THE ISLAND
Armin Greder explores a variety of themes throughout ‘The Island’, using Word
choice and imagery. Discuss.
‘The Island’, is a picture book written and illustrated by Armin Greder that depicts a variety of
themes using word choice and illustrations which play an important role in portraying
messages and themes in the text. The themes of power and fear are explored directly by the
author. However, the theme of belonging and acceptance is explored by the author using
strong connotations from the imagery and language choice.
Primarily, Armin Greder showcases the theme of power, which plays an imperative role in the
text. The theme of power is explored in various aspects such as the intangible power of the
man and the physical power of locals from the Island. The physical power of the
townspeople is shown explicitly through the illustrations. On pages 10 and 11 the physical
appearance plays a significant role in the power the townspeople have towards the man,
how their size is immensely larger in contrast to the tiny little man. It can also be seen on
pages 26 to 29 that the locals use farming tools as weapons to escort the man out of town,
the illustrations on this page also indicate their aggressiveness through their facial
expressions. Another detail from this illustration that enhances the physical power portrayed
by the townspeople is the contrast of colours in their clothes compared to the dull, plain
appearance of the naked man. This appearance of the man also enhances the ‘physical
vulnerability’ he has towards the townsmen. On the other hand, the intangible power of the
man is also a major aspect of the Island. The people are petrified by his actions and fear
clouds their minds. On page 22, the quote ‘'He will come and eat you if you don’t finish your
soup!’ a mother warned her child.” And the illustrations of the children imagining the face of
the man in their soup bowls highlight the power of the man. This demonstrates that the
man’s actions have tremendously impacted the locals. Hence, Greder has conveyed the
different relationships of power at play on the Island.
Furthermore, Armin Greder really emphasises the theme of fear the locals have towards the
man throughout the illustrations and writing. The actions and characteristics of the man
cause the townspeople to fear the protagonist which is pervasive throughout the locals from
the start of the text. On page 15 the illustration of the woman shows us that she is petrified
as soon as she sees the man in town, this is because of the differences in his physical
appearance from the citizens of the Island. On page 17 Greder has written that the arrival of
the protagonist created commotion and that Island people started screaming and grabbing
him. This establishes the fact that people are worried and are in fear of what he might do.
Also, on page 23 the quote “‘I am sure that he would murder us all if he could’, said the
policeman” exemplifies that fear is present in the minds of everyone from the Island because
they are being precautionary towards all the things the man could do. When the man was
escorted and was cast away from the Island, the locals wanted to make sure he never came
back. They built a wall around the Island, shooting the seagulls that came by and also
burning the boat of the fisherman. This substantiates the emphasis the author has created
on the theme of fear, not only in the beginning and middle but also till the very end of the
text. Thus, Armin Greder has emphasised the theme of fear as it is present across the text.
Contrastingly, even though the themes of power and fear are a major aspect of The Island,
“belonging and acceptance” is also a crucial theme in the story. The main reason that
prevents acceptance and the sense of belonging of the protagonist by the island men is the
differences of appearance. The ostracism which is shown on pages 5 and 6 highlights the
dissimilarities between the naked, vulnerable man and the humongous island men. “ The
Armin Greder explores a variety of themes throughout ‘The Island’, using Word
choice and imagery. Discuss.
‘The Island’, is a picture book written and illustrated by Armin Greder that depicts a variety of
themes using word choice and illustrations which play an important role in portraying
messages and themes in the text. The themes of power and fear are explored directly by the
author. However, the theme of belonging and acceptance is explored by the author using
strong connotations from the imagery and language choice.
Primarily, Armin Greder showcases the theme of power, which plays an imperative role in the
text. The theme of power is explored in various aspects such as the intangible power of the
man and the physical power of locals from the Island. The physical power of the
townspeople is shown explicitly through the illustrations. On pages 10 and 11 the physical
appearance plays a significant role in the power the townspeople have towards the man,
how their size is immensely larger in contrast to the tiny little man. It can also be seen on
pages 26 to 29 that the locals use farming tools as weapons to escort the man out of town,
the illustrations on this page also indicate their aggressiveness through their facial
expressions. Another detail from this illustration that enhances the physical power portrayed
by the townspeople is the contrast of colours in their clothes compared to the dull, plain
appearance of the naked man. This appearance of the man also enhances the ‘physical
vulnerability’ he has towards the townsmen. On the other hand, the intangible power of the
man is also a major aspect of the Island. The people are petrified by his actions and fear
clouds their minds. On page 22, the quote ‘'He will come and eat you if you don’t finish your
soup!’ a mother warned her child.” And the illustrations of the children imagining the face of
the man in their soup bowls highlight the power of the man. This demonstrates that the
man’s actions have tremendously impacted the locals. Hence, Greder has conveyed the
different relationships of power at play on the Island.
Furthermore, Armin Greder really emphasises the theme of fear the locals have towards the
man throughout the illustrations and writing. The actions and characteristics of the man
cause the townspeople to fear the protagonist which is pervasive throughout the locals from
the start of the text. On page 15 the illustration of the woman shows us that she is petrified
as soon as she sees the man in town, this is because of the differences in his physical
appearance from the citizens of the Island. On page 17 Greder has written that the arrival of
the protagonist created commotion and that Island people started screaming and grabbing
him. This establishes the fact that people are worried and are in fear of what he might do.
Also, on page 23 the quote “‘I am sure that he would murder us all if he could’, said the
policeman” exemplifies that fear is present in the minds of everyone from the Island because
they are being precautionary towards all the things the man could do. When the man was
escorted and was cast away from the Island, the locals wanted to make sure he never came
back. They built a wall around the Island, shooting the seagulls that came by and also
burning the boat of the fisherman. This substantiates the emphasis the author has created
on the theme of fear, not only in the beginning and middle but also till the very end of the
text. Thus, Armin Greder has emphasised the theme of fear as it is present across the text.
Contrastingly, even though the themes of power and fear are a major aspect of The Island,
“belonging and acceptance” is also a crucial theme in the story. The main reason that
prevents acceptance and the sense of belonging of the protagonist by the island men is the
differences of appearance. The ostracism which is shown on pages 5 and 6 highlights the
dissimilarities between the naked, vulnerable man and the humongous island men. “ The
