In "The Moustache" by Robert Cormier, the theme of growing up and the complexity of human relationships is intricately developed through the protagonist, Mike, and his interactions with his grandmother, particularly against the backdrop of the family's emotional history. The setting—a modest home filled with memories—serves as a symbol of Mike's childhood and the burdens of the past that he must navigate. Cormier illustrates this through Mike's internal conflict when he tries to connect with his grandmother, who is struggling with Alzheimer's disease. The plot thickens when Mike dons a moustache as a means of eliciting recognition from her; however, this act serves to highlight the theme of misunderstanding and the complexity of identity. Mike’s grandmother, seeing the moustache, momentarily believes she is talking to her deceased husband, which encapsulates the confusion and pain in their relationship. The use of figurative language, such as the description of the moustache as “a thin line of darkness,” evokes the idea of deception and the blurred lines between reality and memory. This imagery underscores the notion that growing up means confronting the profound truths and complexities of others, as Mike realizes that his grandmother is not merely a fragile elderly woman but someone with a rich history and depth of emotion. Ultimately, Cormier masterfully conveys that growing up involves recognizing others as complete individuals, laden with their own experiences, rather than solely through the lens of one's own perspective.
Level 1: To show your mastery of the unit goals, write an analytical paragraph in which you use textual evidence about literary elements such as setting, character, plot, and symbol to identify a theme developed in “The Moustache.” Write your paragraph
Your answer should include specific textual evidence and demonstrate understanding of how a theme is developed in a text through details about the setting, characters, plot, and symbols. Possible themes include that some conflicts can never be fully resolved and that growing up means fully seeing others as complete individuals in their own right.
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Level 2: To show your mastery of the unit goals, write an analytical paragraph in which you use textual evidence about literary elements such as setting, character, plot, and symbol as well as devices such as figurative language and repetition to identify a theme or themes developed in “The Moustache.” Write your paragraph on a sheet of paper.
Your answer should include specific textual evidence and demonstrate understanding of how a theme is developed in a text through details about the setting, characters, plot, and symbols as well as language and sound devices. Possible themes include that some conflicts can never be fully resolved and that growing up means fully seeing others as complete individuals in their own right.
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