Mr. Bickham

Sunday, March 21, 1999

A Clockwork Orange

Author: Anthony Burgess

Synopsis:

The novel starts out by setting up Alex’s character as one of the most evil human beings on earth. This is done by giving accounts of his exploits of the night such as rape, murder, and assault. Alex’s droogs begin to question their part in the gang. One night during one of the gang’s robberies Alex’s droogs betray him by leaving him at the scene of the crime unconscious. He is sent to jail. During this time, Alex discovers a new program that allows someone to get out of prison fast. He volunteers for this program. He is subjected to numerous films of violence. The reflex of pain accompanies these site and thoughts of violence. He is released and runs into several of his past victims. They beat him up. Eventually he ends up in a hospital where a surgery is performed that removes the effects that his treatment had on him. Alex soon turns back to a life of crime. One night he runs into one of his old droogs, Pete, who has matured and is now married. This makes Alex realize that crime is chi

Themes:

There are two themes in the novel. The first is that a human is defined by his ability to choose his or her path in life. Whether this choice is towards evil or good it is still a choice. The other theme is the change of interest that one may have as they increase in age. Alex’s thoughts changed from evil to good. 

Point of View:

The point of view is first person.

 Characters/types:

Alex can be seen as the protagonist and the antagonist. He is the protagonist because of his position as the main character in the novel. He is the antagonist because it is himself that brings upon his own demise. Alex’s other droogs can also be seen as antagonists due to their treason that lead to Alex’s arrest and later his reclamation. 

Figurative Language/literary devices: note extensive or unique uses as

well as describing the overall effect.

Anthony Burgess uses imagery and characterization liberally to give the reader a good picture of the setting and the nature of the characters. The main device that he uses is an invented slang, or nadsat, to render Alex’s social pathology. This nadsat makes the reader read on the books own terms.

1. Which element was the most important to the development of the novel?

Explain why.

The reclamation of young Alex is the most important element in the novel because of its relevance to the theme. This presents the idea that human beings are defined by their free will. Alex becomes a clockwork orange when this will is taken away from him.

2. Identify the elements of plot below. Justify your answer.

A. Initial incident

There is not a single event, but rather a series of events that are crucial to the plot. These are the numerous times that Alex and his droogs go on a crime spree killing, raping, and beating people up. The time when Alex’s droogs betrayed him and he was sent to jail and underwent his "reclamation" was the most crucial point in the story of young Alex. This is crucial due to its relevance with the plot. 

B. Climax

The climax took place in the hospital after his attempted suicide. This is when the doctors operated on his brain, undoing the work of Dr. Brodsky and giving Alex back his free will. The choice of good or evil was what made Alex Human. Without this choice, Alex was a clockwork orange.

3. Give an example of conflict. Identify the type of conflict and how it

is / why it is not resolved.

A perfect example of internal conflict is the struggle that Alex has due to his reclamation procedure. He wants to do evil and listen to his beloved music, but every time he sees himself doing these things, he is overcome with pain and agony. This is resolved when the doctors at the hospital remove these reflexes from his brain, giving him choice.

4. Give an example of irony from the novel. Identify the type and

explain how or why it is ironic.

An example of irony is the fact that during his stay in prison, Alex dreamt of returning to the world and continuing his reign of terror, only to be prohibited from doing this. When finally given the chance to do whatever his heart desires, Alex in the end turns not to a world of crime but to a world of peace and maturity.

5. Identify a flashback from the novel and explain the effect of the use

of this device.

Alex experiences a flashback when he is lying on his bed in his room. He was listening to the Brandenburg Concerto. This activity gave him peace of mind and spirit. Most people would imagine peaceful and good images when listening to classical music with their eyes closed. Alex, on the other hand, pictured his latest exploits of the night. There were images of himself tolchocking, raping, and murdering people. This gave him a sense of happiness and inner peace. The effect was that when the reader noticed that he loved classical music they thought that there was a good and human side to the character. As they read on, they soon discovered the dept of Alex’s evil and wickedness. All of this is found on page 32 and 33 of the Norton paperback edition. 

6. Give an example of foreshadowing from the novel. Explain the effect

of the use of this device.

An example of foreshadowing is when Alex was in the hospital just after the Minister of the Interior had seen him. He realized that he had regained the right to choose the path that he took in life. It is inferred that he will return to a life of violence when he says, " I was cured all right" on page 179.

7. From what point of view is the story told? What effect does this

point of view have on the reader?

The point of view is first person from Alex’s perspective. The effect is that the reader is given the ability to probe into the mind of Alex and discover all of his thoughts.

8. Describe the setting of the novel.

A Clockwork Orange is set in the futuristic Britain, where the criminals take over after dark. There is a sense that the world is under Communism because of the drawings and murals of workers all over the city. There is a fear of the night that the people have due to the threat of criminals.

9. Identify two major characters from the novel. For each character: A.

Identify the type. B. Give three quotes, with page numbers, which

illustrates the character.

 Character one: Alex

A. Protagonist

B. "I have been in charge long now"(30)

"Bog murder you,you vonnie stinking bratchnies"(65)

"Me Me Me what about me. Where do I come into all this? Am I just like some animal or dog?"(127)

Character two: Dr. Brodsky

A. antagonist

B. "Our subject is, you see, impelled towards good"(126)

"You have no cause to grumble boy"(127) 

10. Give a one sentence statement of theme for the novel.

A human being is define by the element of free will to choose its path in life.

11. Identify one symbol from the novel and explain the symbolism.

Alex’s night platties are a symbol of the outward change that takes place whenever Alex goes out.

12. Identify one allusion from the novel and explain the allusion.

On page 127 Alex mentions a clockwork orange. This is an allusion to itself.

13. Identify six different types of figurative language or literary

devices used in the novel. For each type: A. Identify type. B. Give a

quote with page number. C. Explain the effect.

1. A. Flashback

B. "There were vecks and ptitsas, both young and starry, lying on the ground screaming for mercy"(33)

C. The effect was that when the reader noticed that he loved classical music they thought that there was a good and human side to the character. As they read on they soon discovered the dept of Alex’s evil and wickedness.

2. A. Foreshadowing

B. "I was cured all right" on page 179.

C. It is inferred that he will return to a life of violence.

 3. A. Internal Conflict

B. "Me Me Me what about me. Where do I come into all this? Am I just like some animal or dog?"(127)

C. This shows Alex’s concern for only himself.

4. A. External Conflict

B. "I’m blind, Bog bust and bleed you"(65)

C. This is when the police picked Alex up at the cat lady’s house and he is angry at his droogs.

5. A. Direct Characterization

B. "Dim not ever having an idea of things"(2)

C. This further displays the class of Alex and his droogs.

6. A. Indirect Characterization

B. "Old Dim chained him right in the glazzies"(16)

C.  This shows that dim is very ruthless. As Alex would say, a ruthless bastard.