LITERATURE - HOW I MET MYSELF

LITERATURE COMPONENT FORM THREE -  ‘HOW I MET MYSELF ‘

A) Characters

1) Based on the novel, “How I Met Myself”, write about a character whom you find interesting? Explain why you would like to have him/ her as a friend.

The character I find interesting in the novel “ How I Met Myself ” is John Taylor. He showed himself to be adventurous and adaptable. He was willing to work in another country and though he did not know the language he was willing to take lessons to master it. When he faced the doppelganger situation he took the initiative to find out more about it. He did not allow it to cloud his judgement and had the presence of mind to make inquiries. His effort paid off when he understood the doppelganger’s message and this saved his wife and daughter’s lives.

Based on his character’s traits, I would like to have him as a friend especially if I find myself in a situation where other people are not supportive. John Taylor would offer support and a helping hand as he would rationalize and look into all aspects of the situation.

2)Based on the novel, “ How I Met Myself ”, write about a character that you like.

A character that I like in the novel “How I Met Myself ” is Andrea. Andrea is a loving, responsible wife  and mother. Besides that she is also a very hardworking woman. She teaches Hungarian lessons at a special school and also give one-to-one lessons. Even though she is pregnant, she helps out at Zsolt’s café.

Andrea is also a very committed person. When she is given a job at the café, she attempts to improve the café so that it can boost business. She suggests putting flowers, pictures and a sitting area to attract women to the café.

In addition, Andrea tries her best to understand and support her husband, John Taylor. When John relates to her what has happened, she helps him to get the necessary information so that the mystery can be solved.

3) Based on the novel , “ How I Met Myself ”, write on a character that touches you.

Based on the novel, “How I Met Myself”, the character who touches me is Janos Szabo. Janos lived at number 7 Felkautca during the war. He did not go to fight the war because he was not very healthy. Despite his poor health, Janos was a good husband and father. He looked after his family all through the war. He was also very friendly with his neighbours. Unfortunately, Janos’ wife and daughter were killed on 18 January 1945 by a bomb that did not explode but destroyed a cellar. Janos was devastated and lost the will to live. Eventually, he died fighting in the streets in 1956.

Janos appeared as a ghostly double to John Taylor to warn him about the danger that was about to befall his family. However John did not understand the warning in Janos’s message. In the end, Janos saved both Andrea and Kati.

B) Moral Values

1) Based on the novel, “How I Met Myself ”, write about a moral value you have learned from the story.

a) In the novel ‘How I Met Myself’, the moral value I have learned is about love and care. John loves Andrea, a pretty Hungarian teacher. They understand each other very well and John always tells her the truth. Andreas loves John so much that she is very concerned. She knows that something is on John’s mind for she notices that John cannot sleep well at night. When John first tells her about his double, she does not laugh at him. Instead, she stands by him and gives him her full support. She is also willingly helps him to interview people at Felkautca to help him locate his double. John feels happy that Andrea is so sweet and good and he is sure that everything is going to be all right.

b) In the novel, “How I Met Myself” one moral value that I have learned is about courage and perseverance. John is courageous enough to pursue his doppelganger even though he is afraid. He also enter the café and questions the café owner. John also perseveres in returning to the sites of his strange encounter, questioning residents and doing research in the library to try and solve the mystery. Despite his haunted dreams, insomnia and Andrea’s objection, John carries on as he wants to find out what his doppelganger is trying to tell him.

We must be courageous at all time. Like John, we must act according to our convictions and persevere despite setback.

c) One of the moral values of the novel, “How I Met Myself” is we must not be discouraged if our family members do not seem to understand us. They may doubt us but it will only be for a while. When John told Andrea his situation, she helped out by following him to find out the truth. She did show annoyance with John because she felt that John was becoming too obsessed with the doppelganger problem. But she did pay attention to what he told her and this is what saved her and Katy from the explosion in the bar. So, we should not be despair or to be discouraged. Instead we should attempt to make them understand in other ways gently.

C) Themes

1) Based on the novel, “How I Met Myself ”, write about one important theme .

An important theme in the novel “How I Met Myself” is determination. Determination is important to succeed in life. We can achieve our goals if we do not give up easily. This theme is clearly evident in John Taylor. He did not give up easily when dealing with his crisis. John is determined to find out more about his double whom he meets every 18 January and in his dreams too. He spent his time in the library and took pains to go through the newspapers dating ten years back.

John’s determination paid off. John managed to find out the necessary information to solve the mystery of the doppelganger and his strange dream.

2) In the novel, “How I Met Myself”, one important theme is about the importance of relationships.Relationships are important in life as we are all social beings. When John relocate to Hungary, he is in a new country and is certainly lonely. Hence, when a lovely young lady teaches him Hungarian, he is open to communication and a new relationship. Within 18 months, they are married. It is obvious that Johan and Andrea are happy. They are intimate and share their joys and problems. They are also very sensitive to each other. John and Andrea face many trials but eventually they emerge victorious.

3) In the novel, “How I Met Myself” one important theme is about the fear for the unknown. From the moment John first saw the doppelganger, his life changed and he lived in fear. He was afraid because he could not understand what was happening to him and his thoughts were constantly on the doppelganger. At work, his performance suffered as he forgot important things that he should have remembered. Furthermore, his fear took a turn for the worse when he started having nightmares about the doppelganger. He began to feel terrified and so did Andrea. This fear of the unknown caused a strain in their relationship and their marriage suffered.