Free Essays on Z For Zachariah

were, â€Å"I am hopeful.† This shows us that Ann has a positive attitude in life and still looks forward to the future, even although the odds are against her. Her farm upbringing has equipped her with a great deal of common sense, practicality and resourcefulness. Ann can shoot, cook and drive a tractor, as well as fish and do agricultural work. Thus helping her to make life on her own a lot less of a struggle and showing us that she has good survival skills. This shows us that she is independent and well organised. A stranger arrives one day in a plastic suit and Ann watches him explore the valley from the cave that she is observing him from. Ann has mixed feelings: â€Å"I am both exited and afraid.† She longs for companionship but she’s also ... Free Essays on Z For Zachariah Free Essays on Z For Zachariah â€Å"Z for Zachariah† The sci-fi novel entitled â€Å"Z for Zachariah† which was written by Robert O Brien is what I have been studying in class. It was first published in 1973 and was written during the â€Å"Cold War.† The plot of the novel is basically about isolation and the struggle to survive the after effects of a nuclear war. The main character in the novel is Ann Burden, from Burden Valley, in the United States of America. A nuclear war has left Ann all alone, as her parents, brother and cousin have been killed by the disaster: â€Å"When I look beyond I see that all the trees are dead, and there is never a sign of anything moving. I don’t go out there.† The valley however has been untouched by the devastation. Ann is entrapped, as everything beyond the circumference of Burden is unproductive of life. She leads a simple life-style. Cleverly using nature to survive. She shuts herself off from the past, and looks forward to the future: â€Å"I am hoping to be an English teacher.† I believe that Ann is a very optimistic person who never gives up on hope, as she is continually persistent on â€Å"her† idea of hope. In the very last paragraph of the novel, her final words were, â€Å"I am hopeful.† This shows us that Ann has a positive attitude in life and still looks f orward to the future, even although the odds are against her. Her farm upbringing has equipped her with a great deal of common sense, practicality and resourcefulness. Ann can shoot, cook and drive a tractor, as well as fish and do agricultural work. Thus helping her to make life on her own a lot less of a struggle and showing us that she has good survival skills. This shows us that she is independent and well organised. A stranger arrives one day in a plastic suit and Ann watches him explore the valley from the cave that she is observing him from. Ann has mixed feelings: â€Å"I am both exited and afraid.† She longs for companionship but she’s also ...