The song Castle of Glass by Linkin Park and Ann Rinaldis novel Cast Two Shadows have comparable

themes, even if the two works appear to be diverse at first glance. The central theme that is prevalent in both the song and the novel is: People have to learn how to get passed the troubles in life, make the best of it, and move on. This lesson is demonstrated repeatedly throughout both texts, however, the lyrics of the song and the text of the book reveal the same prevalent theme through different styles. Lincoln Park shows the theme in a more blatant way, repeating Show me how to be whole again throughout the text for emphasis. This phrase suggests that people have to become whole again, regroup, and get through the troubles in life so that they can move on. Thus, the song represents the theme in a more straight forward way, by repeating a phrase and explaining it in between the repetitions. On the other hand, while Cast Two Shadows emphasizes the theme with repetition to a certain extent, the theme is mostly portrayed by the main character, Caroline, learning different lessons throughout the book that all relate back to the main theme. Hence, the theme is portrayed in a more discreet way, for the reader has to connect the little lessons together and infer the main lesson. Nevertheless, the central theme of both pieces of work is alike, even if the theme is represented differently. The similar themes are shown throughout both pieces of work. The phrase Show me how to be whole again in the song relates to how in the novel, Caroline has to be taught how to be whole again by Miz Melindy, her grandmother. Caroline is torn apart inside by having bodies of loved ones hanging in her body. More specifically, the hanging bodies are people in her life that were important to her and passed away but are now hanging in her body because she cant stop thinking about them. Miz Melindy teaches Caroline how to be comforted by the people hanging inside her body instead of being sad at the thought of them. On page 208 and 209 of Cast Two Shadows it says, Ive [Caroline] got three people hanging inside me now, Miz Melindy. My friend Kit, my real mama, and now Agnes of Glasgow [They are] In the way. Stopping me every time I wanted to be glad about something. Or just be at peace with myself. [Miz Melindy then says] Those people you got hangin inside, they be a comfort to you... Thus, when Miz Melindy tells Caroline this, it helps Caroline regroup and live more peacefully, helping her to move on with life. However, the theme is represented in other ways throughout the song and the novel as well. The theme is demonstrated in other parts of the texts too. For example, in the song, some of the lyrics say, Through the secrets that I have seen / Wash the sorrow from off my skin / And show me how to be whole again. These phrases relate to the novel when Caroline goes on an adventure with Miz Melindy to rescue Carolines brother Johnny. As a result, she learns secrets about her real mother and how the war tears people apart. Caroline feels sorry for herself, her real mother, and the other people affected by the war (ex: the Martians, the McClures) during and after the trip. Caroline has to learn to wash the sorrow off her skin, deal with what she has to do at the moment, and get herself back together (or be whole again). Johnny teaches

Caroline this lesson on page 160 because Caroline is having a hard time pushing away her sorrow. If youre the girl I think you are, youll stuff your feelings in an old sock someplace until we all get through what alls lying in wait for us ahead. Thus, Johnny is telling Caroline to move on, just like the song says to wash the sorrow off my skin or get it off quickly. Hence, the song is stating a phrase that relates to the theme and the book shows the phrase and how it applies to a character. While the theme is represented through these quotes, it is shown in other quotes too. Furthermore, the theme is symbolized in another way. The phrase Bring me home in a blinding dream in the song corresponds with how Caroline wants to go back home and have things be the way that they were before the war. She doesnt like how her dad is sent to jail, her brother is away from home fighting for the Loyalists and then the Patriots, her mother and sister and her are prisoners in their own home, and how her sister is in love with a British officer. In the song, it says blinding dream which suggests that the dream of going back to where the author calls home is amazing and it would be awesome if the dream happened, in the authors opinion. Likewise, Caroline would love it if things went back to the way that they were because she doesnt like how her family is torn apart. This quote from page 195 of Cast Two Shadows demonstrates this. From a distant room came a mans laughter. It should be my daddys, I [Caroline] thoughtAgain, nothing was the way it had been before. In this quote, Caroline hears the British officers laugh and wants it to be her dads, but her dad is in prison. Caroline is angry, which is shown through her strong words like, It should be Caroline knows that this cant happen, however, so she learns to make the best of it and move on (because she has to). Hence, many sections of the two texts represent the theme similarly and help support the conclusion that the two themes are alike. The authors of the song and of the novel portray the theme in different ways, but the central theme is still the same in Castle of Glass and Cast Two Shadows.