Parallels of Religion, Myth, and Literature in American Gods and Anansi Boys Anonymous 12th Grade

Reader response criticism is a school of formal literary theory that focuses on the reader and their experience of literature. A prime thematic or style that can be found in many of Neil Gaiman’s novels is his manner of taking the unknown and mysterious and presenting it to the reader in an ironic but authentic way. This style is prevalent throughout both American Gods and Anansi Boys and because of the nature of these books, it enhances interactions the main protagonist has with other characters, both gods and humans. In both novels, Gaiman uses his approach of diction, his sometimes abnormal ideas and views, and his use of metaphors to produce a humorous yet authentic reader experience of the unknown and obscure, all the while maintaining a factual and intrinsic plot structure.

The most effective way of manipulating a reader’s thoughts and ideas reading about a piece of literature is by using thoughtful and elaborate wording and phrasing. Neil Gaiman uses this technique effectively to create an atmosphere that attracts the reader and entices their curiosity. Gaiman’s novels are mostly aimed to adults, ergo a lot of the language and themes suggested are for mature audiences and these novels are no different. In American Gods,...