The Crusoe Tree - Allusions in literary texts (Grade 7)

Celeste directly states, 'Kind of like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, stuck on his own little island.'

Celeste tells John, '...even Robinson Crusoe eventually found his friend, Friday. He wasn’t alone forever.' This detail is stated directly in her dialogue.

The story of Robinson Crusoe is about being stranded alone on an island. Celeste uses this allusion to explain her interpretation that the tree in John's drawing looks lonely.

After Celeste mentions Friday, the passage says the idea felt 'strange, but also hopeful' to John, and he smiles for the first time, showing a change in his perspective from pure loneliness to the possibility of connection.

The first paragraph states, 'He was drawing a single, gnarled oak tree on a vast, empty hill.' This is a direct recall of information from the text.

The items in 'Represents Loneliness' are all used in the passage to describe John's feeling of isolation. The items in 'Represents Connection' are actions or ideas introduced by Celeste to suggest the possibility of friendship and ending loneliness.

The single tree represents John's loneliness. Celeste's 'Crusoe' comment shows she understands this feeling. Her mention of 'Friday' offers a solution or hope. John's question shows he is accepting this new perspective.