A Single Shard

Park, L. S. (2001). A single shard . New York: Clarion Books.

 

A Single Shard is a 2002 Newbery Medal Winner, as well as a book that appears on the Notable Books for Children List.  (On my list as a Newbery book).

 

Exposition:

Tree-Ear is an orphan who lives in Ch'ulp'o, Korea in the 12th century.  He lives under a bridge with his friend, Crane-man.

 

Conflict:

Tree-Ear wants to learn how to create pottery on the wheel.  Another conflict deals with Tree-Ear's desire to help Master Min receive a royal commission for his pottery.

 

Rising Action:

While admiring Min's pottery one day, he is startled and breaks one of the pieces.  In order to pay off the debt, he begins working for Min and bringing food home to Crane-ear.  Min's wife is very kind and helps Tree-Ear and Crane-man.  When a royal emissary comes to Ch'ulp'o to aware commissions, Min's rival is awarded one because he has perfected a new method of doing inlay work on the pottery.  Min duplicates the effect, but in the firing process the glaze produces brown spots and does not turn out correctly.  However, Min's work is more precise and the royal emissary tells Min that if he can produce inlay work and bring a piece to Songdo he will receive a commission as well.  Tree-Ear offers to bring Min's work to Songdo.  Min tells Tree-Ear that he will never teach him the potter's trade because the trade passes from father to son.  On Tree-Ear's journey to Songdo, he is attacked by thieves, and the thieves throw the precious vases off of a cliff.  Tree-Ear finds a single shard of the pottery that shows the fine work Min created.  He carries it to Songdo.

 

Climax:

Tree-Ear meets with the royal emissary and shows him the shard.  When he examines it, he gives Tree-Ear a royal commission to bring back to Min by boat.

 

Falling Action:

Tree-Ear returns home with the commission.  When he arrives, he finds out that Crane-ear has been killed in an accident.  Tree-Ear blames himself for not being there to help Crane-ear.

 

Resolution:

Min and his wife take Tree-ear in and give him a new name.  He has a family and a home.  Min begins teaching him to create pottery on the wheel. 

 

Literary Elements:

Characterization is an important part of this novel.  The author creates very detailed characters that come to life and are easy for the reader to relate to.  Tree-Ear is a likeable three dimensional character who grows and learns as the story progresses.  Suspense also adds to the story.  Each time Tree-Ear met with a conflict on his journey, the reader fears that something will happen to the beautiful pottery.  The title also foreshadows that something bad will happen to the pottery at some point on his journey.