The title of the book had very little significance to do with the plot structure of the novel. ... Conflict and Plot One of the major conflicts was when Paul's brother Harvey came back from Vietnam to live with him and his wife. ... I don't think that this characters name lends any meaning to him or the plot. ... The setting of the lake is used symbolically, because water is a sign of life and when he went back into the lake he was infused with a life essence he did not have before. ... This symbol stood for Harvey's love for his father and his internal fight for the resolut...

• Word Count: 1542
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Ordinary People explores the realistic struggles families' face every day while glossing each page with a distinctive style and inspiring life lessons. ... Many housewives dream of sitting before a typewriter and having the success Guest did, but it did not come easy. ... Each member looks for a lesson they can learn from in the loss of Buck, but it is not until they realize that sometimes death leaves a person with no reasoning as to why it happened, that they can truly mourn for the loss ("Ordinary People" 273). ... Conrad feels as if he should have been the person to die in t...

• Word Count: 2059
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School