Analysis of "Borders" by Thomas King
Borders
By: Thomas king
Ignite presentation | Angelina Sharma
Irony
In this story, there is a lot of
conflict and situational irony.
Despite facing a refusal at the US
border, the mother does not
back down, causing them to get
stuck at the border, which upsets
her because she feels that she is
being treated unfairly.
2
Types of Characters
The mother
A static character, throughout the book the
mother stayed strong and true to her culture
and identity. She didn’t let anyone overrule
her and kept her head up. “citizenship?”
“Blackfoot”. (King 135) That was her response
to the borer guard.
The child
A static character the son stays the same
throughout the whole. While they were at the
border, he was for the most part quiet. He
also stays very curious “I told stella that we
were black foot and Canadian, but she said
that didn’t count because I was a minor” (King
137)
Laetitia
A round character Laetitia has the courage to leave
the reserve on her own, as she realizes that the salt
lake city was boring and didn’t feel like home she
decides to returns to the reserve. “when she was
still at home, Laetitia would go on about salt lake
city”(King 137) She was very expressive
Border guards
The border guards were flat characters,
they expressed extreme rudeness and hate
towards their Blackfoot culture they didn’t
like different "Thank you," he said, his
fingers patting the butt of the revolver.
"Have a pleasant trip." ( King 144)
3
Symbolism
Gun: - symbolizes power/control
Border guards have authority/power over travelers
“Her gun was silver. There were several chips in the wood handle and the name ‘stella’ was scratched into the metal
butt” (King 136)
-
The government and society have control over the First Nations
“Thank you. ‘He said, his fingers patting the butt of the revolver. ‘Have a pleasant trip” (King )
-
As a result of the gun, the person being threatened is weakened
-
Border: Describes the physical boundaries between Canada and the United States
“The border was actually two towns Coutts was on the Canadian side sweetgrass was on the American side”
4
Foreshadowing
In the beginning when Laetitia tells the mother that she will be
leaving its sparks many different emotions for the mother. In the
beginning she is sad and confused but after some realizations and
an understanding The mother becomes happy for Laetitia that she is
being independent and doing all of this on her own.
“Laetitia had not left home with my mother's blessing, but over time
my mother had come to be proud of the fact that Laetitia had done
all of this on her own. "She did real good," my mother would say.”
(King 131)
5
Conflict
PERSON VS SOCIETY
Clearly, there has been some discrimination and unfair actions against The
mother and Laetitia. The mother feels the need to defend her identity from the
border guards while they are negotiating the border between America and
Canada to get Laetitia to Salt Lake City.
“We were in the border office for about four hours, and we talked to almost
everyone there. One of the men bought me a coke.” (King 136-137)
6
Plot
Exposition:
At the border, Laetitia is dropped off
so that she can travel to Salt Lake
City.
Initiating incident:
When Laetitia moved to salt lake city.
"I'm going to visit my daughter in Salt Lake City,"
(King
136)
Plot
Rising action:
1.
The mother decided the child and her would finally
visit salt lake city
2.
The mother purchased new tires for the car
3.
Both the mother and child were wearing traditional
clothing
4.
During two nights in their car, the mother and child
wait to cross the border as Blackfoot
Climax
:
They have finally been allowed into the
United States after being let through the
border
Plot
Falling action:
After being separated from Laetitia for so long, the
mother and child are finally allowed to reunited with
her in Salt Lake City
Resolution:
Mel the kind duty free store worker is handed a green
hat by the mother, and the mother drives peacefully off
with the child to take him back home
Theme
10
Moral
Essentially, the moral of "borders" is that
people have rights and must stand up for their
identities and beliefs. As we read the story, the
border guards were rude and repeatedly
denied the mother access to cross the border.
Standing up and not letting go of her head, the
mother kept her head high.
Conclusion
Because the mom and son claimed citizenship as
Blackfoot, the security guards refused to let them
pass. It wasn't until the security guards let them go
when they declared citizenship as Blackfoot after
they denied them numerous times that they were let
go.
12
Why are the following prose terms
effective?
By providing more detail, the reader is better able to
comprehend the story
They provide a summary of the plot to the reader
In order to understand the plot, they break it down
so that it is easier to understand
As a result, readers can analyze why the author wrote
the story and recognize its overall meaning.
Work cited
Barrington, P. “Borders.” Mr. Barrington's Blog, 20 Sept. 2022, https://cpb-ca
c1.wpmucdn.com/myriverside.sd43.bc.ca/dist/b/55/files/2022/02/borders.pdf Retrieved 15 Sept. 2022
Slide 3 images from comic preview:
Borders - Google Books
Slide 7, 8, 9, 11 all from Bing:
https://bing.com
PowerPoint presentation: icons, formatting, and PowerPoint auto design
Thank you
15
In "Borders" by Thomas King, the story revolves around Laetitia, her mother, and their interaction with border guards. The characters exhibit different traits, with Laetitia displaying courage and curiosity, while the border guards represent discrimination. The conflict arises from the unfair treatment they face at the border. The plot unfolds as they wait to cross the border and finally reunite in Salt Lake City, showcasing themes of identity and perseverance.
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Presentation Transcript
Borders By: Thomas king
Types of Characters Laetitia Border guards The child The mother A static character the son stays the same A round character Laetitia has the courage to leave The border guards were flat characters, A static character, throughout the book the throughout the whole. While they were at the the reserve on her own, as she realizes that the salt they expressed extreme rudeness and hate mother stayed strong and true to her culture border, he was for the most part quiet. He lake city was boring and didn t feel like home she towards their Blackfoot culture they didn t and identity. She didn t let anyone overrule also stays very curious I told stella that we decides to returns to the reserve. when she was like different "Thank you," he said, his her and kept her head up. citizenship? were black foot and Canadian, but she said still at home, Laetitia would go on about salt lake fingers patting the butt of the revolver. Blackfoot . (King 135) That was her response that didn t count because I was a minor (King city (King 137) She was very expressive "Have a pleasant trip." ( King 144) to the borer guard. 137)
Symbolism - - -
Conflict Clearly, there has been some discrimination and unfair actions against The mother and Laetitia. The mother feels the need to defend her identity from the border guards while they are negotiating the border between America and Canada to get Laetitia to Salt Lake City.
Plot Exposition: At the border, Laetitia is dropped off so that she can travel to Salt Lake City. Initiating incident: When Laetitia moved to salt lake city. "I'm going to visit my daughter in Salt Lake City," (King 136)
Plot 1. 2. 3. 4. During two nights in their car, the mother and child wait to cross the border as Blackfoot Climax: They have finally been allowed into the United States after being let through the border
Plot After being separated from Laetitia for so long, the mother and child are finally allowed to reunited with her in Salt Lake City Resolution: Mel the kind duty free store worker is handed a green hat by the mother, and the mother drives peacefully off with the child to take him back home
Theme In the short story, acceptance is one of its main themes. It focuses on accepting others for who they are and treating them equally. I told him we had nowhere to go that neither Americans nor Canadians would let us in (King 140) every so often one of the reporters would come over and ask me questions about how it felt to be without a country (King 142) Pride is a good thing to have, you know. Laetitia had a lot of pride, and so did my mother. (King 140)
Conclusion Because the mom and son claimed citizenship as Blackfoot, the security guards refused to let them pass. It wasn't until the security guards let them go when they declared citizenship as Blackfoot after they denied them numerous times that they were let go.
Why are the following prose terms effective? By providing more detail, the reader is better able to comprehend the story They provide a summary of the plot to the reader In order to understand the plot, they break it down so that it is easier to understand As a result, readers can analyze why the author wrote the story and recognize its overall meaning.
Work cited Borders - Google Books https://bing.com
