Literature Companion: Fallen Angels

By History World

Richard Perry is the central character. He is a young man. He lives in Harlem, New York City, amidst his troubled neighborhood; however, he continues to hold onto his dreams.

Although he is very intelligent, Perry can’t afford to pay for his higher studies at a college. Consequently, he enlists in the United States Army.

He has no idea that soon the Vietnam War is going to take a very gruesome turn and the bloodshed is going to escalate to incredible and horrible levels.

Literature Companion: Fallen Angels
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis
Chapter Six: Fallen Angels and Modern Times

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Oct 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311695383

Book preview

Literature Companion: Fallen Angels

History World

Copyright

Literature Companion: Fallen Angels

History World

Copyright@2014 History World

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

Chapter One: Introduction

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers was first published in 1988. It is a young-adult novel. The story revolves around the Vietnam War.

The book was the winner of Coretta Scott King Award in the year of its publication. It is in the list of the 100 most frequently challenged books in the American Library Association.

Since there is the use of profanity and the real depiction of the Vietnam War, the book has always been controversial and in the center of literary discussions.

Richard Perry is the central character. He is a young man. He lives in Harlem, New York City, amidst his troubled neighborhood; however, he continues to hold onto his dreams.

Although he is very intelligent, Perry can’t afford to pay for his higher studies at a college. Consequently, he enlists in the United States Army.

He has no idea that soon the Vietnam War is going to take a very gruesome turn and the bloodshed is going to escalate to incredible and horrible levels.

The story gradually reveals the terrible facts of the war and how they reflect upon the minds of the young soldiers who happen to be far from home.

There is very clear and precise depiction of careless military leadership and brutal guerrilla resistance. The description of American war crimes is also noticeable and it is witnessed firsthand by young Perry.

There is no end to the war and the young soldiers begin to wonder whether they will ever go back home.

The story very descriptively presents the scenes of the war and how the young soldiers cope up with the atrocities they witness.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

Richie Perry is a seventeen-year old black high school graduate. He lives in Harlem, New York City. He can’t afford college education so he joins the United States Army and flies to Vietnam to take part in the war.

Before leaving for Vietnam, he is given basic training. He happens to have several illusions about the war and the army. He is sure that because of his knee injury he will not be engaged in real combat.

Perry also believes in the rumors which talk about imminent peace. He hears several prevalent myths about warfare.

He finally reaches Vietnam. Harold Pewee Gates and Jenkins are two new recruits from the same squad. Richie befriends them. Through a sergeant they come to know that they will be given only easy and light work because there is