Les Miserables
Historical Fiction
By: Victor Hugo
Prepared by: Aleah K. Lozada
Les Miserable begins in Toulon, France in 1815. It is a depressing time when people are very poor and in difficult situations. One part of the story is set in the prison , Bagne of Toulon. Later, the story moves to the town Vigo and finally Paris. The stories continue through the mid 1800s to show the Paris uprisings. There are several characters in the story. The main character is Jean Valjean. Valjean changes his identity several times to protect himself. He has three main identities: Jean Valjean, Father and Monsieur Madeleine, and Monsieur Fauchelevent. Each time his identity changes, he tries to live more honestly. It also includes Fantine, a woman who loses her job and resorts to prostitution to care for her daughter Cosette.
The story deals with man versus society. During this period of time, the rich were very rich and the poor people were extremely poor because the rich did not have enough compassion for the poorer people. This is the dilemma Jean Valjean finds himself in. Jean Valjean is arrested for stealing bread to feed his family. Instead of having compassion on Jean, they throw him into prison. After nineteen years, he is released from prison and finds that no one wants to give him a place to stay because he is an ex-convict. Bishop Myriel gives Valjean a place to stay. Even after this kindness, Valjean steals from the bishop. Valjean feels ashamed and there is the internal plot where Valjean wants to be kind and good like the bishop.
The climax of the story is when Parisians get tired of the way they are being treated by the government. They become tired of being poor and the government not helping them at all. The death of Lamarque, a general who supported their cause, is the inciting incident that caused the people to have the courage to start a revolution. Marius is one of the Parisians that support the Revolution and he is wounded in battle. Marius is in love with Cosette, Jean Valjean檚 adopted daughter. He had sent a love note to her before the battle began which proves to Jean that he is a faithful man for his daughter. So Jean helps his daughter檚 lover in battle. When Marius gets wounded in battle, Jean Valjean ends up saving his life. The resolution to the story is when Marius and Cosette decide to get married. Jean Valjean then tells Marius his past as an ex-convict and makes him promise not to Cosette. Since he is afraid of being caught at the wedding, he misses the wedding using the illness he has as an excuse. Later, Marius is forced into a position where he has to tell Cosette her father檚 past. The two then hurry to the place where Jean Valjean is staying and find that he is dying. Jean Valjean then tells his past to both of them and dies in peace knowing his daughter will be alright with Marius.
I thought that the story because it showed how a person can find peace in their minds by changing their life and choosing to do good. Reading the life of Jean Valjean has showed me that. The story shows how the circumstances during the 1800s in France made it very difficult for people to overcome poverty. This book because it would be a good book for anyone studying World History or read a slow-moving, tender novel.What is the external plot in this short, 1 page book report on Les Miserables?
Book reports don't have plots - books have plots. Internal and external plots are essential to the movement of the action in a novel.
Les Miserables has both internal and external plots. The internal plot, Valjean seeking a good and peaceful life for himself and Cosette, is what carries the novel. The book contains many external plots. An external plot is something a character needs or wants right away - something that is accomplished quickly. An example of this is Valjean getting Cosette away from the Th茅nardiers - fulfilling the promise made to Fantine.
I hope this helps. Oh, do a little proofreading of your report. There are a few sentences that aren't complete and could use rewording.
Good luck!
