Robert Cormier--The One Who Dares To Disturb The Universe

Robert Cormier is internationally acclaimed to be the best-selling author of 18 books and the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Basing his works on the new realistic fictions that oppose the old romantic tradition, he strives to make further explorations of the true reality of life. His young protagonists do not struggle with the typical dating dilemmas, parental pressures or the growing pains that often plague adolescents in young adult fiction, but single handedly confront evil, corruption, the abuse of power, and the effects of conformity-loosing of innocence.On the other hand, Cormier makes innovations in the methods of literary creation. Having been a journalist, the experience exercised and helped to cultivate the writer a plain style: the seemingly simple diction contribute to rich theme; the piling up of short sentences build a great tension; intricate structure combined with diversified technique draw readers more deliberate attention in appreciation; characterization is no longer thin; dialogues are much closer to daily life; dirty words may also be witnessed. The author's candid description of evil especially that existing in young adults aroused great controversy that no other writer could match; his masterly manipulation of plots and characters won him critical admiration within and beyond the country.The most convincing evidence for what Cormier has done for the genre falls on his first two justly admired young adult novels-The Chocolate War and / Am the Cheese. The former disturbed the American young adult literature by presenting a tragic ending of its hero who fails in his daring challenge against authority; the latter is better known as the mostcomplex work among all others whose plot is developed in three skillfully interwoven levels. Taking these two books as examples, my paper makes an effort in identifying how the talented writer "upsets" the old universe of American young adult literature via the analysis of their themes and techniques.The contents of the paper is laid out as follows:Part one "Teenagers' Laureate" is an introduction of how the author turns to the literary creation for young adult as well as an exposition of the texture of the old literary world which he disturbs.Part two "Hope or Despair-the Controversial Themes" centers around the exploration of the theme of the two novels with more focus laid on the former. By providing tragic endings, Cormier aims to bring his young readers out of the previous unrealistic, optimistic world and learn how to survive in a ruthless, indifferent society.Part Three "Simplicity Embroiled with Complexity- the Ingenious Style" exhibits the verified technique the author employs for the revelation of his themes. This is again where he veers from the old writing tradition and surpasses his contemporaries.Part Four " Conclusion: To Live With an Act of Faith" comes to a summary of the achievement and contribution of the responsible writer who perceives that it takes an act of faith to live today. Cormier's writing represents his own act of faith, which may be of provoking significance for other writers long after his death.