Ramona Quimby, Age 8 Literary Elements

Children's Fiction

Cedarhurst Primary, and at the Quimby home, 1980s

The point of view is Ramona's and the events in the book are told from her perspective.

Upbeat and optimistic, sometimes frustrating

Ramona is the protagonist. Her teacher, Mrs Whaley, is the antagonist.

There is conflict between Ramona and her older sister, and also between Ramona and Howie's spoiled little sister.

When the Quimby family are eating out at a restaurant they find that an old man who knows Ramona has paid their bills because he thinks they are a really great family and he misses his children and grandchildren.

Ramona's breaking an egg on her head foreshadows the negative impression her teacher has of her.

Howie's grandmother is said to be "grumpy" which is a huge understatement; she judges Ramona very harshly and insists upon her babysitting Willa Jean, but gets angry if Willa acts out, blaming Ramona.

The book alludes to children's games of the day, specifically Mr Rat which Ramona is forced to play with Willa Jean.

The author describes in detail the vision of a raw egg dripping down Ramona's face after she has broken the egg on her head, which enables the reader to both visualize and also imagine what the egg must smell like.

Ramona is seen as a bit of a trouble maker in the family but she is actually the most imposed-upon of the kids; Beezus gets to avoid quite a few of the chores and tasks because she is in high school and can blame "homework" whereas Ramona has to take care of Howie's bratty little sister in return for being babysat by his grandmother after school.

There is a parallel between the way in which Mrs Whaley views Ramona and the way in which Howie's Grandmother does too; as rather a nuisance because she is a little more spunky than other girls her age.

The school bus is used to mean all the kids on the school bus each day.

No specific examples