1. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
By David Wroblewski
Ashton Evans

2. David Wroblewski
Born in Wisconsin near where The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is set
Raised on a farm where his mother raised dogs most of his life
Has lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, and Colorado
Attended University of Wisconsin where he started as a theater major, switched to computer sciences, and finally graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle was his first book.

3. Background
Story set in Chequamegon National Forest, near where Wroblewski grew up
Modern day “Hamlet”
Used Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book”, Shakespeare, and Stephen King as inspiration
Main character is a mute who can communicate best with the dogs they raise
Basis of story comes from past and childhood of growing up in rural Wisconsin, raising dogs

4. Background continued
Edgar was born mute and lives on a farm with his parents raising dogs.
Edgar’s uncle reappears in their lives and his dad dies
Claude, the uncle, starts to force himself into their lives
Tries to prove Claude’s a murder
Edgar leaves but returns to prove Claude killed his father
Claude poisons Edgar and they both die in a fire in the barn

5. Important Characters Edgar Sawtelle- Main character, a mute
Trudy-Edgar’s mother
Gar- Edgar’s father who is killed by Claude
Claude- Edgar’s uncle, Gar’s murderer

6. Conflicts Claude vs. Gar- greed towards power
Claude vs. Edgar- revenge towards killer
Edgar vs. wilderness-struggle for survival
Edgar vs. self- isolation from being mute

7. Themes & Motifs
Family- how does this change before and after Claude comes
Revenge-why is this important
Truth-who is Claude really
Anger-towards Claude
Murder-lots of it
Fate-how do their actions seal their fate
Isolation-how does Edgar being mute affect him

8. Symbols Edgar’s mute- ability to see more than others, isolation
Dogs-companionship
Ghost-truth, purity

9. Author’s Style
Prose-straight to the point and lacking flowery language
Not many metaphors
“natural and unfettered” voice