary element that connects the critical lens to the short story. One
of James Hurst’s important messages to the reader is that we should be tolerant of others. The
narrator cannot accept his invalid brother. He is ashamed of Doodle, so he makes up his mind
to teach his younger brother how to walk, run, swim, box, and row. He will make his
handicapped brother just like other boys and girls. Doodle’s body is too weak, however, and he
cannot keep up with his older brother’s demands. Doodle tries so hard to please his older
brother because he looks up to him, and never complains that he is having a hard time. At the
end of the story, Doodle and the narrator realize that they will not be able to meet their goals.
Doodle’s brother gets angry and runs away from his younger brother. Doodle tries to run after
him and pushes himself too hard. He collapses and dies. The narrator must now go back and
face the consequences of his actions. It is only then that the narrator realizes that he should
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have learned to accept his invalid brother and appreciate the rare and wonderful relationship
they could have enjoyed. This valuable lesson in tolerance comes too late for Doodle, but it is
a lesson that the narrator can then pass on to the reader.
Yann Martel once declared, “You must take life the way it comes at you and make the
best of it.” In other words, we should accept all life’s experiences, whatever they may be, with
a positive attitude. In this way, we can live life to the fullest and know that we have done our
very best. In the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by
James Hurst, readers meet characters who truly embrace this philosophy. Johnny Cade comes
of age after going through a life-changing experience. He selflessly saves the children from
the burning church and gives his life in the process. Although the lesson Johnny learns comes
too late for him, he makes the best of his situation by passing the valuable message on to his
friend Ponyboy. By saving the children and by telling Pony to appreciate life and its beauty, to
realize that fighting the Socs is useless, and to make the most of who we are as human beings,
Johnny shows us that he has not only made the ultimate sacrifice but also made the best of
what life has given him. Doodle’s older brother in “The Scarlet Ibis” also learns a valuable
lesson by the short story’s conclusion: tolerance. Because of his pride, he is partially
responsible for Doodle’s death, and he must now deal with his guilt and face the consequences
of his actions. He cannot bring Doodle back, but he can live out his life in a more humble way.
Through the literary elements of theme and conflict S. E. Hinton and James Hurst show the
reader how all people can overcome difficult situations and make the best of them, whether it is
through a lesson they themselves learn, or one that they can pass along to others. After reading
these remarkable stories, we may think about the many times we have been faced with life’s
challenges and the many ways in which we can rise above the difficulties by turning the
negative situations to positive ones. Perhaps the authors wrote these stories to make people
think twice before they give up and to encourage all of us to make the best of what life has to
offer.
Body Paragraph – Literary Elements
Name it: – literary element you will use
Define it: – define the literary element
Show it: – use text-based support
Tie it back: – connect it back to the quote
A flashback is an important literary element
that interrupts the current action of a story and
shows the reader important things about a
character’s thoughts and feelings. When “The
Scarlet Ibis” begins, the reader learns that the
narrator is remembering his childhood. As the
narrator tells us the story, he remembers the cruel
way he treated his younger brother and the many
times he pushed Doodle beyond his limits. “Pride
is a wonderful, terrible thing,” the narrator tells us.
Instead of being proud of his younger brother, the
older brother’s pride forces him to push Doodle too
hard. By the end of the story, we understand that
the narrator is remembering the part he played in
the death of his younger brother Doodle. As the
older brother remembers what happened years
earlier, the reality that he is partially responsible for
Doodle’s death is a fact that is very difficult for him
to face. With the passing of time, however, the
narrator has accepted the mistake he has made and
turned it into a valuable lesson: tolerance of others.
Through Hurst’s short story, the narrator has taken
the painful memory of his brother and found a way
to pass along his message to others in the hopes of
keeping others from making the same mistake.
Body Paragraph – Literary Elements
Name it: – literary element you will use
Define it: – define the literary element
Show it: – use text-based support
Tie it back: – connect it back to the quote
Theme is defined as the lesson or moral of the
story. James Hurst’s message to the reader is that
we should be tolerant of others. The narrator
cannot accept his invalid brother. He is ashamed of
Doodle, so he makes up his mind to teach his
younger brother how to walk, run, swim, box, and
row. He will make his handicapped brother just
like other boys and girls. The problem is that
Doodle’s body is weak, and he cannot keep up with
his older brother. Doodle tries so hard to please his
older brother because he looks up to him, and never
complains that he is having a hard time. At the end
of the story, Doodle and the narrator realize that
they will not be able to meet their goals. Doodle’s
brother gets angry and runs away from his younger
brother. Doodle tries to run after him and pushes
himself too hard. He collapses and dies. The
narrator must now go back and face the
consequences of his actions. It is then that the
narrator realizes that he should have learned to
accept his invalid brother as he was rather than try
to make him something he was not. This valuable
lesson in tolerance comes too late for Doodle, but it
is a lesson that the narrator can then pass on to the
reader.
Body Paragraph – Literary Elements
Name it: – literary element you will use
Define it: – define the literary element
Tell it: – use text-based support
Show it: – tie it back to the quote
One of the narrator’s character traits is
arrogance. It is because of the older brother’s
excessive pride that Doodle is pushed to overexert
himself. It is not that Doodle’s older brother does
not understand how hard he is pushing his invalid
brother. In fact, at one point he admits that he and
Doodle “should have already admitted defeat,” but
the narrator’s pride will not let him believe that his
handicapped brother cannot meet his expectations.
He forces Doodle to continue day after day and
yells at him for not trying harder to be like other
boys and girls until the younger brother’s weak
body gives out. The narrator must then deal with
the fact that he is partially responsible for Doodle’s
death, and he finds it difficult to face this reality.
Conclusion Paragraph