Novel Study Essay Response-Skellig by David Almond
Who or what is Skellig and what is his importance on the novel?
The novel Skellig created by David Almond (first published in 1998) is fallen angel with an undiscovered purpose to life; whom is called Skellig. He has to change his old persona of a suborn, life less being to his true self. In the progress Skellig finds his purpose and significance to save a life, bond friendships and gives a sense of hope. During the novel, Skellig has been an unknown creature that is only revealed at the end as a fallen angel. This angelic figure is first introduced from Michael’s perspective in an event when Michael sneaks his way to the forbidden garage. Skellig is described as being in an inferior state, dead, forgotten, deep in pain and having no desire to be alive from this particular quote, ‘I thought he was covered in…show more content… She is constantly going in and out of the hospital having regular check-up’s putting stress and focus of the family just on the baby’s health. Skellig being the protagonist is a major impact on this complication saving the baby’s life. It is clear on this quote he saves Michaels younger baby sister in the most magical way on page 150, ‘The strange tall man and the little baby and the wings. And that was it. He put her back down, he turned and looked at me again and it was over.’ Michael’s mother has been worrying about this baby none stop but with her being calm while Skellig is healing and picking her up it tells a lot that everything will be alright and will be back to full health. Without having Skellig in the story there would be no ‘happy ending’, the baby wouldn’t have a saviour leaving the story unfinished. In any event Skellig has the most important role in the novel to be a life saver and without him Michael’s younger sister would be close to death with the main problem
