Bridge to Terabithia – Study Material
Year 8 Religious Education
Relationships, Identity and Spirituality
Context
Katherine Paterson was born in China in 1932, the daughter of
Christian missionaries. However, her parents were very liberal
Christians, dedicated to educating others about the faith rather than
forcing others to believe. This philosophy was doubtless imprinted on
Katherine as well, and it is demonstrated in her treatment of faith in
Bridge to Terabithia.
The Paterson family left China during World War II, when the
Japanese invaded Manchuria, and returned to the U.S. The Paterson
family didn't stay in one place for very long throughout this World War
II period; instead, they moved to various towns in North Carolina,
Virginia, and West Virginia, finally settling in Winchester, Virginia—a
rural area quite similar to the setting of Bridge to Terabithia. It was in
Virginia that Paterson learned English. Although she had always
been a voracious reader, this transition to a new language was
difficult for her, but the benefits were great.
Soon after that, Paterson began to attend King College in Bristol,
Tennessee, studying literature. By now, Paterson had developed a
dream of becoming a missionary, and it was this desire to educate
and enlighten, perhaps, that led her to spend a year teaching sixth
grade in Lovettsville, Virginia, where she says "almost all the students
were like Jesse Aarons." After this year teaching, she undertook
graduate studies in Richmond, studying the Bible and Christian
education.
After she had completed graduate school, she moved to Japan. She
had always wanted to go back to China, but it had never been
feasible, and a friend suggested that she might want to learn about
Japanese culture. At first she was nervous about this, seeing the
Japanese only as the enemy during World War II, but eventually she
set aside her misgivings and went. She came to love it there, and it
figures heavily in her early books. She would have stayed there
except that she met and fell in love with the Reverend John Paterson,
a Presbyterian minister. They were married in 1962, and together
they moved to New York.
Over the years, they had four children, two adopted and two
biological. It was in these years as well that Paterson became
seriously dedicated to becoming a writer. However, she met with very
little success at first, writing prolifically and getting hardly anything
published. Finally, a friend, taking pity on her efforts, invited Paterson
to join her in a creative writing class she was taking. The novel she
wrote in the class, The Sign of the Chrysanthemum, a Japanese fairy
tale, was published in 1974.
In 1977, a tragedy occurred which is the basis for the novel Bridge to
Terabithia. Her son David, then eight years old, had become
inseparable friends with a little girl named Lisa Hill. Paterson had
wondered about the implications of this cross-gender friendship, and
felt a little uneasy about the unusual bond between them. Then Lisa
was struck by lightning on the beach and was killed. David was
understandably devastated, and Paterson grieved as well,
understanding now how unimportant her fears had been. As a way of
helping them both work through their grief, she wrote Bridge to
Terabithia, which won the Newbery Award in 1978.
Bridge to Terabithia is actually part of an ongoing censorship battle in
many areas around the country. Critics cite the use of profanity in the
book, but in fact the profanity is mild and infrequent: in dialogue some
of the characters might use the words "damn" and "hell," but it is
certainly not particularly pervasive. Clearly, the critics are angered for
other reasons that they are more reluctant to aim, and general
surmise attributes their complaints to the treatment of religion in the
book. Leslie's family is liberal politically and do not attend church,
whereas Jess's family only attends church at Easter. Religion is
certainly not portrayed in a negative light in the book, but true to
Paterson's upbringing, faith is shown to be fulfilling when divested of
the strict, unforgiving dogma of the organized church. The ending,
which reaffirms that God does not send good people to hell,
essentially, is probably the reason that right-wing conservatives have
come down on the book so strongly.
Katherine Paterson has always advocated the need for
contemporary, realistic children's fiction, eschewing fluff and mindless
entertainment. All of her books challenge the conventional
boundaries of acceptable themes for children's literature, taking on
such topics as the death of a loved one (Bridge To Terabithia,FlipFlop Girl), the tribulations of foster children (The Great Gilly Hopkins,
which was written out of her own brief, unsatisfactory experience as a
foster mother), governmental persecution (Rebels Of The Heavenly
Kingdom), and the historical exploitation of young workers (Lyddie).
Plot Overview
Jess Aarons is an eleven-year-old boy living in a rural area of the
South who loves to run. He dreams of being the fastest boy in the fifth
grade when school starts up in the fall, feeling that this will for once
give him a chance to stand in the spotlight among his five sisters, and
might win him the attention of his preoccupied father. Jess is quite
insecure in his identity. He loves to paint and draw, but he knows very
well that this labels him a "sissy" in the eyes of most of the world,
particularly his father. In addition, his family is stretched so tight by
poverty that he has little chance to really explore his own identity
during this crucial period of adolescence. He has therefore built up
the importance of winning in his mind, feeling that here, at least, is
something that he is good at which won't win him an undesired label
of "sissy" or "girl" in the eyes of his father or schoolmates, and which
will allow him to shine in his own right. He practices each morning,
always dreaming of his upcoming victory. However, when the races
come around at recess, a new girl, Leslie Burke, who just moved next
door to Jess, boldly crosses to the boys' side of the playground and
beats everyone.
A rather unpromising beginning, but Jess and Leslie become fast
friends. They build a secret fantasyland across the creek in the
woods, called Terabithia, where they play all the time. There they
forget the rest of the world, such as the kids at school or Jess's lessthan-satisfactory family. The time they spend in Terabithia, in fact,
seems to strengthen them for these trials of everyday life: it is there
that they map out a plan of revenge on the school bully when she
steals May Belle's Twinkies, and it is there that they discuss Jess's
feelings of insecurity when Leslie begins to draw closer to her father.
Leslie also introduces Jess to the world of imagination and creativity,
telling him the stories of such classics of literature as Moby Dick and
Hamlet. All this also strengthens Jess's artistic talent and ability, as
Leslie supports his ambition and, through the stories she tells,
provides him with great subject matter. But much of the time they play
wonderful games of their own invention—defeating intruders on
Terabithian territory, praying to the Spirits of the Grove to end a long
spell of rain, and numerous other fantasies.
However, Jess and Leslie's friendship, though centered in Terabithia,
is not limited to Terabithia. They see each other at school, where they
take a good deal of ribbing for their cross-gender friendship, but by
now that sort of teasing has lost the power to hurt Jess, and Leslie
has never been particularly bothered by what others think. At home,
they celebrate holidays together, such as Christmas, when Jess gives
Leslie a puppy and she gives him an expensive art set to develop his
artistic talent, and Easter, when Leslie goes to church for the first time
with Jess. Leslie is impressed by the beauty of the story of Christ.
Jess and his little sister May Belle, cowed by negative and
unforgiving religious training, are convinced that nonbelievers such as
Leslie are doomed to hell, and find the whole experience disturbing.
Nevertheless, Jess and Leslie remain the best of friends, and Jess
finds a purpose in his life through Leslie's company that he's never
had before.
One day the music teacher at school, Miss Edmunds, whom Jess has
long had a crush on, invites him to spend a day with her touring the
art galleries in Washington. This trip does much to expand his mind
and make him feel as if he is special, a feeling he has previously only
had in Leslie's company. Jess has a perfect day, but when he gets
home he is told that Leslie drowned in the creek that morning trying to
swing into Terabithia on the rope that they used for that purpose.
Jess is completely devastated and goes through the stages of grief—
denial, anger, fear, and sorrow—all incredibly painful to suffer and,
indeed, to read about. Initially, he does not see how he is to go on
initially. Leslie has raised him to new heights as the king of
Terabithia, and now he feels that without her, he has no choice but to
revert to the old Jess, plagued by fear and insecurity. However,
eventually he realizes that he can only keep Leslie's memory, and his
own newfound sense of self, alive by continuing the fantasy of
Terabithia. He brings his little sister May Belle there and makes her
its new queen, assuring that a part of Leslie will live on as well.
Character List
Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr. - The main character and protagonist of
the novel. Jess is a fifth-grader living in a rural Southern area. He is
lonely and lost in the middle of a family of four girls when Leslie Burke
moves in next door. Leslie and Jess become best friends, and the
novel centers on their friendship. Jess is a budding artist whose talent
receives little praise from anyone except Leslie and Miss Edmunds.
Yet he is quite talented, as well as intelligent, caring, and down- toearth. A thoroughly likable character, we are quickly drawn into his
world and his personal tribulations.
Jess Aarons (In-Depth Analysis)
Leslie Burke - Jess's new next-door neighbor and best friend. Highly
intelligent and imaginative, it is her idea to build a fantasyland named
Terabithia across the creek. Leslie's family is affluent and well
educated, in stark contrast with the rest of the residents in the area,
and has an entirely different slant on life than any of the neighbors.
All this influences Leslie as well and helps to develop her uniqueness
and distinct flair.
Leslie Burke (In-Depth Analysis)
Mrs. Aarons - Jess's mother. Mrs. Aarons is tired and careworn
with the stresses of trying to support a family of seven on a poor
family's income. She always seems to be hounding Jess to do chores
or milk the cow, but her shortness of temper is merely a result of
overwork. After Leslie's death, she shows herself to be a caring
mother torn apart by her son's pain. Nevertheless, under normal
circumstances she does not help to make Jess's home life inviting or
comfortable.
Mr. Aarons - Jess's father. Mr. Aarons is likewise harried by the
concerns of being the sole breadwinner for a large family. He rarely
has time for Jess, which is hard on the boy. He wants to do the right
thing by his son, but he isn't quite sure how; the irony is that all he
would really need to do would be to sit down with Jess, ruffle his hair,
and talk with him about his day, but he doesn't seem to understand
this. He expects Jess to be a "man," a source of considerable
heartache and soul-searching on the part of Jess, whose passions lie
elsewhere than playing football and driving big trucks. However, he is
concerned with his son's welfare and wants nothing but the best for
him, as is evidenced in his treatment of Jess after Leslie's death.
Ellie - Jess's oldest sister. Her age is never given directly, but we
can guess that she's about fifteen or sixteen. Ellie is thoroughly
spoiled, much like Brenda, the difference between them is that Ellie
has mastered the art of sycophancy, and consequently leaves a
much better taste in most people's mouths. Vain, conceited, and
shallow, Ellie continually annoys Jess.
Brenda - Jess's second-oldest sister. We can surmise that she is
around fourteen. Brenda is even more annoying than Ellie. She
shares Ellie's vanity and shallowness, but she whines continually and
has no sense of when to stop before pushing people too far. She
harries Jess continually, and is primly content with her own little world
of makeup, scanty clothing, and romantic interests. Even after
Leslie's death, Brenda will not stop harassing Jess. She is wholly
immature and self-absorbed.
May Belle Aarons - Jess's little sister. May Belle is closer to him
than any other member of their family. She is six and a bit lost, and
she is without close friends or siblings close enough in age to play
with. She often tries to push herself in with Jess and Leslie, which
they do not like, but all the same Jess feels bad for her. At the end of
the novel, it is she who allows Terabithia to live on, as she becomes
its new queen.
Joyce Ann - Jess's youngest sister, at four years old. Joyce Ann is
not developed very much as a character. She is often portrayed as
whiny, but she is only four. Jess does not share the same bond with
her that he does with May Belle, but he seems to feel a certain
warmth toward her, as is evidenced by the end of the book, when he
suggests that in time, Joyce Ann may join May Belle in Terabithia as
a princess.
Miss Edmunds - The music teacher at the school. Jess is deeply in
puppy love with her. She seems a creature from another world to him,
a beautiful woman with a beautiful look and a smile for all the
students, but especially Jess. She encourages his artistic talent, one
of the two people in the world, including Leslie, who does, and seems
to care about him in a special way. She is somewhat of a hippie,
which only deepens her allure for Jess, because it confirms her
individuality and separation from the narrow world of Lark Creek. Kind
and caring, it is no mystery why Jess adores her, as she seems to fill
a void of affection and compassion that he does not get from his
family.
Miss Edmunds (In-Depth Analysis)
Mr. Burke - Leslie's father. He is a political writer who is extremely
gifted intellectually but rather scatterbrained. Leslie's growing
friendship with Bill disturbs Jess until Leslie invites him to spend time
with them as well.
Mrs. Burke - Leslie's mother. Judy writes novels and seems to
spend most of her time closed in her room with her typewriter going.
Not that she neglects Leslie, but she just seems busier than Mr.
Burke. All in all, Leslie's parents lavish on her the love and attention
that is not demonstrated clearly in Jess's house.
Janice Avery - A seventh-grader who is the school bully. Janice
terrorizes May Belle, as well as the rest of the younger kids, until Jess
and Leslie find a way of getting back at her. However, Janice is not
an ultimate demon; she has her own problems that lend her an
aspect of sympathy. Her father abuses her, and when her friends
blab her secrets to the entire school, her tough-girl persona snaps. It
is Leslie who comforts her, at Jess's urging, forming an unlikely
friendship between them.
Analysis of Major Characters
Jess Aarons
Jess is the principal character of Bridge to Terabithia. The story is
told through his eyes, though not in his voice, and thus we are given
a deeper glimpse at his soul and motivations than those of anyone
else in the book. Jess sees himself as a very ordinary boy, at least
until Leslie comes along. He is unable to identify those characteristics
that distinguish him from the rest because he is constantly in conflict
with the various facets of his life. He has several distinct roles that
those around him expect him to play. His family expects him to be the
dutiful son and brother, and his own personality often seems to be
less important to them than his ability to get the chores done. His
father, in particular, expects him to be a "young man," to look at the
world from an adult and distinctly masculine perspective. Jess's
personal passions and skills, such as art, are to be discouraged if
they do not help him fit into this role. The students at school likewise
expect him to conform, to throw himself wholeheartedly into pursuits
such as sports. Amid all this, the only thing Jess can grasp that fulfills
his expected responsibilities from all these people and which fulfills
him personally is running, and he seizes on this fanatically,
determined to distinguish himself as the fastest runner in the fifth
grade. This, he feels, will free him from what he feels to be his curse
of ordinariness, and will make him into a person that both he and
everyone else can accept.
However, when Leslie comes along, we are allowed to see the true
Jess shining through the poorly constructed mask of conformity. His
artistic talent is the main tangible thing that distinguishes him from the
rest, and Leslie nurtures this through encouragement and a gift of an
expensive paint set. However, the importance of this talent pales
beside the personal qualities Jess is finally allowing himself to
acknowledge. He has the sensitivity and kindness that would
probably be at odds with the "tough guy" image everyone seems to
want him to project. He coddles his younger sister and even
convinces Leslie to help the school bully, who has caused him and
everyone else in the school untold annoyance and fear, when he
finds out that she's crying in the bathroom. He is possessed of a
sharp intelligence which he is able to put to use for the first time when
confronted with the intellectual stimulation that Leslie provides,
through her books and her imagination. Through his friendship with
Leslie, Jess truly manages to find himself. But he is not simply
dependent on her for this newfound sense of self; when she dies, he
eventually finds that he can carry on and continue in the path of
personal growth she has helped him to find. Jess is a thoroughly
admirable boy on his way to becoming a man, and the story of his
growth is the kernel of Bridge to Terabithia.
Leslie Burke
Leslie moves to Lark Creek at the beginning of her and Jess's fifthgrade year, and she stands out in shining contrast to the rest of the
students. Her parents are highly educated, intellectual, affluent, and
liberal, and they have exposed her to the wider world in a way that
none of the students at Lark Creek have ever imagined. Leslie is full
to the brim with imagination, creativity, mischief, and fun. A voracious
reader with a keen sense of intellectual curiosity, she is the one who
comes up with the idea of Terabithia. She immediately senses the
potential in Jess and the two become fast friends, and it is she who
draws Jess out of the socially constructed shell that has constrained
him for his whole life.
Leslie is also kind personally and emotionally. Unlike Jess, whose
parents give the appearance of being too busy and careworn to
devote much excess energy to raising their children, Leslie's
parents—though not always, perhaps, the absolute most attentive
parents in the world at all times—have nevertheless always had time
for her when she's really needed them, and have given their best to
bringing her up to make them proud. Under this wholesome influence
Leslie has become an extraordinary child. Most of the students at
Lark Creek, with their unerring instinct for absolute conformity, do not
care much for her because she is so different, but she proves to be
the perfect friend for Jess.
Leslie often gives the impression of being absolutely fearless, which
Jess at once admires and finds intimidating. Jess has become
convinced throughout his life that a truly admirable person is never
scared of anything, and Leslie's apparently dauntless nature rubs on
a sore spot in Jess's soul, for he wishes he could be the same way.
However, as we see at the end of the novel, Leslie's fearlessness
ultimately is her tragic downfall. Jess had berated himself many times
for being afraid to swing across the creek when it was high, but then
the rope breaks while Leslie is swinging and she falls to her death.
Thus one of her most admirable characteristics is proven to be less
than perfect.
Miss Edmunds
Miss Edmunds is the only person, before Leslie, who ever
encouraged Jess to explore his true nature and to escape the
mindless conformity of Lark Creek Elementary, by nourishing his
artistic talent and assuring him that he has a "neat kid." Like Leslie,
Miss Edmunds is sorely out of place in Lark Creek. She bears a
passing resemblance to Leslie's parents, in her liberal worldview and
"hippie" characteristics. For this reason, she is almost universally
distrusted at the school. But even so, there is an undeniable appeal
about this slim, attractive young music teacher that even the most
hardened students cannot deny. Her status as a music teacher is
appropriate, purveyor of the aesthetic arts rather than staid grammar
and arithmetic. The rest of the school seems dedicated exclusively to
the health of the mind and Miss Edmunds provides some muchneeded food for the soul.
Jess is deeply infatuated with Miss Edmunds. His crush on her is
proof that he longs for something more than the narrow world of Lark
Creek, that he senses that there is a beauty and vibrancy to the world
that he is never been privy to in his world of grinding poverty and
severely limited outlook. There is a freshness about her that is like a
breath of fragrant air in the stale atmosphere of this rural community.
Most of the students distrust this, but Jess is greatly impressed by it.
Miss Edmunds is a symbol of the beauty and freedom that are
possible in the world, and Jess is entranced by the idea and the
emotions she stirs in him.
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Themes
Friendship
Jess and Leslie's friendship is the central theme of Bridge to
Terabithia. Their friendship is delightful on a simple level, their
childish exploits fraught with amusement and joy. However, we
cannot simply call Bridge to Terabithia a monument to the carefree
pleasures of childhood, because that would miss one of the main
points of the story. The reason that Jess and Leslie's friendship is so
magical is because it allows them to rejoice in childhood and to
escape the rest of the pressures that bear down on them so heavily in
the rest of their lives. Jess, in particular, leads a life full of everyday
hardship and dissatisfaction. We sense that before Leslie came
along, he was in danger of sinking under the weight of these
combined pressures and reluctantly accepting conformity.
This is the essential beauty of their friendship: it allows both Leslie
and Jess, particularly Jess, to find their true selves. This seems to be
Paterson's central point about friendship—that it allows friends to
expand, to explore new dimensions of one's character as a result of
the other person's pushing one in new directions. For example, Jess's
artistic abilities are strengthened by Leslie's imagination, which
provides perfect fodder for new and innovative artwork, and Leslie's
strength and courage are tested and developed when Jess
encourages her to help Janice Avery. Jess discovers in himself an
aptitude for invention and creativity; Leslie uncovers a desire for
spirituality when Jess brings her to church. Rather counterintuitively,
Paterson suggests that individuality is difficult to find on one's own,
because then one has no aid in combating societal and other external
pressures and forces which would attempt to destroy one's
individuality. Rather, in a friendship, one discovers new aspects of
oneself and helps the other person to discover new aspects of
him/herself as well. This is particularly important in an adolescent
friendship such as the one described in Bridge to Terabithia, because
those are the formative years, when much of one's adult character is
determined. A friendship such as Jess and Leslie share allows the
two to become comfortable with themselves, to discover who they
really are without worries that what they find will not fit into the
"proper" mold. Ultimately, each member of such a friendship is
strengthened and developed by the friendship.
Childhood
Childhood is a corollary to the theme of friendship in the book. As
mentioned before, some people might have a tendency to breezily
summarize childhood as a time of carefree bliss, when nothing could
go wrong. This might be reinforced by the idealized times that Leslie
and Jess spend in Terabithia, which seem to be the epitome of
untroubled childhood joy. However, Paterson recognizes that this is
far from being true all the time—in fact, the main attraction of
Terabithia is that it allows the children to escape the "real world,"
which is apparently nearly as full of pain and sorrow for children as
for adults. Sometimes this is played down a bit, as when May Belle is
devastated when Janice Avery steals her Twinkies; however, the
character of Janice herself is perfect proof that childhood is not
always perfect, given her father's violent abuse of her. Jess, too,
struggles with very pervasive problems of identity imposed by his
family and classmates. Leslie must contend with the disdain of her
classmates and the wavering attention of her parents, whose work
often dominates their lives. Paterson clearly encourages us to take a
look beyond the stereotype of idealized childhood and to realize that
children deal with problems just as pressing as those that adults face.
Our priorities shift as we grow older, so we have a tendency to
downplay the crises of childhood as unimportant, even though they
are very real and important to the children who suffer them.
Conformity and individuality
Jess's main struggle in the book is to discover his true identity when
faced with the demands of his family and society in general. The push
is for him to conform—to discard his artistic talent and concentrate
instead on those pursuits that are either more "manly" or which will be
more practically useful to the family. His classmates expect him to
come out of a certain mold as well, to watch the Washington
Redskins on television and hang with the guys and act tough.
However, it's Jess misfortune—or, to offer an alternate point of view,
his good luck—not to fit this mold particularly well, and he feels
trapped, finding running to be the only safe outlet for his own talents
and inclinations. When Leslie comes along, she helps Jess to escape
from the crushing pressures of conformity. Her parents' background
as free-spirited near- hippies has given her a great deal of freedom
and personal choice, and she opens Jess's eyes to the possibilities
that exist for him as well. When she dies, he is crushed, but he has
gained enough strength and sense of self through his friendship with
her to carry on without her and not lose touch with all she has taught
him.
Gender Roles
Gender role is a motif that plays off the idea of conformity. Jess is
expected to fit into a certain mold, but that mold is a distinctly
masculine one. Jess's father is scornful of his artistic ability, calling it
a girl's pastime. Jess's classmates snigger if he shows a tendency to
want to avoid brawling when possible. Jess is expected to be
responsible, stoic, and strong, and to be ready to shoulder the burden
of responsibility for the family that his father has carried all these
years. Leslie meets with the family's disapproval because she doesn't
fit easily into a feminine category, with her short hair and athletic
ability. However, this is part of what draws Jess to her. She has a
liberating force that she exerts over all his cramped confinement.
Leslie shows him that he does not need to fulfill a peculiarly
masculine role, and that he is free to be himself without reference to
gender stereotypes.
Education
Education is portrayed rather dubiously throughout Bridge to
Terabithia. Certainly the area in which Jess lives is not strong on
education: the rural area is dirt-poor, with little money to fund a school
system, and most of the residents are uneducated as well, farmers by
destiny and by trade. Jess has very little exposure to intellectual thirst
and curiosity until he meets the Burkes. They are all extremely
intelligent and highly educated, a fact that sets Jess reeling at first.
Certainly their education forms a crucial difference between them and
the rest of the people in the area.
Yet the dichotomy is not absolute. As Jess gets to know Leslie, he
hungrily devours her books and eagerly immerses himself in the
imaginary world of Terabithia. He doesn't assimilate her education
overnight, but the seeds of intelligence and desire to learn are firmly
planted in him, and if he'll never be the erudite that either of Leslie's
parents is, the gap between them is not as wide as he imagines. The
reader is left wishing that Jess had the opportunity to have the
education that Leslie's had, but in the end it isn't really necessary: his
cleverness and ambition will take him far in their own right.
Terabithia
Terabithia is a symbol of idealized childhood, of a perfect world in
which children can rule supreme without the heavy responsibilities of
adulthood. No bad thing can touch the rulers of Terabithia—no matter
what the obstacle, they will always emerge victorious. The place
provides a much-needed refuge for Leslie and Jess. However,
Terabithia is not an absolute sanctuary, as is proven upon Leslie's
death. She drowns in the creek, the border between the perfect world
of Terabithia and the harder world of reality. The novel suggests that
Leslie is frozen forever on the boundary between childhood and
adulthood, symbolized by the creek itself. By the end of the novel,
Jess comes to understand that the enchantment of Terabithia is
meant to last for a season only, and—not that he must move on,
necessarily—but that he must not depend on Terabithia as an escape
anymore, but instead start tackling life's problems head-on. By the
end of the novel, Jess is a man, though not exactly in the sense that
his father has hoped for all these years. Rather, he has managed to
strike a balance between retaining the best parts of childhood and
attaining a new maturity.
The rope over the creek and the bridge to Terabithia
When they originated the idea of Terabithia, Leslie decreed that the
rope swinging over the creek would be a magic rope, the only
entrance to the magical land. Jess accepted this decree
wholeheartedly, and always felt that Terabithia was not really
Terabithia unless one entered by the prescribed method. When the
rope snaps, it seems to be a symbol stating that the magic is at an
end. The breaking of the rope seems to cement the fate of Terabithia,
which really died with the death of its queen.
However, Jess eventually comes to realize that the magic is in him as
much as it was in Leslie, and he has the power to resurrect
Terabithia. It will be different, completely different, but its soul will
remain the same. Jess himself has broken some ties with Terabithia
in his newfound maturity. However, May Belle is still a child, and
deserves the enchanted childhood only available to her in Terabithia.
In building the bridge to Terabithia, Jess affirms that the beauty,
wonder, and magic that were so much a part of Leslie did not
disappear when she died. Instead, he perpetuates that magic, and in
a form more solid and lasting than the rope. Jess's days of absolute,
carefree, childish happiness in Terabithia are over, but he passes
Leslie's legacy on by building the bridge to Terabithia.
Key Facts
FULL TITLE · Bridge to Terabithia
AUTHOR · Katherine Paterson
TYPE OF WORK · Novel
GENRE · Children's literature
TIME AND PLACE WRITTEN · 1977, Virginia
DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION · 1978
PUBLISHER · HarperCollins
NARRATOR · The narration is told in the author's
voice, but the point of
view is clearly Jess's.
CLIMAX · The moment when Jess returns from his trip to Washington
with Miss Edmunds to find that Leslie has drowned.
PROTAGONIST · Jess, and secondarily, Leslie
ANTAGONIST · There is no clearly defined antagonist in Bridge to
Terabithia; the closest thing would be society and its pressures to
conform.
SETTING (TIME) · The late 1970s
SETTING (PLACE) · Lark Creek, a rural area in the South; specifics are
never given
POINT OF VIEW · The point of view throughout the story is Jess's.
FALLING ACTION · The last chapter, when the Burkes move away and
Jess builds the bridge to Terabithia.
TENSE · Past
FORESHADOWING · There is not too much foreshadowing in Bridge to
Terabithia, but there is one moment when May Belle, agitated
because she believes Leslie's lack of faith in the Bible means she is
going to hell, repeats over and over, "But Leslie, what if you die?
What if you die?"
TONE · The tone of the writing is, in general, colloquial and
understated.
THEMES · Friendship; childhood; conformity and individuality; fear
MOTIFS · Religion; gender roles; education
SYMBOLS · The creek; the rope over the creek; Terabithia; the bridge
to Terabithia
Study Questions and Essay Topics
Study Questions
Leslie and Jess seem to balance one another out perfectly, blending
seamlessly into one harmonious friendship. What is it that makes
these two so compatible? What does their friendship say about each
of them, and what does their friendship specifically say about
friendship in general?
Jess at one point explains his friendship with Leslie by saying that "if
there had been anyone else at that durned school," she would not
have had to bother with him. In fact, the reader can see that Jess is
doing himself an injustice in saying this. Both Jess and Leslie have
individual characteristics that the other person responds to. Leslie is
well read, imaginative, courageous, and self-assured. Jess is
intelligent, but not particularly well educated, practical, kind, and
compassionate. There is an overlap between them—this is not to say
that Leslie is unkind, or Jess is unimaginative—but these are the
main traits which distinguish each of them. Together, they make a
perfect pair.
This says a lot about the need to appreciate one's own contribution to
a friendship, as well as the other person's. Jess feels so strongly that
Leslie is an amazing person that he forgets that he himself must be
rather special in order to maintain a true friendship with her. In
reading Bridge to Terabithia, since Leslie is so extraordinary and so
unique, and Jess is less flamboyantly so, one might be tempted to
chalk most of the magic of the friendship up to Leslie. However,
Jess's contribution is just as important, and ultimately he is just as
special. Bridge to Terabithia is a tribute to the wonder and magic that
is possible in a true friendship, and it emphasizes clearly that this
wonder and magic are always tied up intimately with both friends, not
dependent on just one.
What is the treatment of gender roles in Bridge to Terabithia?
Katherine Paterson addresses the theme of gender and cross-gender
friendships with sensitivity and insight in Bridge to Terabithia. Jess
lives in a world where gender roles are very clearly defined: women
seem to be expected to stay at home and take care of the house, and
men are expected to shoulder most of the responsibility. Certainly
most of the females depicted in Bridge to Terabithia, Jess's sisters
and female classmates in particular, are shallow and vain. Jess's
father, on the other hand, from whom we see the most insistence on
Jess's conformity to the masculine gender role, is worn by the many
cares of his household, preoccupied with material concerns, and
awkwardly undemonstrative with Jess. Jess is led to believe that he
must live up to this masculine ideal, and that his love for painting is a
betrayal of the "true man" his father expects him to be.
When Leslie comes along, all this is challenged. As is mentioned in
the chapter analyses, Leslie's original appearance of androgyny is
crucial to Jess's immediate perception of her. It places her outside
this system that constrains and confuses Jess. A friendship between
a boy and a girl would have been rather taboo in the atmosphere of
Lark Creek Elementary and the Aarons' home, but the gender
difference doesn't matter to Jess or Leslie. Seemingly all their
classmates and acquaintances assume automatically that their
relationship must be that of boyfriend and girlfriend, therefore
relegating it to a socially accepted niche. However, there is never any
romantic or sexual tension in their friendship, simply comradeship
and affection. There are plenty of differences between the two, but
virtually none of them are gender-specific. It is from Leslie that Jess
learns that he must be his own person, not merely his own man.
Discuss the portrayal of religion in Bridge to Terabithia. Is it presented
in a positive, negative, or indifferent light? In particular, what does
Paterson's take seem to be on organized religion?
Katherine Paterson's depiction of religion in Bridge to Terabithia is,
no doubt, one of the main reasons that the book has been embroiled
in a censorship debate for decades. Certainly her views are not
engineered to satisfy orthodoxy. Neither the Aarons family nor the
Burke family attends church with any regularity; the Aaronses go
once a year, out of a sense of tradition rather than any spiritual
desire, and the Burkes never attend at all. None of the characters in
the book except for Leslie find any true meaning or value in religion.
The subject simply frightens and confuses Jess and May Belle,
instilling in them a vague sense of guilt and anxiety, and the rest of
the family sees church as just another social gathering—epitomized
in the vanity of Ellie and Brenda, who go to church simply to show off
their new clothes.
Leslie does find meaning in the experience, but her fascination is an
intensely personal one. Leslie is not at all constrained by doctrine or
stern Church teachings and dictates. She finds the central story of
Christ's redemptive death and resurrection to be beautiful and
moving, but she disdains the harsher teachings concerning
damnation and penalties for not accepting organized religion. It is
implied that Leslie's faith is faith as it should be, or at least the germ
of such a faith. She is able to find true spiritual meaning within herself
by interacting with Church teachings and deciding for herself what to
believe and what to discount. Jess and May Belle, who are far more
orthodox, receive little or no spiritual nourishment from their so-called
"faith," because they have never reexamined it thoughtfully and tried
to determine what belief system would make the most sense to them
and help them to grow the most spiritually. Ironically, Leslie's agnostic
upbringing is actually far better soil to encourage the sprouting of true
spiritualism than is the Aarons's lackadaisical insistence on dry
doctrine. Leslie has been brought up to consider the world with an
intellectual curiosity and to be alive to all the implications of the things
that she encounters. Although this has never specifically included
religion, her upbringing serves her well when it comes to pondering
and assimilating religion. Jess has never been taught to look at things
from such an angle, and without this angle, all that's left of religion is
a set of rules, a longish ceremony, and hard pews and kneelers.
Paterson is certainly not attacking religion in Bridge to Terabithia,
although some fundamentalists might believe that. Instead, she
advocates delving into oneself to find the true meaning of faith and
spirituality, resulting in a deeper and more sincere belief.
Suggested Essay Topics
Discuss the difference between the Burke family and the rest of the
families in Lark Creek—specifically, the Aaronses. Can all the
differences between them be traced back to education and economic
comfort, or is there something more? Is there an essential difference
between the Burkes and the Aaronses, or are the differences merely
external?
What is the role of the family in Bridge to Terabithia? Does Jess and
Leslie's friendship suggest that ties of blood are not as important as
those forged by choice between friends? Is there something in the
bonds that a family shares that can't be replicated in a friendship, or
does all affection work the same way on its recipients? Cite examples
from the text to support your answer.
Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson
Student Study Guide
Answer all questions in sentence form
--Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Write a brief biography on the author, Katherine Paterson.
Why is Jess wearing neither shirt nor shoes?
Why has he gotten up early every morning in the summer?
Why does Jess like May Belle?
Who is Miss Bessie?
Why would Jess prefer that May Belle tell their father about how
well he runs?
7. What news does May Belle share with Jess in the bean patch?
Enrichment: Design either a title page for your guide or a book jacket
for the movie.
--Leslie Burke
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why is the kitchen like a hellhole?
What does Jess keep under the mattress?
How do we know Jess loves to draw?
How did Jess' father react when his son told him that he wanted
to be an artist?
5. Explain why Jess felt lonely in the house?
6. What was Jess' first reaction when he met Leslie Burke?
Enrichment: Draw a comic strip showing the conversation between
Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke.
--The Fastest Kid in the Fifth Grade
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who is Mr. Turner?
How is Leslie different from the other students?
Why is Mrs. Myers unhappy with her new class?
What did the boys organize outside once they had been
dismissed after eating their lunch?
5. Why were the boys stunned at the results of Jess' heat?
6. Why is Gary Fulcher reluctant to let Leslie race in the finals?
7. Why does Jess sit beside May Bell on the bus?
--Rulers of Terabithia
1. Why wasn't running fun anymore?
2. Find proof in the story that Jess really likes Miss Edmunds.
3. What did Leslie mean by the statement, "Money is not the
problem"?
4. Why was Leslie unable to do the project on Jacques Cousteau?
5. According to Leslie, what was the only way that someone would
be able to get to their magic country?
6. What did Leslie name their new secret land?
7. Why did Leslie and Jess avoid one another during school
hours?
8. Have you ever had a secret place where you went with your
friends? Describe it.
Enrichment: According to Leslie, her parents have moved to the
area because they are "reassessing their value structure". What
things in life do you value? Explain why some of your values may
change as you get older. Can you think of any values you have now
that may never change?
--The Giant Killers
1. Who was the "real" giant in their lives?
2. What did the council of war discuss at Terabithia that
afternoon?
3. What plan of action to they decide on to pay back Janice
Avery?
4. What was the hardest part of the plan to get Janice Avery?
5. How does Leslie prevent Mrs. Pierce from discovering Jess in
the classroom?
6. Do you think Leslie and Jess were wise to reveal the truth to
May Bell about who wrote the letter to Janice Avery?
--The Coming of Prince Terrien
1.
2.
3.
4.
What were the girls obsessed with at Jess' house?
What did Jess plan to give Leslie for Christmas initially?
Why did Jess get off the bus before his normal stop?
Why does Jess make sure that he and the puppy enter
Terabithia only by the prescribed entrance?
5. What does Leslie give Jess for Christmas?
6. Explain the sentence, "That night the glow of the afternoon
stayed with him".
7. Describe the scene at Jess' house on Christmas Day and
compare it with the "gift exchange" at Terabithia.
--The Golden Room
1. What happened when Jess tried to go to Terabithia alone?
2. Why had Mr. Burke exiled Prince Terrien to the porch?
3. Compare the relationship between Leslie and her father and
Jess and his father.
4. Why did Jess feel differently when he was at Leslie's house?
5. Who does Leslie discover crying in the bathroom stall?
6. Why is she crying?
--Easter
1. What was unusual about the weather?
2. Why did the Aarons family only go to church at Easter?
3. Why would the girls not be wearing new clothes to church this
Easter?
4. How did Jess' sisters react to the news about their father.
5. Why does Leslie say she would like to go to church with Jess'
family?
6. According to Jess, what is one of the few books you can be
sure to find around his house?
--The Evil Spell
1. What does Judy mean when she tells Jess and Leslie that she
is stuck?
2. What biblical scene was Jess reminded of when he first caught
a glimpse of the flooded creek?
3. Explain why this chapter is called The Evil Spell?
4. What does Jess wake up to in the middle of the night?
5. What is the "flaw" that Jess recognizes in his own character and
doesn't like.
6. According to Jess, what will Leslie still want to do despite the
heavy rains?
Enrichment: Most people have experienced fear in their lives. Make
a list of ten things that you are afraid of placing the things you fear
most at the top of your list. Compare your fears with those of your
classmates. Discuss the potential of fear to both help you and hinder
you.
--The Perfect Day
1. What do the initials PT stand for in this chapter?
2. What does Jess want Leslie to teach him how to do in the
summer?
3. Who telephoned Jess and what did the caller want?
4. Why did Jess not tell his mother where he was going?
5. What didn't occur to Jess until the car was past Millsburg.
6. When does Jess first realize that something is wrong?
7. Describe the scene in the kitchen upon Jess' return.
--No!
1. How did Jess react when he was given the news?
2. Describe how Jess feels when he wakes up in the middle of the
night.
3. Why does Brenda Aarons express surprise at her brother's
behaviour?
4. Why does Jess' father suggest that they should pay a visit to
the neighbours?
5. Why did May Belle say that she wanted to visit the neighbours
with them?
--Stranded!
1. Describe the scene in the Perkins place when the Aarons
arrive.
2. Why does Jess think that Leslie has failed him?
3. What is the significance of the phrase, I am now the fastest
runner in the fifth grade?
4. What does Jess realize when Bill mentions that they had
decided to have the body cremated?
5. What does Jess mean when he says that Leslie has left him
stranded like an astronaut on the moon?
6. What question does Jess ask his father about hell?
7. Why did Bill give P.T. to Jess?
Enrichment: Write down what you have learned from this story and
then share your ideas in a group.
--Building the Bridge
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why is the glass of milk that Jess pours for himself warm?
Whose cry shatters the quietness of Jess' solemn procession?
Why did Mrs. Myers ask Jesse to step into the hall?
Jess remarks that Leslie took him from the cow pasture to
Terabithia and turned him into a king. What does Jess mean
by this statement? Explain in your own words.
5. At the end of the story we find that Jess is building a bridge to
Terabithia. Why is this so important and what does it tell the
reader about Jess?
6. There are a number of steps involved when grieving a loved one.
The first step is denial, the second is anger and the final step is
acceptance allowing the individual to move on with their life yet
feeling "richer" for having known that person. Identify when these
steps occurred with Jess.