Wonder -Imagery

Auggie's Face

Right at the beginning of the novel, it is established that Auggie has a facial deformity: however, no one describes exactly what Auggie's face looks like until Via begins her section. She goes into great detail about her brother's appearance, with lines like "[His eyes] slant downward at an extreme angle, almost like diagonal slits that someone cut into his face, and the left one is noticeably lower than the right one" (Part II, pg. 88).

Summer

More than once, Auggie takes note of the way Summer looks. When she sits down at his lunch table for the first time, he remarks that "Summer looked like her name. She had a tan, and her eyes were green like a leaf" (Part I, pg. 53).

Jack's Sled

In the section that he narrates, Jack Will describes how he discovers and repairs an old, discarded sled; when he tries the sled out, he is amazed by how fast it is. Jack even makes the sled his own by giving it new decorations and a new name, Lightning: "I painted LIGHTNING in gold letters on the middle piece of wood, and I made a little lightning-bolt symbol above the letters" (Part IV, pg. 147). Such careful descriptions show how proud Jack is of his new possession -- and underscore the contrast between Jack and his wealthier classmates, who see cast-off items such as the sled as little more than junk.

The Fairgrounds

While on his trip to the nature reserve, Auggie goes into detail about the way the fairgrounds look. The sun is setting just before the students begin watching the movie, and Auggie remarks that "It looked like someone had taken sidewalk chalk and smudged the colors across the sky with their fingers" (Part VIII, pg. 259). This is an especially pretty sunset for him because he has spent his entire life in the city: seeing the sun set between buildings is not the same as seeing the evening sun out in nature

The Astronaut Helmet

The astronaut helmet given to Auggie by Miranda when he was much younger is a symbol of Auggie's own insecurity about the way he looks. In order to be normal, Auggie felt that he had to hide his true self. As he gets older, though, he becomes more comfortable with his appearance and learns to deal with the responses of others to his condition. After he loses the helmet, he realizes he can get by without it. His eventual positive response to Dad's final revelation, that the helmet was thrown out, confirms that Auggie has lost this old insecurity.

Star Wars

Auggie's various Star Wars toys, games, and merchandise are symbolic of his childhood. As he grows up over the novel, he attempts to shed this old persona and become someone new and more mature. Star Wars will always be important to him, but part of growing up is seeking out new interests and learning to leave some things behind in the past.

The Universe

Certain sections of this novel contain motifs that call attention to the universe. Via begins her section with a description of the universe that is her family, and the way their universe revolves around Auggie. Justin continues this motif in his section, as he acknowledges how the universe has been unkind to Auggie in many ways, but has also blessed Auggie by giving him a loving family. The idea of the universe is important because it emphasises that there is always something out there bigger than any single person, something guiding the way the world works.

Daisy

Daisy the dog is an important symbol of the Pullman family's love and loyalty. Daisy ties the Pullmans together in a way that nothing else can, helping them to move past their fights and arguments. She is also a symbol of unconditional love; no matter what Auggie looks like, she loves him no matter what. When Daisy dies, the Pullmans have to learn to come together without their beloved dog; however, the new puppy, Bear, is a symbol of the hope they have for the future.

Graduation

In any coming-of-age novel, a graduation ceremony is an important milestone that symbolizes the growth that a character has exhibited over the course of the narrative. Auggie has grown up so much during his first year at Beecher Prep, and the award he receives at graduation is representative of his kindness and courage in the face of adversity.

KEY METAPHORS & SIMILES

"So sending him off to middle school like a lamb to the slaughter..." Section I, pg. 10

Early on in the novel, Dad remarks that sending Auggie to a real school would be like sending a lamb off to be slaughtered, which shows just how vulnerable Auggie is assumed to be and how much the Pullmans want to protect him. But going to school eventually shapes Auggie in many positive ways; though he struggles, he eventually comes out on top.

"Your deeds are your monuments." Section I, pg. 65

Mr. Browne's October precept is a metaphor that emphasizes how a person's actions can create a lasting impact. Monuments are created to commemorate people; the precept states that people will be remembered for their deeds, good or bad. This is certainly true of middle school, where kids are known at large for how they treat others.

"But after she died, I held on to that secret and let it cover me like a blanket." Section II, pg. 87

Via will always remember the way Grans took the time to look out for her and cherish her. When Grans told Via that Via was her angel, her favorite, Via let that secret become her security blanket, her reassurance that someone really did care even though her needs were often pushed to the side in her family.

"The universe takes care of all of its birds." Section V, pg. 204

At the end of his section, Justin likens humans to birds, and insists that while the universe may be unkind in some ways, it always compensates in other ways so that everyone is cared for. A bird metaphor naturally implies flight and opportunity -- suggesting that the universe takes care of its "birds" in order to give them the ability to keep flying. For instance, the universe has given Auggie a loving family, the primary thing he needs to take off and soar.

"It had been a long time since I'd been out without my hearing aids, and it felt like I was miles under the earth." Section VIII, pg. 272

This simile illustrates the uncertainty and sadness that Auggie feels after his fight with the older kids at the nature reserve. Without his hearing aids, he feels lost: he can no longer "hear brightly," so that an essential part of him appears to be missing. He feels like he is miles under the earth both because he cannot hear well and because he is so upset about what has happened.