The Autobiography of Santa Claus

11/10/10

Pages: 1-14, Total read 57

By: Srishti Ghosh

The Autobiography of Santa Claus

By: Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn

Each year, usually following the first snow of the year, I enjoy re-reading one of my favorite books: The Autobiography of Santa Claus.  Yes, the book claims to be written by Santa Claus himself but I highly doubt that. The book begins in a country called Lycia which now has become a part of Turkey. At this time people did not live long and at nine he lost both parents.  He began to notice all the poor people who were not as well off as him for he came from a rich family. His gift giving began with a man named Shem and his three daughters who could not marry their beloved for they could not afford dowries. At this point in the book Santa faces himself with both an internal and external conflict. At his first attempt to deliver coins the the girls he falls off his ladder and scares not only himself but also the neighborhood. He fears that he will fail again and not be able to escape like the first time. He battles with himself and final decides he will go. This represents internal conflict. Next, he must figure out how to leave the coins without being notice. This proves an external challenge because the windows are really high. I think it would be considered external conflict because he does not face any challenges with himself such as deciding what do but how to do it. This affects the plot because he quickly learns the gift-giving will not be easy.