Graphic Novel - "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan

Part One

Book Information: Tan, S. (2007) The Arrival. South Melbourne: Lothian Books.

Genre: Wordless Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Multicultural

Grade Level: 4^th and up, suited for upper elementary of middle school because of the complex concepts depicted by pictures (readers have to figure out the story through pictures only)

Part Two

Response to Book: Reflection, personal connections, and thoughts about the book’s theme!

The Arrival illustrates a universal immigrant experience. The novel serves as a tribute to anyone who has left their home and loved ones behind in search of a better life in a foreign land. The novel’s main theme, which resonates with most immigrants, is “the hope and opportunity of finding a better life for you/ your family.” The story follows the journey of a man from his home country to a confusing new country. The man enters a world unfamiliar to him and encounters weird creatures, foods, a strange language, and social customs. I believe his experience is comparable to any immigrant in our world today and the past. What I loved about this book was it ability to effectively give its readers an opportunity to understand what it would be like to be an immigrant. The journey and emotions of the main character are understood without any words. Even without words this book is simply amazing! Readers begin to feel what the main character feels because the objects and language that appear in the new country are foreign to you also. Examples of these foreign (alien-like) objects, including buildings, streets, animals, trees, etc. are found in the pictures below.

Readers feel the loneliness, alienation, and determination of the main character during his immigration experience. Every obstacle the character faced I felt like I was facing. Every emotion the character felt, I felt as well.

This novel made me think of my own family’s immigration experience. My great grandfather, Domenico Collosi, emigrated from Pollina, Sicily in 1913 through Ellis Island in New York. My grandmother and grandfather, on my other side, both emigrated from Holland in 1957. After reading this book I felt like I could connect to those relatives in a way I couldn’t before. I was able to understand some of the experiences my family had to go through on their journey to foreign land and the obstacles they faced once they were here. The part of the story when the main character has to draw things down in order to communicate reminded me of grandmother. My grandmother, who only spoke Dutch when she came to America, had particular trouble learning English. She said their were many interpreters for Spanish and Chinese, but very few for Dutch. Her parents ended up hiring an English tutor for her and her sisters. Although, even after practicing with the tutor, she still had trouble with words like “shirt” and “skirt.” I feel that this novel gives the audience a powerful tool. The ability to connect with loved ones who have immigrated. In my opinion, any individual who has immigrated or has family that immigrated will appreciate the perspective of the novel. It is a truly powerful and meaningful story.

Part Three

Critique

Overall, I believe The Arrival is a stunning wordless graphic novel appropriate for all ages. The illustrations and photo realism is breathtaking. The time the illustrator spent on each image seems like hours or days! The sketches do not have color but instead are sepia-toned like old pictures. Even the edges of the paper are worn and damaged as if these illustrations were saved for many years. This aspect was appealing because it felt like you were looking at an old photo album of a relative’s immigration experience. The illustrator also creates extravagant illustrations for emphasis and symbolism. Often the images are surreal, strange, and alien-like, although, there is still a familiar quality to them.

There are no words in this novel so the sepia-toned sketches convey the story. The illustrations allow the audience to feel empathy for the main character. The images portray sadness, fear, confusion, wonder, curiosity, joy, and hope. The novel relies on the reader’s interpretations of these illustrations to complete the experience. The audience has to apply their own powers of perception and create the narrative in their minds. This was a unique aspect because it forces the reader to figure out the story through the eyes of the main character. Essentially the reader becomes an immigrant as well (because of the absence of words). The character tackles several obstacles throughout the story that are common of an immigrant. I think a powerful part of the story is when he was examined, catalogued, and labeled upon his arrival. I also think the symbolism of the giants (seen in the picture below) was also a significant part. The purpose of his journey, and theme of this novel, is universal for most immigrants. He leaves his home and loved ones in the hopes of finding a better life for his family in new country.

Part Four

Lesson Sketch

Grade: 5^th

Lesson Objectives:

Students will:

• Develop knowledge of some of the trials and hardships that immigrants encounter in the United States.
• Be able to infer and interpret different themes that occur in the graphic novel The Arrival by Shaun Tan.
• Be able to respond in written form to a prompt

Lesson Outline:

1. Students write down their predictions in the notebooks for a few minutes.
2. Read The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Stop and discuss significant images in the novel. Discussion should happen throughout because it is wordless. Students should write down what is happening in their notes.
3. At the end of the reading have students write down whether their predictions were true.
4. Students will respond to the following prompt: What is the overall theme of the story?  Was the author was trying to place us in the immigrant’s shoes? Why or why not?  Why were they building and other objects so strange?  Why were the people the only things that looked normal? Draw pictures if necessary.
5. Collect students’ work. 

Discussion Questions:

• How do you think these pictures relate to immigration? 
• What are the underlying concepts presented in this story about the immigrant experience? 
• How do you think this picture relates to what we are studying? 
• What do you think the author’s message is? 
• How does the main character react to the new and foreign land? List some of the strange elements the main character confronts and overcomes/adapts to.
• Why do some of the pictures have darker backgrounds? (These indicate moments and events that have happened in the past)
• Why do you think the author chooses to include flashbacks/memories of some of the supporting characters? Why are they important and what do they suggest about the new land?
• When arriving in a new environment, there are many obstacles that one will face, including problems with communication. Find one or two instances where the language barrier presents a problem for the main character. 

Links to Outside Sources:

http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-arrival.html Shaun Tan’s comments about his book

http://www.ellisisland.org/Immexp/index.asp The Immigrant Experience! This is a rich and moving story of American Immigration. Six stories of Americans from different backgrounds researching immigrant ancestry. Discovery of distant family members gave each of these Americans new insights into their families’ pasts and into themselves.

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/newamericans.html Meet New Americans! Follow the stories of several immigrants who become American citizens. Watch their videos, takes the quizzes, and find out where they are now.