Copy of The Lovely Bones & The Stages of Grief - Google Docs

The Lovely Bones  

by Alice Sebold  

 

Identify examples of Kubler-Ross's five Stages of Grief. Support your examples from 

the text by providing textual evidence (using MLA in-text citations). Then, explain why 

this particular quote is a strong example of the stage selected.  

 

Name: Emily Johnston Name: Alex Dyer Name: Tyler 

Briggs Name: Chris Melancon 

 

Character: Abigail Salmon 

Kubler-Ros Supporting Text Explanation
s's Stages 
of Grief 

 

Denial and  “At some point, it began to rain. I could Abigail and Jack have just been provided with news that a
Isolation:   feel them both thinking the same thing body part was found by a neighbor’s dog. As they sit
then, but neither of them said it. That I together numbed by news, the rain makes them worry
was out there somewhere, in the rain. further about Susie; however, their worries show that
That they hoped I was safe. That I was although they were just told that an elbow was found, both
dry somewhere, and warm” (Sebold parents worry about whether or not she is “dry,” “warm,”
21). and “safe.” This shows that both Abigail and Jack are
unable or unwilling to accept that Susie is dead.
“She was a wall. Notebooks and
novels were nothing to her. Her Abigail continues to deny the facts. The metaphor
daughter might survive without an illustrates her hard facade as she refuses to accept the
arm. A lot of blood was a lot of blood. It situation that is surrounding her. She has enclosed herself
was not a body. Jack had said it and away from reality to pretend that this situation is not
she believed: Nothing is ever certain” happening. She adamantly clings to the misguided belief
(27). that her daughter is still alive.

“ How can she say what she already She is isolating herself from the family by going to
Knew? Instead, she told a lie. “I promis California. She is still upset about Susie and does not want
you I wont leave you.” (Sebold 207) to be with the family at this time in her life. She is leaving in
hopes that she will forget about what happens. She wants
a break from her problemsand her family. The family
reminds her of susie and she dont want that right now.

Anger:  

Bargaining:  

Depression:   “ My mother made a sound and
reached out her hand. The sound was
a

Acceptance “ I love you Susie” (Sebold I think that this is the part where she finnaly accepts the
:   fact that she is gone and she is not going to come back.

 

Kubler-Ross's   Supporting text Character: Jack Salmon 
Stages of  Explanation
Grief 
“There is no body.” : Jack Jack Denies that Susie’s is dead and Tells the Len to
Denial and  believe otherwise. In the quote “There is no body.” Proves
Isolation:   “I wanted him to be like the fathers this statement. The next quote explains how Jack and
in the movies when they seek Susie wanted to take out Harvey, showing how Jack
vengeance and stalk the killer with a isolated from his family after he was beaten with a bat
knife or a gun”:
Susie

Anger:   “Don’t touch those”: Jacks This quote Shows how Jack’s anger at Buckley for using
Susie's clothes for his tomato plants.
Bargaining:   
Depression:  
Acceptance:  

Character: Lindsey Salmon 

Kubler-Ross's   Supporting Text Explanation
Stages of Grief 

Denial and  “She looked right at him. It was not Lindsey is asking what her loss is. She doesn’t want to
Isolation:   so much a look as a laser. “What believe she has lost her sister. She doesn’t want to
exactly is my loss?” “ (Sebold, 31) show that she really does know Susie is gone. She is
now denying that Susie is dead.
“I wasn’t aware I had lost anything”
(31) Susie is still denying that she has lost something
(Susie).

Anger:   “She did ten sets of sit-ups. Then She pushes herself out of anger, she takes her anger
she got into push-up position. Not the out in her own way. By working out till she can’t
girl’s kind... After she did ten anymore.
push-ups, she went to her shelf and
chose the two heaviest book. She did Lindsey was upset that Susie had died not only

biceps curls until her arms ached.” because she was her sister, but also because they
(sebold, 34) looked alike and everyone including her saw it. It made
her angry that her sister died, because she wanted to
“Then Lindsey slammed the front be her not a copy of her sister.
door more loudly than usual...She
stomped up the stairs.” (59)

Bargaining:   “The walks away were her only rest Lindsey feels the only time she has to herself is her
Depression:   time” (Sebold, 33) walks away, she only has certain time for herself and
she wants and needs it so she walks slowly soaking in
Acceptance:   “Lindsey walked across the soft rug every moment to herself.
and touched the navy skirt and red
and blue crocheted vest...She took Lindsey is touching her sisters things wishing Susie
the vest and spread it out flat on the was the one to be there. She wants her sister back and
bed, smoothing it...She petted she is having depression by doing things with her
it...Lindsey traced the outline of the family asleep not wanting them to know how she feels.
gold tray I kept on my dresser.”(44)

“I saw Lindsey stiffen at the door. Our Lindsey is seeing Susie’s hat covered in her saliva and
parents were unrecognizable to her; is noticing that Susie is dead. She understands that
everything was unrecognizable.” there is almost no way Susie is still alive. She sees the
(Sebold, 28) way her parents aren’t accepting Susie’s death and
sees them as people she’s never seen before, not
“ Lindsey overheard what she having to deal with this before.
already knew,had known since five
days before, when my father told her Lindsey knew in her gut that Susie was dead. When
about my elbow.” (28) her father told her about Susie’s elbow she just knew,
with Susie still not home and there being an elbow, she
knew Susie was dead. Seeing actual evidence (saliva
covered hat) just mad her knowledge more real.

Kubler-Ross's   Supporting Text Character: Buckley Salmon 
Stages of  Explanation
Grief 

Denial and 
Isolation:  

Anger:  
Bargaining:  
Depression:  

Acceptance: