LES MISERABLESLES MISERABLES

By: Ryan L, Rachel D, By: Ryan L, Rachel D, Shannon H, Sarah R and Jim V.Shannon H, Sarah R and Jim V.

Summary

• Les Misérables is the story of many people, but the line that binds them together is the story of the ex-convict Jean Valjean, who becomes a force for good in the world, however he cannot escape his past. Valjean was arrested and sent to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread and frequently trying to escape. After his release he searches for a place that will take him in and feed him. His luck turns when he meets M. Myriel a kind bishop who forces Valjeans hand and makes him promise to change his ways. He begins his own business and takes in an employee named Fantine. Fantine has a daughter who she left with another family so that she could find work. When Fantine dies after being ill and from the shock of learning Valjeans identity, Valjean makes it his duty to watch after her daughter cosette. The trials that Valjean faces and his caring for cossets lead him on a journey of the soul and changing his life.

Artifact 1Artifact 1

Jardin du Luxembourg Jardin du Luxembourg This famous garden has been around for centuries; This famous garden has been around for centuries; with over one hundred statues, monuments, and with over one hundred statues, monuments, and fountains it’s surely a place you shouldn’t miss out fountains it’s surely a place you shouldn’t miss out on visiting! In 1612 the widow of King Henry VI, on visiting! In 1612 the widow of King Henry VI, Marie de Medicis, had begun feeling homesick of her Marie de Medicis, had begun feeling homesick of her home in Florence, and had a garden constructed that home in Florence, and had a garden constructed that reminded her of one she played in as a child. Thus reminded her of one she played in as a child. Thus began a historical landmark, and not to mention its began a historical landmark, and not to mention its extravagant beauty. This garden is not only known extravagant beauty. This garden is not only known for its marvelous display of shrubbery, but also as a for its marvelous display of shrubbery, but also as a landmark site in the popular novel, Les Misérables; landmark site in the popular novel, Les Misérables; where young Cosette and Marius Pontmercy meet for where young Cosette and Marius Pontmercy meet for the first time, and thus begins their love story. the first time, and thus begins their love story.

Artifact 2Artifact 2 List of accomplishments I've done:List of accomplishments I've done:

(To becoming a better person) (To becoming a better person)

- Saved Fauchelevent from horse carriage - Saved Fauchelevent from horse carriage -Let Javert go instead of killing him -Let Javert go instead of killing him -Saved Cosette’s love, Marius -Saved Cosette’s love, Marius -Turn himself in as the real Jean Valjean -Turn himself in as the real Jean Valjean -Did not fire Javert, when he insisted on he did -Did not fire Javert, when he insisted on he did -Took Cosette away from the Thenadiers as promised and -Took Cosette away from the Thenadiers as promised and raised her raised her - Did not arrest Fantine for soliciting - Did not arrest Fantine for soliciting

Jean Valjean would of wrote this to see all that he has done, Jean Valjean would of wrote this to see all that he has done, therefore to prove to himself he has became a better therefore to prove to himself he has became a better person .. person .. He did many of these acccomplishements with passion, He did many of these acccomplishements with passion, faith, and hope.faith, and hope.

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This letter would have been written to This letter would have been written to M.Myriel from Jean Valjean to thank him for M.Myriel from Jean Valjean to thank him for all he has done to help him ( Valjean) all he has done to help him ( Valjean) become who is he now and brighthened his become who is he now and brighthened his future with a daughter. Myriel gave Valjean future with a daughter. Myriel gave Valjean someone to love and a purpose to live. someone to love and a purpose to live. Also Myriel gave Valjean a second chance, Also Myriel gave Valjean a second chance, when no one else would.. The silver when no one else would.. The silver candlesticks that Myriel gave him were the candlesticks that Myriel gave him were the reasonreasonwhy Valjean changed into an honest being. why Valjean changed into an honest being.

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Obituary of Jean Valjean when he Obituary of Jean Valjean when he passed away shortly after Cossette passed away shortly after Cossette married Marius.married Marius.

Artifact 5Artifact 5This wedding This wedding invitation invitation would have would have been used to been used to announce the announce the marriage of marriage of Cossete and Cossete and Marius. This Marius. This was only due was only due to Valjeans to Valjeans courage to courage to save Mariussave Marius

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http://vimeo.com/18517095http://vimeo.com/18517095A news report of valjeans crime to let A news report of valjeans crime to let

citizens know he needs to be citizens know he needs to be captured. His arrest is what began captured. His arrest is what began his hardships and lead to his down his hardships and lead to his down fall then miraculous risefall then miraculous rise

Artifact 7Artifact 7A fictional A fictional

police report police report for Jean for Jean Valjean. This Valjean. This would have would have sealed his fate sealed his fate and marked and marked him a criminal him a criminal for life. for life.

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A map to show Valjeans journies to A map to show Valjeans journies to different areas. This path is what different areas. This path is what made him the man he became made him the man he became before he passed. The man that M. before he passed. The man that M. Myriel wanted him to be. The honest Myriel wanted him to be. The honest man that he once was.man that he once was.

Artifact 9Artifact 9This song This song

was written was written during the during the same period same period as Les as Les MiserablesMiserables

Artifact Artifact 1010 An An

envelope envelope used by used by Cossete in Cossete in the 19the 19thth century. century. The same The same time time period this period this book was book was written. written. May have May have been used been used for letters for letters to ValJean to ValJean while he while he was away.was away.

Artifact 11Artifact 11 The Musical Les The Musical Les

Miserables is Miserables is celebrating its 25celebrating its 25thth anniversary. It anniversary. It shows that a tale of shows that a tale of love and devotion love and devotion changing of the soul changing of the soul and a journey that and a journey that most can never say most can never say they have had they have had speaks through speaks through generationsgenerations

Artifact 12Artifact 12 Why oh whyWhy oh why

Must the blue bird cry?Must the blue bird cry?And sun drenched Lillies wither unwillinglyAnd sun drenched Lillies wither unwillinglyFor the sun shines too bright and the rain never comesFor the sun shines too bright and the rain never comesWhen life makes it by on nothing but crumbsWhen life makes it by on nothing but crumbsWe look to each other and plead for a handWe look to each other and plead for a handBut in moments alone we strengthen our legsBut in moments alone we strengthen our legsAnd take a firm standAnd take a firm standWe know what is right and what is wrongWe know what is right and what is wrongThe shadows that wander the world tell us soThe shadows that wander the world tell us soUntil we find a safe place that we may goUntil we find a safe place that we may go

I feel this poem would have been written by Valjean to show his I feel this poem would have been written by Valjean to show his inner sorrow. What he truly thinks of his life and how things turned inner sorrow. What he truly thinks of his life and how things turned out.out.

Artifact 13Artifact 13 The silver Candlesticks The silver Candlesticks

that M. Myriel gives to that M. Myriel gives to Valjean is a symbol of Valjean is a symbol of Valjeans promise to make Valjeans promise to make himself an honest man. himself an honest man. These candlesticks appear These candlesticks appear at the end of the book and at the end of the book and shine on Valjeans face shine on Valjeans face showing he had showing he had accomplished his goal. He accomplished his goal. He was truly an honest man was truly an honest man and had made himself the and had made himself the person M. Myriel knew he person M. Myriel knew he could be.could be.

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Artifact 15Artifact 15 Have no fear of robbers or murderers. They are external dangers, Have no fear of robbers or murderers. They are external dangers,

petty dangers. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real petty dangers. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices the real murderers. (p. 27) robbers; vices the real murderers. (p. 27)

The most ferocious animals are disarmed by caresses to their young. The most ferocious animals are disarmed by caresses to their young. (p. 150) (p. 150)

She had always been naked under the biting north wind of She had always been naked under the biting north wind of misfortune, and now it seemed to her she was clothed. Before her misfortune, and now it seemed to her she was clothed. Before her soul had been cold; now it was warm. (p. 420) soul had been cold; now it was warm. (p. 420)

All extreme situations have their flashes that sometimes blind us, All extreme situations have their flashes that sometimes blind us, sometimes illuminate us. (p. 458) sometimes illuminate us. (p. 458)

Laughter is sunshine; it chases winter from the human face. (p. 569) Laughter is sunshine; it chases winter from the human face. (p. 569)

Quotes from the book. These quotes in particular speak of the soul Quotes from the book. These quotes in particular speak of the soul and lessons that are to be learned. These are lessons that Valjean and lessons that are to be learned. These are lessons that Valjean needs to learn to improve his life.needs to learn to improve his life.

Artifact 16Artifact 16 THE GRAVE AND THE ROSETHE GRAVE AND THE ROSE

by: Victor Hugo (1802-1885)by: Victor Hugo (1802-1885)HE Grave said to the Rose, HE Grave said to the Rose, "What of the dews of dawn, "What of the dews of dawn, Love's flower, what end is theirs?" Love's flower, what end is theirs?" "And what of spirits flown, "And what of spirits flown, The souls whereon doth close The souls whereon doth close The tomb's mouth unawares?" The tomb's mouth unawares?" The Rose said to the Grave. The Rose said to the Grave.

The Rose said, "In the shade The Rose said, "In the shade From the dawn's tears is made From the dawn's tears is made A perfume faint and strange, A perfume faint and strange, Amber and honey sweet." Amber and honey sweet." "And all the spirits fleet "And all the spirits fleet Do suffer a sky-change, Do suffer a sky-change, More strangely than the dew, More strangely than the dew, To God's own angels new," To God's own angels new," The Grave said to the Rose.The Grave said to the Rose.

We often think of the grave as darkness and the rose as love. This poem couls We often think of the grave as darkness and the rose as love. This poem couls symbolize Valjeans Darkness speaking to his light. It could resemble the transition symbolize Valjeans Darkness speaking to his light. It could resemble the transition that Valjeans soul under goes during his time with cossete.that Valjeans soul under goes during his time with cossete.

Artifact 17Artifact 17 I am just a poor boy I am just a poor boy

Though my story's seldom told Though my story's seldom told I have squandered my resistance I have squandered my resistance For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises All lies and jests All lies and jests Still a man hears what he wants to hear Still a man hears what he wants to hear And disregards the rest And disregards the rest When I left my home and my family When I left my home and my family I was no more than a boy I was no more than a boy In the company of strangers In the company of strangers In the quiet of the railway station running scared In the quiet of the railway station running scared Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters Where the ragged people go Where the ragged people go Looking for the places only they would know Looking for the places only they would know Lie la lie ... Lie la lie ... Asking only workman's wages Asking only workman's wages I come looking for a job I come looking for a job But I get no offers, But I get no offers, Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome

I took some comfort there I took some comfort there Lie la lie ... Lie la lie ... Then I'm laying out my winter clothes Then I'm laying out my winter clothes And wishing I was gone And wishing I was gone Going home Going home Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me Bleeding me, going home Bleeding me, going home In the clearing stands a boxer In the clearing stands a boxer And a fighter by his trade And a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders And he carries the reminders Of ev'ry glove that layed him down Of ev'ry glove that layed him down Or cut him till he cried out Or cut him till he cried out In his anger and his shame In his anger and his shame "I am leaving, I am leaving" "I am leaving, I am leaving" But the fighter still remains But the fighter still remains Lie la lie ...Lie la lie ...

This song shows a man This song shows a man going on his own life going on his own life journey. Growing up to journey. Growing up to realize his home and realize his home and how to live on his own. how to live on his own. This realtes to Valjeans This realtes to Valjeans experience in his time experience in his time living with Myriel and living with Myriel and then taking care of then taking care of Cossete. He learns to Cossete. He learns to be a righteous man and be a righteous man and make amends for the make amends for the crimes he has crimes he has commited.commited.

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The movie of Les The movie of Les Miserables offers a Miserables offers a powerful experience powerful experience into the life of all the into the life of all the characters. The characters. The deovtion shown deovtion shown through Neesons through Neesons performance as Valjean performance as Valjean shows a new aspect of shows a new aspect of the character and his the character and his flaws that most would flaws that most would not expect.not expect.