Book Analysis

This story is about Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Richard Bach is an American writer. He was part of 141st Fighter Squadron in ASAF as a F-84F pilot. He was widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970’s best sellers Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah and others. His books espouse his philosophy that our apparent physical limits and mortality and merely appearance.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an adventurous and a fantasy story because he traveled the far cliffs and went to heaven and back to earth. II. Analysis

A. Characters Jonathan Livingston Seagull – a seagull that loves flight more than anything else and the protagonist of the story. Sullivan – the instructor of Jonathan Livingston Seagull Chiang – an old seagull that taught Jonathan how to control time and space.

Fletcher Lynd Seagull – a young seagull that loves to fly like Jonathan and the first student of Jonathan. Henry Calvin Gull – an outcast and one of the students of Jonathan. Kirk Maynard Gull – a seagull who has a weak wing but regained his strength after Jonathan said that he is free. Terrence William Seagull – a condemned bird and the 8th student of Jonathan.

Martin William Seagull – a wizard of low speed flight.

Charles – Ronald Gull – a high flyer sea gull. B. Plot and Plot Structures Introduction It was morning at a gentle sea when thousands of seagulls came to flight for bits of food. It was another day for seagulls to have the chance to eat food. But there was a seagull alone far away from the fighting seagulls, his name is Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Jonathan loves to fly more than anything else.

He practices everyday to fly much faster and higher. But most gulls don’t mind to learn more than the simplest facts of flight. Rising Action

His parents were very upset at him. His parents told him that he must like the other gulls and the reason why he flies is to eat food. Jonathan obeyed his parents but he couldn’t make it work so he is back at flying.

After a weeks of practice he learned more about speed than any other gull in the world. But after an accident when he dives over a thousand feet from the sky, he said that “my father was right”. But when he thought about the falcon’s short wings he took what he said back. Now Jonathan is the first seagull to learn aerobatics. Climax One day the flocks were gathered at the council.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull please stands to the center for shame” said the elder. Jonathan felt weak and said Impossible! The Breakthrough! They can’t understand! Standing to the center for shame means a seagull is banished to a solitary life on the far cliffs. Jonathan spoke back to the elder but no gull never speak back to the elder. Jonathan now spends his life alone at the far cliffs but he flew beyond the far cliffs. One evening when Jonathan is peacefully flying he noticed the two gulls as pure as starlight that appears at his wings. Jonathan gave them a test and the two gulls were great fliers indeed.

They told Jonathan that is time for another school to begin and the time to go higher and to go home and Jonathan accepted it. So this is Heaven Jonathan said and two gulls said “Happy Landings” and they disappear after that Jonathan fell asleep. When he remembered he was from earth he asked his instructor that where is everybody. He shook his head and said “you’re one-in-a-million Jonathan”. Then they started practicing. One evening Jonathan walked to the elder Chiang and asked if this place is heaven.

“There is no such place as heaven” Chiang said and he vanished and appeared again. Can you teach me how to do that Chiang? ” said Jonathan. “Of course, if you want to” Chiang replied. When Jonathan finally learned Chiang disappeared and Jonathan wants to go back to earth. Falling Action On earth he saw a seagull named Fletcher Lynd Seagull that know how to fly.

Jonathan asked do you want to learn how to fly. “Yes”, Fletcher replied. After three months Jonathan had six other students, after a month Jonathan said “It’s time to go to the flock” but we’re not ready we are outcast. Henry Gull replied. Fletcher said “if we are not part of the flock, why should we obey the laws and they flew went.

They reach the beach full of seagulls and that’s when they landed with some aerobatics. Ignore them, said The Elder. Jonathan, is always with his students held his sessions above the flock and he began pressing his students to their limitations. In the night Kirk Maynard Gull asked for help and said he wanted to fly but he could not move his wings. Jonathan said you are free and Kirk Maynard Gull spread his wings and learn how to fly. Fletcher was teaching some new students when dived and encountered a young gull on its way; he loosed control and was about to crash in the cliff.

And he heard a voice and asked “am I alive”. Of course Jonathan answered. Then all the seagulls said “The son of the Great Gull”. No he is a devil, a devil to destroy the flock. Jonathan asked if Fletcher wants to leave. Fletcher answered “yes” and when Fletcher blinked he was on another place.

Ending I know a gull that an outcast is holding his own heaven to fight, its you Fletch. I want you to be the new leader. But you’re the instructor here you can’t leave Fletch exclaimed. Don’t you think that there more gulls that needs on instructor more than you. You don’t need me anymore.

Jonathan’s body is becoming transparent, and he vanished.

Fletcher begin teaching the students how to understand that a seagull is unlimited idea of freedom. And his race to learn had begun. Theme Do what you have best do anything for it because we can achieve our dream. Settings if were going to do anything for it. Morning at the gentle sea Beach Heaven A Green Planet Night at the Sea Far Cliffs III.

Conclusion • I like the story because it teaches me not to quit on my dreams no matter what happens. • I would like to recommend it to others so that they would have at inspiration to reach for their dreams.