What We Take for Granted
A detailed Summary of What We Take for Granted
People always say it's the little things that we take for granted. Whether it be
being able to talk with someone, or hold someone, or even just being able to tell what
time of day it is. In Dalton Trumbos' novel, "Johnny Got His Gun", one really begins to
understands what it would be like to have very simple things taken away from them.
Joe Bonhame, finds himself tragically injured from the war. Over time he slowly
begins to realize all of the things that he has lost. The first thing that he loses is his
hearing. "He was awake even though he couldn't hear a thing except a telephone that
wasn't ringing. He was mighty scared"(p9). At first Joe doesn't realize that he has lost
his hearing and he is under the impression that there is actually a phone ringing
somewhere, but, it's really only in his mind. But once he realizes that he actually can't
hear anything at all, he goes into a state of shock almost. "The shock caused his heart
to smash against his ribs. He grew prickly all over. His heart was pounding away in his
chest but he couldn't hear the pulsing in his ear"(p10). He then begins to think about all
the things that he will never again get to experience. At first he thinks about all the bad

is time."All that he knew was that on a day in September in 1918 time stopped"(p126).
can do is cheer him on and stop and think about all the little things that they take for
coming down fast or the slow thunder as it hit or the whine of an airplane
can get a hold o yourself and keep yourself in the world but if you lose it why then you
something much more important. Without it, a person could go crazy, as Joe almost
are lost too"(p126). For Joe, there were no options. he had to regain a sense of time
hear the biting little castanent sound of a machine gun or the high whistle of a .75
Some common words found in the essay are:
Sadly Joe, Joe Bonhame, Joe Joe, Shale City, , Johnny Gun, realize lost, Dalton Trumbos', little granted, begins realize lost, fishing rod, rod lost, slowly begins, joe lost, able tell, begins realize, couldn't hear,
Approximate Word count = 964
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
Category: Novels
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