“I am a runner. That's what I do. That's who I am. Running is all I know, or want, or care about.”
― Wendelin Van Draanen, The Running Dream
Literary Techniques
- Allegory- The whole book was a huge allegory in the way that Draanen was trying to show us that judging by disability is not the right way. Jessica's bravery and understanding traits let her convey the message to us that everyone is equal. Whether they have lost a limb, an eye, or have mental disabilities, we are still all equal. We shouldn't judge anyone by just looking at what they lack. We need to realize that it's not what they lack but it's what they have, the love for all, the intelligence, the adaptation sense. Judging people never was the right thing to do and Draanen represented that quite clearly.
- Flashback- "And then I remember. Finally remember. Lucy in the seat in front of me. The light. The sounds. Screaming. Crunching. Shattering..." (Draanen 24) She used the concept of flashback to remind us how the accident took place. She includes Lucy to add the effect on the reader as they know that she had passed away. Letting not only Jessica remember, but also telling us how she felt.
- Metonymy-Rigor Mortis Bend. It stood as Jessica's finish line. Her reminder of what she has to accomplish. Being the last turn before the finish line, Jessica wanted to reach her goal by passing it on her prosthetic leg. Jessica needed to get up on her feet again and reach the finish line to prove that anything can be done with hope and dedication. Rigor Mortis Bend was not just a finish line, but also the achievement Jessica needed to live her passion.
- Onomatopoeia- "My arms are pumping, but they're smooth, almost relaxed. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." (Draanen 10) The sound of whooshing is used to describe the feeling Jessica got as she ran past. The feeling she gets. Floating, flying, or soaring is described with the use of onomatopoeia saying whoosh as she "whooshed" past everyone.
- Stereotype- Gavin and his girlfriend,Merryl, in the beginning of the book are one of the most known stereotypes. The hot cheerleader girl gets the hot jock in school. Everyone thinks that is always what happens. It's a belief that cheerleaders are with jocks or the fact that populars only date populars. Obviously, it's not a fact, but it has claimed to be. Although later on, Gavin does admit the relationship was out of sympathy but in the beginning of the book, readers might have been annoyed of this stereotype.