Table of Contents
When asked to write In Cold Blood summary, many students don’t know where to start. In Cold Blood book is based on a true story of the Clutter family’s murder. The family lived in Holcomb, Kansas and the murder happened in 1959. The In Cold Blood characters are Bonnie and Herbert, as well as, their teenage kids, Kenyon and Nancy.
This family lived a principled life and had prospered in a Holcomb farm in Western Kansas. The family was prominent and respected in the community. The In Cold Blood full book is a narration that follows this family and the events that took place on November 14th, 1959.
In Cold Blood Summary Content
Just like the title suggests, In Cold Blood book summary must give an account of the events narrated in the story. That means the summary writer must demonstrate that they have read and understood the book. When reading the summary, people must see that the writer understands the In Cold Blood meaning. This can be seen from the way they discuss the events and expound on them.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote raises many questions that should be discussed in the summary. For instance, why did Capote wrote this book? Which In Cold Blood quotes (max 150 words) stand out? How do the killers compare to their victims in terms of power and strength?
What’s more, the summary should discuss the major In Cold Blood themes, setting, symbols, characters, genres, and purpose. When writing this summary, a student should demonstrate how Capote uses different literary devices to paint a picture of In Cold Blood murders figuratively and vividly.
In Cold Blood Chapter Summaries Options
Students can also opt to summarize each chapter of the book individually. This implies that a learner can review each chapter in their Truman Capote In Cold Blood summary. It’s crucial to ensure that every chapter is summarized properly to ensure that readers get all the information about every chapter.
For instance, if every chapter presents a different In Cold Blood setting, the summary should portray this. This is very important because every setting paints a different picture in the minds of the readers. What’s more, the author has used different rhetorical devices and symbols in the chapters. Therefore, students should ensure that readers learn about the In Cold Blood rhetorical devices used in every chapter.
It’s also important to include In Cold Blood character analysis. The author uses different characters to convey varying themes and messages. As such, the summary should convey this information to the readers. And it should do so vividly to ensure that readers understand the messages and themes in In Cold Blood as if they read the book.
What is Truman Capote Purpose in In Cold Blood?
Capote and his fellow author and childhood friend, Harper Lee, interviewed investigators and locals in Holcomb after a quadruple homicide. They took notes and compiled their studies methodically. After Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, the killers, were arrested after six weeks, Capote went ahead to interview them repeatedly. This led to the creation of a complex relationship in the next years.
The result of this relationship was the book titled In Cold Blood. In Cold Blood first edition was published in 1966. This was after 6 years of hard work. This edition detailed the events that led to and included the murders of the Clutter family.
In the book, Capote explores the impact of the lives of the affected people and those involved in the events. Considerable focus is placed on Smith and Hickock’s psychological relationship when planning and committing the murders and when being punished for their crimes. Smith and Hickock were executed on April 14, 1965, by hanging after spending 5 years on death row while Capote interviewed them repeatedly.
Essentially, In Cold Blood genre is non-fiction. It’s a true crime genre that gives the accounts of murders. Different In Cold Blood symbols, themes, and characters bring out the message that the author wanted to convey vividly.
What is the Purpose of In Cold Blood?
After discussing the themes, characters, and setting, the In Cold Blood Truman Capote summary should explain why the author wrote the book. This implies that the summary should compare the events of the book with those of real life.
If the summary writer has watched the In Cold Blood movie, they should mention it and tell readers how it brings out the themes of the book. It’s also when talking about the purpose of this book that the summary should highlight In Cold Blood important quotes.
It’s also important to discuss rhetorical analysis In Cold Blood in this section. This means that the summary should discuss how the author uses different literary devices to communicate with and influence the audience. A rhetorical analysis should break down different parts of the book and explain how In Cold Blood literary devices affect the readers.
What’s more, this is also the section where the summary should discuss different In Cold Blood annotations. This is very important because it prompts the readers to reflect and compare the events discussed in the book with what happens in real life. Essentially, it enables readers to put the events of the book into their current context.
In Cold Blood Discussion Questions
When writing the summary of this book, a student can have questions to guide their work. These should be the questions that strike the minds of readers when or after reading the book. They may include:
- Have all involved characters been given a fair time in the novel?
- Who deserves pity in this novel?
- What do you think about Perry and Dick’s reaction to their crime of murdering an entire family?
- Did the murderers deserve their punishment?
- Did the Clutters get justice?
- Do you think that the author of In Cold Blood believed in capital punishment?
- Why was the book In Cold Blood banned?
- Why did this nonfiction book ended with a fictional event?
- Is Capote being stupid, brave, or misled?
- How does Capote use figurative language to convey messages?
- Why did Truman Capote start by introducing the town, then Clutters family, and eventually the murderers?
- What is the first impression that the reader gets from Dick and Perry?
- Why do you feel like you knew the Clutters?
- How has Capote built suspense in his book, In Cold Blood?
- Which quote from In Cold Blood triggers your emotions the most?
The main objectives of writing a summary of this book are to compare and contrast various writing styles depicted in the work. Students should also demonstrate their knowledge of syntax, diction, details, tone, and figurative language as used in this book. They should also show how the author has altered language for a specific audience and purpose.
Writing a summary of In Cold Blood shouldn’t be a difficult task. Students should explore the plot, chapters, characters, settings, symbols, themes, and literary devices that the author uses to tell the story. They should also focus on the purpose of the book or what the author wanted to accomplish. After reading the In Cold Blood essay or summary, readers should know whether the author achieved their objects and how they did or how they failed to do so. If you need more assistance, feel free to contact our literature homework helpers.
