The Neverending Story

Words: 1126
Pages: 5
Open Document
The Neverending Story is an allegory because the use of symbols, characters thoughts and actions, and even the setting help develop a theme. The most important theme of the Neverending Story is to accept yourself for who you are. Throughout the story, Bastian struggles with this theory, but realizes his own confidence by the end of the book. Symbols that help bring out this theme include Auryn, the City of Old Emperors, and the Water of Life. The Auryn is the reason why Bastian loses sight of his true self. The setting of the City of Old Emperors and the guidance of Argax the monkey help Bastian get back on track in becoming his true self again. When Bastian reaches the Water of Life he fully becomes his true self again. The use of these three …show more content…
Bastian seems to have a hard time with this theme throughout the story because he doesn't feel comfortable with his true self. Bastian always feels like he is an outsider within his school because he is different than all the other kids and didn't have any friends. He uses reading as an escape from his own reality. When he reads, he reads as if he is in the story and that he is going on all these different adventures with the characters. When he starts reading the Neverending Story he is intrigued by it and wants to join along in the journey with Atreyu to stop the nothing from spreading even more. Atreyu was given Auryn before he started his journey to protect him along the way. The Auryn gave Atreyu the strength and courage to conquer his mission because he knew the Auryn would protect him along the …show more content…
It takes him till the end of the story to realize that fame and power is not the most important thing in life. Michael Ende's use of allegories in the Neverending Story help make themes more apparent throughout the story. Accepting yourself for who you are is a major theme in the story that is brought out by many different symbols. Three symbols that help bring out this specific theme include Auryn, the City of Old Emperors, and the Water of Life. These three themes help explain the steps in Bastian's journey to become his true self. In the beginning of the story he is not confident with himself, but all that changes when he enters Fantastica and gains Auryn. The Auryn makes him someone he is not. He finally realizes his flaws when he reaches the City of Lost Emperors. Argax the monkey helps Bastian turn himself around when in the city. Lastly, at the end of the story, Bastian becomes his true self when he enters the Water of Life. Bastian finally realizes he should accept himself for who he is. Accepting himself allows Bastian to gain happiness and confidence in himself even though he is not a strong handsome leader. The theme of accepting yourself is shown in the story by the use of these three
Show More

Related Documents: The Neverending Story

Neverending Story Research Paper

The Neverending Story Reading is a way to get away from reality. A way to explore other lands and other realities. When I read I embody the text in my mind to the point where I feel as though I am a part of it. I do not remember the first book I read. I really wish I did it was probably an amazing book. However, although I don’t remember the first one, I do remember the most influential books that I read, and how they made me become who I am today. My mother taught me how to read. At 8 months…

Words 1976 - Pages 8

Compare And Contrast The Neverending Story Novel Vs Play

changed to make everything fit. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende was adapted into a play by David S. Craig. Regardless, of how the story is adapted the characters, and the portrayal end up different, but the resolution remain the same. One instance of the The Neverending Story creating differences between the novel and the play is the characters. The main characters in the story like Bastian, Atreyu, and Falkor remain the same in both the play and the story. On the other hand the Bookseller…

Words 515 - Pages 3

Hallelujah Literary Techniques

Literary Analysis of Hallelujah As humans we are in a constant search for love, not the loosy used and abused love, but the unconditional neverending love. That's what true love is, not some fairy tale life that never knows pain, but agape love. In his song Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen applies emphasise in his song with alliteration, creates a true and raw image of faith through symbolism by Hallelujah, and he uses metaphors to clearly exemplify his message that we must have faith in the Lord because…

Words 927 - Pages 4

Narrative Essay About My Family

Maggie Madsen p2 My whole way of looking at my family began to change when I was about seven. That mid-October we were living in our “new” small two story home in Fridley, Minnesota. There was always odd smells floating around ominously, loud roars of cars from the highway close by, and random wet spots on the floors. The house was old to my brother and I, but brand new to my parents. It was the first thing they could be proud of sense the accident. To celebrate us moving into our home, the…

Words 1205 - Pages 5

Ceremony Lit Paper

Since the existence of mankind, human beings told stories. Even before they could read or write, people shared stories about a great number of things. The topics ranged from the stars to brave hunters to stories of creation, but no matter what the subject, these stories were passed down from generation to generation and allowed human beings to make sense of the world around them. The Laguna Pueblo Indians, one of the many Native American subgroups, is one of the few cultures that still tells stories in the same manner. Leslie Marmon Silko…

Words 1622 - Pages 7

William Shakespeare Research Paper

actor of all time, even with his own occasional pat on his own back in almost everything he wrote. The main stance for his greatness is that generations after his works have been written they still are used in schools and plays around the world. His stories of love, loss, humor, and death all have left an impact on the wonderful world of literature. Elizabethan era England was a time of prosperity both in the artistic world and economically, allowing for Shakespeare to work ever so diligently on his…

Words 1565 - Pages 7

Duey: A Short Story

Linda Martins was there and Donny Nelson and Augustino and the others. Duey Pepper put up his hand, Mr Winters asked, "Yes?" but when Duey opened his mouth instead of the sound of any word it was we that came out. A trickle into a string, into a neverending black buzzing ribbon that wound itself around every tender neck until not one more gasp was heard. Suffocation and punctuation and frozen terror in their eyes. Outside, the first graders played on the grass, across the hall, the fourth graders learned…

Words 1419 - Pages 6

Julia Murrow Research Paper

however, a small, yet visible light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Julia’s english class was assigned to write a short horror story and a handful of students would be nominated to read their narratives in front of the class. Julia just so happened to be one of those students. She awkwardly approached the front of the room, her hands gripping the notebook which held her story so tightly that her knuckles began to pallor. With a terribly shaky voice and her hair over her eyes as if it were a curtain…

Words 1891 - Pages 8

Pepsico Economics Case Study Essays

Corporate Economic Conditions Report 17 April 2013 | PepsiCo | SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Economic Conditions Overview: Overall economic conditions are expected to improve over the next two quarters. As part of the monetary policy (quantitative easing part 3), Federal Reserve continues to buy bonds to influence low interest rates in order to increase investments. A decrease in unemployment and an increase in private consumption will drive the economic growth for the next two…

Words 2882 - Pages 12

Résumé Marketing Management, 14th Edition - Kotler & Keller Essay

KOTLER RESUME Marketing Management Philip Kotler – Kevin Lane Keller SUMMARY PART 1 Understanding Marketing Management 4 Defining Marketing for the 21st Century 4 Developing Marketing Strategies and Plans 5 PART 2 Capturing Marketing Insights 13 Collecting Information and Forecasting Demand 13 Conducting Marketing Research 16 PART 3 Connecting with Customers 18 Creating…

Words 26667 - Pages 107