I Am The CheeseI Am The CheeseBy: Robert CormierBy: Robert Cormier19771977

Nick BennettNick Bennett

Plot SynopsisPlot Synopsis

– Adam Farmer is a young teenage boy trying Adam Farmer is a young teenage boy trying to ride his bicycle to Rutterburg, Vermont. to ride his bicycle to Rutterburg, Vermont. There he plans to find his father and give him There he plans to find his father and give him the package he is carrying. Adam doesn’t the package he is carrying. Adam doesn’t remember a lot from his past and vaguely remember a lot from his past and vaguely has flashbacks from time to time. Adam runs has flashbacks from time to time. Adam runs into strange characters and tries to piece into strange characters and tries to piece together pieces of his untold past all through together pieces of his untold past all through out his journey to Rutterburg. out his journey to Rutterburg.

During a therapy session with the During a therapy session with the doctor, Adam is asked if he is doctor, Adam is asked if he is playing games and Adam responds, playing games and Adam responds, “why should I play games? I’m on “why should I play games? I’m on the edge of panic half the the edge of panic half the time”(p.59).time”(p.59).

In this way we see that Adam is a very jittery In this way we see that Adam is a very jittery type of character. I relate to this as well as a type of character. I relate to this as well as a lot of people because I get jittery right before lot of people because I get jittery right before big events or any type of important big events or any type of important performance.performance.

On his journey, Adam comes across On his journey, Adam comes across some bullies and they try to take is some bullies and they try to take is package away from him and all package away from him and all Adam can think is, “nobody is Adam can think is, “nobody is taking this package from taking this package from me”(p.81).me”(p.81).

There comes a time in everybody’s life where There comes a time in everybody’s life where they have to stand up to somebody whether it they have to stand up to somebody whether it be a friend, a bully, or just somebody you are be a friend, a bully, or just somebody you are trying to help. I have had my fair share of trying to help. I have had my fair share of standing up to people and this is how Adam standing up to people and this is how Adam and I relate.and I relate.

Adam comes out of a drugstore and Adam comes out of a drugstore and notices that his bike has been stolen, notices that his bike has been stolen, so he goes down an alley and runs so he goes down an alley and runs into a man named Arthur who into a man named Arthur who eventually tells him the name of the eventually tells him the name of the thief. “I look at the spot where my thief. “I look at the spot where my bike was. I shouldn’t have left it bike was. I shouldn’t have left it there unguarded”(p.136).there unguarded”(p.136).

An event very similar happened to my dad and I An event very similar happened to my dad and I when I was very young. My dad left his bike, when I was very young. My dad left his bike, which was a motorcycle, unguarded with the which was a motorcycle, unguarded with the keys in it, and it ended up getting stolen. Like keys in it, and it ended up getting stolen. Like Adam, we also shouldn’t have left our bike Adam, we also shouldn’t have left our bike unguarded.unguarded.

A character description of Adam would A character description of Adam would be a timid, shy teenager who is scared be a timid, shy teenager who is scared of a lot of things. “I am afraid of a of a lot of things. “I am afraid of a thousand things, a million”(p.2)thousand things, a million”(p.2)

I also have a few fears myself, but most of mine I also have a few fears myself, but most of mine fall into the category of insects. Spiders and bees fall into the category of insects. Spiders and bees are the main ones I can’t stand. Everything about are the main ones I can’t stand. Everything about them makes me want to just take off and run.them makes me want to just take off and run.

Through Adam’s actions, you see Through Adam’s actions, you see that he is fast paced on his that he is fast paced on his journey. He does whatever he journey. He does whatever he needs to follow the right path to needs to follow the right path to Rutterburg. “I lash my father’s Rutterburg. “I lash my father’s package to the basket and push package to the basket and push my bike towards the booth”(87).my bike towards the booth”(87).

I can relate to this because I stay busy I can relate to this because I stay busy during the week, so in a way, I get fast during the week, so in a way, I get fast paced too sometimes. Usually it’s school paced too sometimes. Usually it’s school first, then working, then skateboarding, then first, then working, then skateboarding, then other days I just hang with my friends.other days I just hang with my friends.

Through Adam’s speech, you see Through Adam’s speech, you see that he is very determined to get that he is very determined to get his package to the right place and his package to the right place and doesn’t let much stop him. “The doesn’t let much stop him. “The package is for my father and package is for my father and nobody, nobody is going to take it nobody, nobody is going to take it away from me or prevent me from away from me or prevent me from bringing it to him”(p.90).bringing it to him”(p.90).

Adam and I are very similar to each other Adam and I are very similar to each other when we’re both determined because if I when we’re both determined because if I have a goal set, I do everything I can to have a goal set, I do everything I can to reach it and usually don’t let anything slow reach it and usually don’t let anything slow me down. This is a good trait to have. me down. This is a good trait to have. Determination can get you a long way.Determination can get you a long way.

THEMETHEME The theme through The theme through I Am The I Am The

CheeseCheese is Sometimes certain is Sometimes certain people go through a lot and people go through a lot and really dig deep to find out really dig deep to find out who they really are and what who they really are and what they’re made of. they’re made of.

I believe the author is telling us this I believe the author is telling us this because Adam doesn’t remember his because Adam doesn’t remember his past and tries to recall memories that past and tries to recall memories that may open up the key to his past.may open up the key to his past.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Cormier, Robert. Cormier, Robert. I Am The I Am The CheeseCheese. New York City, New . New York City, New York. Dell Laurel-Leaf:1977York. Dell Laurel-Leaf:1977