A Study Of Private Peaceful From The Perspective Of Initiation Story

Michael Morpurgo is a well-known British novelist and playwright.In 2003,he won the highest award for British children?s literature,the children?s laureate.Private Peaceful is a novel by Michael Morpurgo,first published in 2003.It is one of Michael?s representative works.This novel won the Carnegie Prize in the same year,and later won the British Red House Children?s Book Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.The novel tells the story of the protagonist Thomas? initiation in the war.Based on the text of the novel,this thesis studies this work from the perspective of initiation story,which is divided into three parts: introduction,main body and conclusion.The first part is the introduction.This thesis makes a brief introduction of the research background of the initiation story at home and abroad,and puts forward the research purpose and significance of the thesis.The second part is the main body,which is divided into four chapters.In Chapter ?,the concept,development and characteristics of the initiation story are illustrated.There are six main origins of the initiation story.This thesis summarizes the characteristics of the initiation story in these areas to clarify that Private Peaceful is a typical initiation story.Chapter ? is an analysis of the protagonist?s initiation in terms of plot.The tale is of a young man named Thomas Peaceful,who tells the story of his experiences within seven hours and fifty-four minutes.This chapter analyzes the different periods of Thomas? life,from his campus time,work life,to his military life.In the fire of war,Thomas had a new understanding of the world and himself,gradually faded out of weakness and cowardice,and knew how to be strong,responsible and caring.At the end of the third stage,the death of his brother Charlie contributed to the protagonist?s epiphany.Chapter ? is an analysis of the protagonist?s initiation in terms of other characters.Through the analysis of specific characters,this chapter reflects the protagonist?s initiation process under the influence of his guidance.In initiation story,the person who has had an important influence in the process of the protagonist?s initiation is called the guidance.In addition to other people,the guidance can also be the protagonist himself,but also from gods and so on.This chapter mainly analyzes the positive and negative guidance.Chapter ? is an analysis of the protagonist?s initiation in terms of writing skills.This novel employs the first-person narrative and recalling narrative,which make the narrative more authentic.And the novel adopts an open ending.At the end of the novel,Thomas thought that he had to live,because he had to keep his promise.Michael Morpurgo does not tell readers Thomas? future life,but shows the reader a mature,firm and brave Thomas.The conclusion is a summary of the main contents of this thesis.Private Peaceful is of great educational significance.Everyone will encounter difficulties and setbacks in the process of initiation.The initiation of the protagonist is meaningful to all people and it teaches people to be brave.This thesis analyzes Private Peaceful from the perspective of initiation story,which gives readers a new understanding of initiation story and the novel.This thesis also enriches the study of Private Peaceful and enlarges the research perspective of initiation story.