Plot Elements
Exposition
The novel begins introducing Miles Halter as an introverted kid who is beginning his first year at Culver Creek High School as a junior. His roommate, Chip “The Colonel” gives Miles the nickname of “Pudge” & introduces him to the school. The Colonel takes Pudge to meet his longtime friend, Alaska, whom Pudge develops feelings for.
Rising Action
Alaska sets up a pre-prank on the Weekday Warriors, they hacked a computer and sent progress reports home to Weekday Warriors' parents, telling them they were failing. That night, Alaska shares with her friends that she watched her mother die when she was a child because she was too afraid to do anything. Pudge and Alaska make out, even though she has a boyfriend, and later states that she’s too tired and ” To be continued?' Alaska then starts crying, and says that she has to leave, but Pudge is too drunk to function.
Climax
Alaska’s death was the climax of the story. The boys were taken in shock because neither of them was expecting it. Alaska seemed fine the last time they saw her, so they were completely in awe at the news they received. Things weren’t the same without Alaska; there was a soft feeling of depression and loss that blanketed the entire school. Pudge and The Colonol started questioning everyone around them, while trying to get to the bottom of the situation, decode her death and find who was responsible for it. Pudge and Colonol’s friendship began to weaken and shatter after her death because both of them were hurt and wounded, clueless of what to do to solve the situation.
Falling Action
Pudge and the Colonel go through depression; they feel guilty for Alaska’s death, for letting her go. They devote their time trying to decipher Alaska’s impetus to kill herself, then they find out that the day before that night was the day Alaska's mom had died, and she'd forgotten, she’d been going to put flowers on her mother's grave.
Resolution
Pudge and the Colonel decide to pull one last prank worthy of Alaska. On Speaker Day, a day when the class gets to pick a speaker for the whole school to listen to, they hire a male stripper who strips in front of the school. In the end, Pudge finds the meaning of the Great Perhaps, that the labyrinth of life has no end.
Protagonist
Miles “Pudge” Halter is a somewhat gawky and socially awkward teenager who memorizes famous last words. He and his friends pull pranks on the Eagle and the Weekday Warriors and try to bend the strict rules of Culver Creek.
Antagonist
The ‘Weekday Warriors’ are described as “a bunch of rich kids who don’t really care about anything and just want to pass their classes at Culver Creek and have perfect hair.” The Colonel and the Warriors are always waging war and pulling pranks on each other.
The dean of Culver Creek, A.K.A “the Eagle” watches over the campus and scans the ground for deviant behavior, which limits Miles, and his friends’ ability to pull pranks on the Weekday Warriors.
Dynamic Character
When Pudge leaves home, he’s an introverted boy, but after arriving at Culver Creek, his life changed completely. The friends he was introduced to at the academy had big influence on him and he had the chance to start over and gain a new reputation. Both Alaska and his religion professor changed his perspective on the Great Perhaps
Static Character
Alaska stayed consistent throughout the novel; her upbeat energy and impulsiveness is always present, even when she can’t deal with her personal problems that eat at her, she can hide her pain and paint a smile on her face.
Point of View
The story is from the first person’s point of view. Pudge narrates the story from his perspective, this allows us to easily identify with him and get a better understanding of his feelings in different situations.
Conflict
Person vs. Self
Pudge/Miles is trying to discover himself. Pudge is who he became when he moved to Culver Creek, a fun loving, adventurous soul, but Miles still resides within him, his unsocial and reticent roots. Throughout the story he’s searching for his true identity & The Great Perhaps.
The novel begins introducing Miles Halter as an introverted kid who is beginning his first year at Culver Creek High School as a junior. His roommate, Chip “The Colonel” gives Miles the nickname of “Pudge” & introduces him to the school. The Colonel takes Pudge to meet his longtime friend, Alaska, whom Pudge develops feelings for.
Rising Action
Alaska sets up a pre-prank on the Weekday Warriors, they hacked a computer and sent progress reports home to Weekday Warriors' parents, telling them they were failing. That night, Alaska shares with her friends that she watched her mother die when she was a child because she was too afraid to do anything. Pudge and Alaska make out, even though she has a boyfriend, and later states that she’s too tired and ” To be continued?' Alaska then starts crying, and says that she has to leave, but Pudge is too drunk to function.
Climax
Alaska’s death was the climax of the story. The boys were taken in shock because neither of them was expecting it. Alaska seemed fine the last time they saw her, so they were completely in awe at the news they received. Things weren’t the same without Alaska; there was a soft feeling of depression and loss that blanketed the entire school. Pudge and The Colonol started questioning everyone around them, while trying to get to the bottom of the situation, decode her death and find who was responsible for it. Pudge and Colonol’s friendship began to weaken and shatter after her death because both of them were hurt and wounded, clueless of what to do to solve the situation.
Falling Action
Pudge and the Colonel go through depression; they feel guilty for Alaska’s death, for letting her go. They devote their time trying to decipher Alaska’s impetus to kill herself, then they find out that the day before that night was the day Alaska's mom had died, and she'd forgotten, she’d been going to put flowers on her mother's grave.
Resolution
Pudge and the Colonel decide to pull one last prank worthy of Alaska. On Speaker Day, a day when the class gets to pick a speaker for the whole school to listen to, they hire a male stripper who strips in front of the school. In the end, Pudge finds the meaning of the Great Perhaps, that the labyrinth of life has no end.
Protagonist
Miles “Pudge” Halter is a somewhat gawky and socially awkward teenager who memorizes famous last words. He and his friends pull pranks on the Eagle and the Weekday Warriors and try to bend the strict rules of Culver Creek.
Antagonist
The ‘Weekday Warriors’ are described as “a bunch of rich kids who don’t really care about anything and just want to pass their classes at Culver Creek and have perfect hair.” The Colonel and the Warriors are always waging war and pulling pranks on each other.
The dean of Culver Creek, A.K.A “the Eagle” watches over the campus and scans the ground for deviant behavior, which limits Miles, and his friends’ ability to pull pranks on the Weekday Warriors.
Dynamic Character
When Pudge leaves home, he’s an introverted boy, but after arriving at Culver Creek, his life changed completely. The friends he was introduced to at the academy had big influence on him and he had the chance to start over and gain a new reputation. Both Alaska and his religion professor changed his perspective on the Great Perhaps
Static Character
Alaska stayed consistent throughout the novel; her upbeat energy and impulsiveness is always present, even when she can’t deal with her personal problems that eat at her, she can hide her pain and paint a smile on her face.
Point of View
The story is from the first person’s point of view. Pudge narrates the story from his perspective, this allows us to easily identify with him and get a better understanding of his feelings in different situations.
Conflict
Person vs. Self
Pudge/Miles is trying to discover himself. Pudge is who he became when he moved to Culver Creek, a fun loving, adventurous soul, but Miles still resides within him, his unsocial and reticent roots. Throughout the story he’s searching for his true identity & The Great Perhaps.