This is a story about a boy named steve harmon who lives in new york and is on trial for murdering a local drugstore owner. Character analysis of steve harmon in monster essay essay. Monster by walter dean myers is a quick read about steve harmon a. This riveting, highly discussable novel provides an intense and eyeopening look at both human nature and the criminal justice system, and both are called into question. Steve harmon is the main character of the book monster. He writes in his diary to pass the time, chronicling his observations and anxieties while imprisoned.
In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in. In 1999, in his young adult book monster, walter dean myers introduced readers to a young man named steve harmon. Steve harmon is the sixteenyearold boy whose trial is the entire premise of the story. In this book a young man named steve harmon had been put in jail because he supposably. In this innovative novel by walter dean myers, the reader becomes both juror. You can see that steve is not all a bad kid and actully has feelings. Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year. Monster is a on the edge of your seat fiction story, written by walter dean myers.
Monster book by walter dean myers free essay example. King even invited him to play a part in the drugstore payday 14. Monster is a multiawardwinning, provocative comingofage story that was the firstever michael l. Get everything you need to know about steve harmon in monster. The book reveals the strength and tough attitude with which steve coped with this ordeal, including steves writing of a wordforword play based on his trial. In the opening of monster by walter dean myers, sixteenyearold steve harmon is on trial for his alleged. He did not want to hurt the man, he was only helping with the crime to help out his friends. Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year the book uses a mixture of a thirdperson screenplay and a firstperson diary format to tell. Why is steve innocent in the book monster by walter dean. The whole book is written in the perspective of steve harmons court case and he uses the whole book, as his play script. But was steve really the lookout who gave the all clear to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ill call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. Monster is a multiawardwinning, provocative comingofage story about steve harmon, a teenager awaiting trial for a murder and robbery.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The character of steve harmon in monster from litcharts the. The story is written in screenplay format along with steves journal writing which he. His neighborhood was an honesttogoodness thugathon. Check out the trailer for steppenwolf for young adults production of monster, based on the novel by walter dean myers and adapted for the stage by aaron carter. This new york times bestselling novel from acclaimed author walter dean myers tells the story of steve harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial. Monster argumentative essay the united states judicial system says that you are innocent until proven guilty. A harlem teen who finds himself on trial for felony murder due to his alleged participation in a botched robbery of a local. Monster is what the prosecutor called 16yearold steve harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a conveniencestore owner. There is not a large amount of scientific evidence in the case against steve harmon, so the jury. Kathy obrien character analysis in monster litcharts.
In this book a young man named steve harmon had been put in jail because he supposably killed a man that worked in a drug store. The novel is actually a screenplay that steve is writing to work out some of the. Steve harmon he is a sixteen year old young black man who has been arrested for acting as the lookout in robbery that goes bad and ends in a murder. Was steve guilty or innocent in the book monster answers. A heavy woman named peaches also listens to this conversation. The owner was shot and killed, and now steve is in prison awaiting trial for murder. Monster is a young adult drama novel by american author walter dean myers and was published by harpercollins in 1999. Steve harmon is a 16 year old male in jail awaiting trial for felony murder. The monster quotes below are all either spoken by kathy obrien or refer to kathy obrien. A stunning graphic novel adaptation of walter dean myerss new york times bestseller monster. Here are 15 main events in monster by walter dean myers sixteenyearold steve harmon finds himself in jail and is filled with fear and loneliness. He is also very talented to write and perform such a well written play. In language arts class we read a book called monster, by walter dean myers. This also shows that he honsetly believes that he did nothing wrong.
The story is written in screenplay format along with steve s journal writing which he. Presented as a screenplay of steves own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives. Walter dean myerss monster is an experimental novel written in the form of a film script by its main character, steve harmon. Hes writing the play in order to keep his mind occupied while he awaits trial. Portions of the novel also take the form of a diary kept by harmon. Steve is on trial for allegedly being the lookout in a serious crime that involved robbery and murder. While in prison, steve passes the time by writing his story like a screenplay. Why isnt steve harmon guilty of felony murder in the book monster by walter dean myers. Monster is a multiawardwinning, provocative comingofage story that was. Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon. Argumentative essay on monster 1024 words bartleby. Monster is the story about a 16 year old black boy named steve harmon from harlem. Monster is about a 16 year old boy named steve harmon, and how he had to go on a trial for felony murder.
Monster comprehension questions 146 flashcards quizlet. With jennifer ehle, jeffrey wright, tim blake nelson, john david washington. The book monster by walter dean myers relates to my life and others today because in the book steve conformed to societys expectations and was a sheep to his acquaintances, which relates to me a fair while ago, because not to long ago i followed my friends and did what they did even though sometimes it wasnt the right thing to do. He decides he is going to record his experiences like a film script, thus initiating the formatting style in which the book is published. I believe it was his attorney, miss obrien, but im not 100% positive. Author walter dean myers is the 2019 childrens literature legacy award winner. Steve harmon was called a monster by the prosecutor of his trial. In the opening pages, we learn that steve is currently in prison awaiting trial for murder. Steve has been charged with murder, and hes being kept in prison until the trial. Words from the author, walter dean myers i was born on a thursday, the 12th of august, 1937, in martinsburg, west virginia. He tells the story as if he is recording the events as they happen in real life. At the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that steve is in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder. I give monster a rate of 5 stars because this book is such an amazing book.
Walter dean myerss monster is an experimental novel written in the form of a film script. Steve gives insights into his past while the attorneys interview witnesses, though he cant figure out whether hes innocent or guilty. The book begins with him writing a journal entry about the trial and how he feels about being in prison. The novel begins with 16yearold steve harmon writing in his diary awaiting. This book is very intense it shows the poor life of steve harmon and how he is sent to jail because he was accused of taking part in the dru.
In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in his mind and to the jury his part in the murder. Steve cant deal with jail and a trial, so he copes by treating the trial as a screenplay. Young, black 16yearold steve harmon, an amateur filmmaker, is on trial for the murder of a harlem drugstore owner. Monster, by walter dean myers, takes a unique approach in that it is presented as a screenplay with notes by the narrator, a sixteenyearold from harlem named steve harmon. Steve struggles to prove his innocence, not only to. Steve is on trial for a being a possible accomplice to a murder. That is what the lady prosecutor called steve harmon, a sixteenyearold black teenager. While this book wasnt exceptional or moving, walter dean myers does a good job with the entire book. Sixteenyearold steve harmon is sitting on the edge of a medal cot, head in hands.
The book is set as if steve is making a screenplay. It portrays the reality of the american judicial system, and how it mistreats minorities. Steves story begins when he is charged as an accomplice to murder. Monster by walter dean myers book summary minute book. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. He is on trial for a murder that he is almost sure he did not commit.
For those not familiar with the book, monster is the story of steve harmon kelvin harrison jr. John prine and iris dement in spite of ourselves live from sessions at west 54th duration. By the end of monster, the reader can infer that steve is. Monster is a story about a 16year old named steve harmon. In monster, by walter dean myers, the reader learns from steve harmons experiences that sometimes guilt or innocence of a person might not be determined by solid evidence but by onlookers opinions and interpretation of the crime. Steve harmon, 16, is accused of serving as a lookout for a robbery of a harlem drugstore. The story takes place in manhattan and harlem, new york city, mostly in a city lockup, but sometimes in the neighborhood where steve harmon lives. From there, he tells about his case and his incarceration. The book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing. Steve harmon, the novels protagonistand, at times, its narratoris a sixteenyearold africanamerican student from harlem. When steve unwittingly gets implicated in the fatal heist of a. As a means of coping with jail life, steve draws upon his.
The prosecutor labels steve a monster, and it is an ideaa question about himselfthat steve cannot shake. Terms in this set 15 steve harmon was called a monster by the prosecutor of his trial. It was nominated for the 1999 national book award for young peoples literature, won the michael l. Steve thought those shady dudes were pretty dang tough. Young, black 16yearold steve harmon, an amateur filmmaker, is on trial for the murder of a harlem drugstore owner and could face the death penalty. And sixteenyearold steve harmon is on trial for murder. While in prison he writes everything in his journal as a screenplay to keep his sanity.
Steve harmon is a sixteenyearold boy on trial with his. Jennifer kendall is an english teacher, librarian, and writer specializing in young adult and childrens literature. To ask other readers questions about monster, please sign up. Written as a play, the determined main character, steve harmon, writes an amazing play. He is sixteen years old, lives in the harlem neighborhood of new york city, and he is a student at stuyvesant high school in downtown manhattan. It tells the story of steve harmon, a sixteenyearold on trial for his alleged. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. James king, osvaldo cruz, and freddy alou made up a few of the tough guys steve swapped dialogue with on occasion. The book begins with him in jail waiting for his trial to start.
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