Ron Paul Curriculum 7th Grade English Lesson 45: A Knight of the White Cross

Ron Paul Curriculum 7th Grade English Class

Taught by Professor Bradley Fish

Lesson 45 Essay: A Knight of the White Cross Author's style and character development

Written by KryssaLee Baze

      Author's style and character development are two primary points in literary analysis.  This essay is going to describe how these two points occur and develop in the book A Knight of the White Cross, written by G.A. Henty.

      

Author's Style

     If you have read another book that Henty wrote before you read A Knight of the White Cross, you can immediately tell that it's one of Henty's works.  All authors have their own writing style, however in all of Henty's books it is the same.  Henty is an author that describes everything that is going on, yet doesn't delve so deep into details that the story gets boring and in turn loses the reader's focus.  He also doesn't simply "scratch the surface" and leave you wondering about what happened to someone or somebody.  For example, on all the expeditions that Sir Gervaise Tresham makes, Henty doesn't stick to details when nothing is really happening in the story. For instance, in times of sailing when they haven't met a foe yet.  However, when the galley runs into pirates, Henty goes to work fluidly describing the battle, and how the outcome was.  

      I am a bookworm, and of all the books I've read, Henty's style is my favorite.  I absolutely hate books that have open endings, where the reader is left not knowing what happens to the characters or their outcomes.  Henty, thankfully does not do this.

Character Development

      In all the other books I've read, Henty immediately introduces the main character, however A Knight of the White Cross is an exception, as it's quite some time before Gervaise Tresham, the main character, is talked about.  In books that have a chapter or two before the main character is introduced tend to make me speed read through those chapters.  I prefer books where the main character is introduced within the first page or two.  Besides that fact, Henty does a wonderful job developing the main character as he keeps things moving and in action.  

A Knight of the White Cross is a great book.  So far it is my favorite Henty book because it is crammed with action.  It's a long book, which I like as the story doesn't end too quickly.  It also has the best ending of them all, as it goes into the future describing what ended up happening to the island of Rhodes.  It explains in brief detail what Gervaise and his wife Claudia's sons do, and has a romantic ending.  It is a wonderful book, and I highly suggest that others read it as well!