Gooney Bird Greene

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2002

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-5

Chapters 6-7

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Identity

Identity is a key motif in the story of Gooney Bird Greene’s introduction to Watertower Elementary School. Gooney Bird is immediately presented as someone who is different from the other students; her hair is different, her clothes are different, and she has a confident and assertive yet polite manner of speaking to her teacher and classmates. The classmates do not judge or exclude Gooney Bird but are instead intrigued by her and want to learn all they can about her. Gooney Bird presents her own personality confidently and inspires her classmates to do the same.

Gooney Bird’s identity is evident in her unique choices of clothing, her stories, and in the way she interacts with her classmates and teacher. She is wise and well-spoken for her age and knows how to conduct the classroom in such a way that she remains respectful but still commands their full attention. Gooney Bird confidently tells stories about herself and the history of how she came to be who she is despite having recently moved to Watertown and having just met this class. Being new doesn’t scare her because she knows and likes who she is. Gooney Bird’s confidence in herself inspires others to speak out, share their own lives, and teach one another How to Transform Real Life Into Something Creative. In doing so, they celebrate who they are.

Honesty

Honesty is an important motif in Gooney Bird Greene and is one of the central aspects of Gooney Bird’s character. Gooney Bird prides herself on her honesty and proclaims with certainty that all her stories are completely true. She can withstand the doubts and questions from both her classmates and teacher because she knows she would not lie to them. Mrs. Pidgeon is certain that Gooney Bird is making up stories and reminds her to be honest with the class, but Gooney Bird only encourages Mrs. Pidgeon to do some research to prove there is a town named China in the United States. Some of Gooney Bird’s claims turn out to be different from what they initially seem, but none can be considered falsehoods. Gooney Bird’s insistence on honesty is connected to the way she teaches her classmates How to Transform Real Life Into Something Creative because she insists that real life is interesting enough to inspire, educate, and entertain. Some of her classmates, Felicia Ann and Malcolm, for example, struggle to speak up for themselves in what they see as an intimidating environment. When Gooney Bird presents herself exactly as she is, hiding nothing and telling all, her classmates find the confidence and courage to do the same.

Fashion

Fashion is a symbol of Gooney Bird’s identity and part of how she demonstrates What Makes a Great Story. Gooney Bird uses fashion in two key ways. Primarily, she uses fashion to express herself, to show confidence, and to tell the world exactly who she is without apology. Gooney Bird comes to school on her very first day dressed in cowboy boots and baggy pajamas, but she’s not embarrassed. Instead, she immediately asks to “be right smack in the middle of everything” (1). The class is amazed by Gooney Bird’s appearance at first and cannot quite comprehend that she is somehow different from most people.

When Gooney Bird becomes immersed in her storytelling, she uses fashion to enhance and personalize her stories. She dresses in a furry coat and carries a cowhide purse when she tells the story of Catman and the cow. She wears her heavy diamond earrings when she recounts the day she won them from a gumball machine. In doing so, Gooney Bird brings her stories to life for the class, making them more vibrant and tangible. Over the first few days, the fashion of her classmates and teacher begins to change as they are inspired by Gooney Bird’s desire to dress in a way that expresses who she is. Mrs. Pidgeon starts wearing fancy shoes, and Barry starts wearing a bow tie. It becomes part of Gooney Bird’s overall talent to inspire others to celebrate themselves.