Im not scared Niccolo Ammaniti Thai Dieu Linh Truong

Topic:That much he knew. He had fallen into the darkness. And at the instant he knew, he ceased to know. Why has Niccolo Ammaniti chosen to begin his novel with this quote? How does it illuminate what happens in the story?
This essay question requires you to explore both the literal and symbolic significance, in the story, of the idea of falling into the darkness (physically falling, morally falling). Think of 4 key points to make with this question so that you are able to structure a clear response.

Essay
Winning awards story Im not scared by Niccolo Ammaniti begins with an epigraph by the famous English writer, Jack London: That much he knew. He had fallen into darkness. And at the instant he knew, he ceased to know. Although the story begins with light, it ends with dark, contrasted throughout the story expressing the evolution of the characters into immorality. While Fillipo is literally held in darkness, the other children are kept in the dark about the adults secret plan. Michele literally falls into the darkness - the hole where Fillipo is held. As Pino, Micheles father, chases after easy and dirty money, he falls morally into the dark as well at the cost of his own sons innocence. The contrast of dark and light has become one of the most highlights symbols in the story, deeply reflects the loss of innocence. Light and shade are central devices used in a non-traditional way. The story begins in theme of the summer sun, on the field, where there are full of lights and laugh from innocent children. It is such a beautiful and peaceful picture. But as the story gets to an end, it ends with darkness. It expresses the losing of innocence process of the main character, Michele. At the beginning, Michele is just an innocent boy who loves playing games but getting to the end of the story, he becomes more mature as he has seen the evilness so close and so directly. It is something that the quote of Jack London has mentioned: ... He had fallen into the darkness. .... The hole that Fillipo is held in is so full of darkness, though not only that hole, but also outside of it, the children are kept in the dark as well. By an abandoned house, the hole in which kidnapped nineyear-old Filippo is being held by Michele's father and, it seems, most of the adults of Italian backwater Acqua Traverse, becomes the focal point of the story. Although Fillipo is literally kept in the dark, he doesnt seems to know what is going on, he almost got mad, thinking that he and all his family are dead and now all live in holes. Thanks to Michele, he finally managed to see whats going on in the outside world: Thats because youre always in the dark. But you can see, cant you? . Unlike Fillipo, the kids are free to do what they want in the outside world, under the sunny light, yet still, they are kept away from the secret, they are kept away from Fillipo. They are also held in a dark hole the hole of lies. Michele literally falls into the darkness the hole where Fillipo is held is also a highlighted quote of the story. Enlightenment, ironically, takes place in darkness, against a backdrop of searing sunlight "on the outside": Michele discovers Filippo in the black hole, learns of the kidnapping on TV with the lights switched off, and listens to stories of Sergio's criminal past in his bedroom at night. By contrast, the sun, almost a character itself through its constancy, is literally and figuratively blinding. Nothing of moment happens in the sun. The sun rather emphasises the relentless heat, the stifling atmosphere and the notion of endless waiting. The existence of the hole serves as a brilliant device in sustaining suspense until the final pages. As Michele falls in it, he has started to get involved into the kidnapping of Fillipo, although as a saver to the boy. From that moment, he has continued to fall deeper and deeper in to the dark, and slowly let go of his innocence.

Im not scared Niccolo Ammaniti Final scene of the story gives readers more attention to a key character, one who has fallen morally into darkness: Pino Micheles father. The reason for Pino to kidnap Fillipo is poverty: seeing the north while working as a truck driver. There is evidence when he brings a gondola that represents his desire to live a fulfilled and materialistic life for himself and his family: "Let's go to the north". He didn't protect Michele's and Maria's innocence at all as he held a child hostage Fillipo. But still, he loves his family very much. At the end of the story, after knowing he has shot his own son, he is shocked, cant believe in what he has done. He truly loves his family, yet he let his greediness blind him, and the cost of it was more than he can ever imagine. Niccolo Ammaniti had chosen to start his novel with an epigraph by Jack London. This foreshadows that we're going to read about a journey of discovering real evil and the loss of innocence. ... He had fallen into the darkness ... . The literal meaning of this part is Michele had fallen into a hole which is dark. The symbolic meaning is he had stumbled into evil. This quote has successfully gained attention from readers, captures their mind into the story.