Although petrocelli claims to be working on behalf of truth and justice and american ideals, she immediately labels the defendants as monsters, prejudicing herself and the jury against them, and she often asks witnesses leading questions to manipulate their answers, which is constantly rebuked by both the. In the book, monster by walter dean myers, steve harmon was a 16 year old boy on trial for murder. It was nominated for the 1999 national book award for young peoples literature, won the michael l. The whole book is written in the perspective of steve harmons court case and he uses the whole book, as his play script. Steves greatest conflict is not really the trial itself, though its certainly stressful and difficult. Apr 07, 2018 in the opening of monster by walter dean myers, sixteenyearold steve harmon is on trial for his alleged participation in a murder committed during the commission of a robbery. Steve is on trial for a being a possible accomplice to a murder. Steve strives for obrien to see him as a human rather than a monster, thus revealing steves own struggle with his sense of himself.
The story is written in screenplay format along with steves journal writing which he does even in the courtroom. Mar 28, 2016 monster by walter dean myers book summary minute book report. Monster is a young adult drama novel by american author walter dean myers and was published by harpercollins in 1999. In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in. Steve has been charged with murder, and hes being kept in prison until the trial. Is obriens coaching intended to hide steves guilty feelings from the jury. Monster is what the prosecutor called 16yearold steve harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a conveniencestore owner.
Christopher myers while on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteenyearold steve harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the. Monster by walter dean myers download ebook pdf, epub. He is pleading innocents, but the jury thinks otherwise. Steve harmon steve harmon is the novels main character.
Violence and fear are some topics that formed the book. Steve gives insights into his past while the attorneys interview witnesses, though he cant figure out whether hes innocent or guilty. Written as a play, the determined main character, steve harmon, writes an amazing play. Sixteenyearold steve harmon is sitting on the edge of a medal cot, head in hands. Monster is a multiawardwinning, provocative comingofage story that was the firstever michael l. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. He gets involved with a group of thugs who are planning a robbery. James king, osvaldo cruz, and freddy alou made up a few of the tough guys steve swapped dialogue with on occasion. Jun 27, 2014 description of the main character from the novel monster, by walter dean myers. First, it is written in the format of a movie screenplay interjected with the main characters a 16year old africanamerican boy steve harmons. This new york times bestselling novel and national book award nominee from acclaimed author walter dean myers tells the story of steve harmon, a teenage.
The monster quotes below are all either spoken by kathy obrien or refer to kathy obrien. What character traits best describe steve harmon in. The book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing. In all, steve can do, and did, everything that he was determined to do. Walter dean myers creates a unique look into the life of a young man in trouble in monster. Steve is on trial for allegedly being the lookout in a serious crime that involved robbery and murder. Steve harmon guilty or innocent monster by walter dean myers. Myers presents this book in a screenplay format with steves journal entries mixed throughout. First, it is written in the format of a movie screenplay interjected with the main characters a 16year old africanamerican boy steve harmon s diarylike entries. See more ideas about great expectations quotes, famous quotes from literature and new boyz. Though theres only one of him in his screenplay, steve plays quite a few roles in the novel. Printz award winner and new york times bestseller monster, adapted by guy sims and illustrated by dawud anyabwile monster is a multiawardwinning, provocative comingofage story about steve harmon, a teenager awaiting trial for a murder and. Rather, she has a preset view of steve s character and does not view him as a unique person.
He claims he is innocent and didnt participate in the robbery. Next section the trial, the journal, and the screenplay summary and analysis previous section themes buy study guide. In the book monster, it showed the consequences of making bad decisions and going to jail. This is a story about a boy named steve harmon who lives in new york and is on trial for murdering a local drugstore owner. Rather, she has a preset view of steves character and does not view him as a unique person. He is sixteen years old, lives in the harlem neighborhood of new york city, and he is a student at stuyvesant high school in downtown manhattan. His neighborhood was an honesttogoodness thugathon. Steve, sixteen and in prison awaiting a murder trial, is an african american teen and. The story takes place in manhattan and harlem, new york city, mostly in a city lockup, but sometimes in the neighborhood where steve harmon lives. This is a story about a boy named steve harmon who lives in new york. The story is written in screenplay format along with steves.
Steve is a young, black male living in the inner city who cant help but be exposed to bad elements in his neighborhood. Kathy obrien character analysis in monster litcharts. Terms in this set 10 steve harmonthe main character16 year old boy on trial for murdersmartcreativehas brown skinthinscaredhe decides to write a screenplay. He is proclaimed not guilty and got to leave jail, but his mentality did not change. Steve imagines obrien looking at him and wondering who the real steve harmon is. Monster by walter dean myers book summary minute book report. Evans testifies that steve was part of the robbery team, acting as a lookout man. Monster, by walter dean myers, takes a unique approach in that it is presented as a screenplay with notes by the narrator, a sixteenyearold from harlem named steve harmon. Monster is a on the edge of your seat fiction story, written by walter dean myers. James king and steve harmon took part in the murder, end of story.
Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon on. Steve harmon is the narrator and protagonist of the story. The book is set in a courthouse where steve and his accomplices are on trial for. Steve harmon, the 16year old africanamerican protagonist, is on trial for.
Throughout the novel monster, steve harmon is portrayed as a shy, introspective individual who is extremely selfconscious. Steve harmon is the main character of the book monster. The prosecution accuses steve of acting as the look out to the crime which left a local business owner dead. Get everything you need to know about steve harmon in monster. It tells the story of steve harmon, a sixteenyearold on trial for his alleged. Steves blogs inspired by the massive amount of writings, musings, theologizings, and more, a volunteer began pulling content for this website to help present these ideas. Monster is a multiawardwinning, provocative comingofage story about steve harmon, a teenager awaiting trial for a murder and robbery. Character analysis of steve harmon in monster essay essay. Jennifer kendall is an english teacher, librarian, and writer specializing in young adult and childrens literature.
The story is told through steves perspective, primarily as a screenplay he has written about the experience at the outset, steves trial is just beginning. As it states in the quote steve harmon is writing the word monster over and over againp. Contrasting with the other three people implicated in the robbery, steve has no criminal history and is a decent and sensitive kid. As stated in the quote i think to get used to this i will have to give up what i think is real p. Do you think this is an effective method for depicting this particular story. It was nominated for the 1999 national book award for young peoples. Steve harmon, a sixteen year old boy who is on trial for murder, is writing a movie about his life and his mistakes.
You really have to focus on what is going on, because the dialogue is exactly like a court room and make sure you know whats going on. Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon. Steve does not like being in jail with the other prisoners and is nervous about being on trail for murder. King even invited him to play a part in the drugstore payday 14.
The book begins with him in jail waiting for his trial to start. Sandra petrocelli is the prosecutor in king and steve s felony murder trial. These are the main characters in the book monster by walter dean myers. Apr 21, 1999 monster is an interesting book in several ways. Presented as a screenplay of steve s own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives. Monster by walter dean myers overall analysis character analysis steve harmon. The lifestyle in these neighborhoods can often overcome all the good things parents, even in a tough neighborhood, teach their children. Monster is the story about a 16 year old black boy named steve harmon from harlem. The book opens with a warning from our narrator not to let anybody hear you crying cry at. Monster 2004 read online free book by walter dean myers in.
Monster by walter dean myers book summary minute book. In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in his mind and to the jury his part in the murder. Sometimes i feel like i have walked into the middle of a movie. The book briefly cuts to a flashback of steves high school film club. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. A harlem teen who finds himself on trial for felony murder due to his alleged participation in a botched robbery of a local pharmacy.
In the opening pages, we learn that steve is currently in prison awaiting trial for murder. Monster 2004 read online free book by walter dean myers. Buy a cheap copy of monster book by walter dean myers. Hes writing the play in order to keep his mind occupied while he awaits trial. Sandra petrocelli character analysis in monster litcharts. Lawyer, turns away from her client after the trial ends.
What character traits best describe steve harmon in monster. The book reads like a formal screenplay, written by steve harmon, interspersed with seemingly handwritten fragments from. Steve harmon he is a sixteen year old young black man who has been arrested for acting as the lookout in robbery that goes bad and ends in a murder. He is the narrator for the story, writing it in the form of a screenplay interspersed with his journal entries. What character traits best describe steve harmon in monster by. Thats what prosecutor petrocelli calls him, and he cant help but dwell on it. The books kids read these days are mostly fiction that doesnt have good information to use in your everyday life.
Printz award, monster was also recognized as a coretta scott king award honor book and national book award finalist. Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year. The story setting is in a courtroom and in his cell. It tells the story of steve harmon, a sixteenyearold on trial for his alleged complicity in. Monster study guide contains a biography of walter dean myers, literature essays, quiz. He gets involved with a group of thugs who are planning a robbery because. Harmon told steve that he had many ambitions for steve though these goals had changed while steve was put on trial for murder. This is undoubtedly due to myers ability to capture the complex character and feelings of steve and reveal the flaws in a criminal justice system which relies on the dehumanization of the accused. Steve is a 16yearold black kid from harlem charged with felony murder for his involvement in a botched robbery that ended in mr. The book monster is supposed to portray steve as an easy to relate to character who is going to a rough time in life, and is on trial for murder. Are these feelings of being a monster based on the truth that he did passively signal the allclear to the robbers, and thereby he has blood on his hands. Steve thought those shady dudes were pretty dang tough. He is also very talented to write and perform such a well written play.
Monster is so titled because during his trial, that is what the prosecutor refers to him as while addressing the jury in her opening arguments. Wake up in the morning and i ask myself, is life worth living. Presented as a screenplay of steves own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives. In this awardwinning novel, walter dean myers brings us the story of 16yearold steve harmon, on trial for the murder of a. The hope is that utilizing headings we can organize some of these important works of faith.
A stunning graphic novel adaptation of walter dean myerss new york times bestseller monster. Throughout monster, steve harmon did not change very much as person. This person is a lawyer who turns away from her client after the trial ends. Monster is what the prosecutor calls 17 year old honors student steve harmon. In 1999, in his young adult book monster, walter dean myers introduced readers to a young man named steve harmon. Apr 27, 2009 the book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing. Of course perhaps that is not solid evidence because most people would probably believe that they are not a bad person. A stunning blackandwhite graphic novel adaptation of walter dean myerss michael l. The whole book is written in the perspective of steve harmon s court case and he uses the whole book, as his play script.
Monster soundtrack tupacchanges tupaclife goes on tupacshorty wanna be a thug i see no changes. Steve harmon character analysis in monster litcharts. He fights his worst battles in his head, as he tries to figure out if hes truly a monster. In this awardwinning novel, walter dean myers brings us the story of 16yearold steve harmon, on trial for the murder of a drugstore owner in harlem. Monster takes the form of a screenplay interspersed with diary entries and recollections.
Steve strives for obrien to see him as a human rather than a monster, thus revealing steve s own struggle with his sense of himself. The book uses a mixture of a thirdperson screenplay and a firstperson diary format to tell, through the perspective of steve harmon, an african american teenager, the story of his trial along with. Steve cant deal with jail and a trial, so he copes by treating the trial as a screenplay. Printz award recipient, an ala best book, a coretta scott king honor selection, and a.
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