Where The Wild Things Are

Plot Summary Where The Wild Things Are, written by Maurice Sendak, is a popular fantasy picture book first published in 1963 and continues to be popular to this day. The book won the 1964 Caldecott Medal for best picture book of the year and was released as a feature film by American director and producer Spike Jonze in October 2009. Where The Wild Things Are tells the story of a boy named Max who is doing mischief all over his house. Throughout the book, Max is seen wearing a wolf suit, a king’s crown, and a mischievous grin. After chasing the family dog with a fork, Max is chased to his room by his mother without any supper. He then embarks on a magical journey in which his room transforms into a new world, inhabited by creatures named Wild Things, where he is soon crowned king. Max is in control of his life in the land of Wild Things, but he soon finds himself homesick and longs to return home to eat his mother’s dinner. Text element

Setting:

Contents

The setting of the book begins and ends in Max’s house, in which he is running around and naughty, and ends up being put to bed without dinner. Much of the story takes place in “where there are wild things,” presented as a jungle-like atmosphere where Max is seen as king.

Figure:

Max- Max is a mischievous but very confident, energetic and self-controlled boy. Throughout the book, Max is seen wearing a wolf suit, wearing a king’s crown and grinning. Max imagines a distant world where he becomes the king of the natives, Wild Things. claws,” when Max arrives in their world. Max eventually terrifies Wild Things with a magic trick, and they consider him “the wildest of all” and make him the king of all Wild Things.

Opinion:

This story is written in the third person.

Topic:

The main theme of the book is surrounded by powerful ideas of imagination and the places it can take you. Max creates a new world in which he can control his own destiny and escape reality. In this case, the alternate reality is that his room has turned into a remote place where wild things are. In his fantasy world, he can be whoever he wants and do whatever he wants to do, with no boundaries or regulations. Baby can freely explore and see the world beyond what is in her bedroom. Children can relate to this idea of freedom because their lives are largely controlled by adults. Parents can also relate to this story as it reminds them of their childhood and can bring back memories of a time when they were not as responsible as they are today. As people get older, they tend to forget what it was like to be a kid. Artistic ElementsWhere the Wild Things Are is classified as a fantasy picture book because it is not based on real events and cannot exist in the real world. The book is classified as a picture book due to the unity of words and images to convey meaning, as well as the wide range of ages and interests of the audience. The book follows the normal flow and design elements found in comic books. The text is just over 32 pages long (37 pages) and reads in comparison, left to right, with double-sided text, with most of the text on the left page and the illustration on the right. The book evolved into a more in-depth picture book in the middle of the story, including illustrations that spanned more than two pages as well as a few pages with no text, only illustrations. Stunning; perfect to capture and capture the imagination and attention of young readers. Much of the story can be told from the illustrations and body language the characters display. This is an important feature for children’s books because it makes it easier for children to follow and interpret the meaning of the story through visualization. Where the Wild Things Are aims to unite both children and adults by providing a story that everyone can relate to and enjoy. Analysis & Criticism In the land of Wild Things, Max is in control of his own destiny and is treated like a king. The wild things listened to his request and followed him as if he were a god. In his fantasy world, he can be whoever he wants and do whatever he wants. Max is free to explore and see the world beyond what is in his bedroom. Children can relate to this idea of freedom and imagination because their lives are largely controlled by adults. Parents can also relate to this story as it can evoke memories of a time when they were not as responsible as today. As people get older, they tend to forget what it was like to be a kid. We forget what it’s like to let your imagination take you places beyond belief. Where The Wild Things Are is a wonderful journey and a good book for both young and old. CitationSendak, Maurice. Where are the wild things. Maurice Sendak. New York: Harper & Row, 1963.