ted dekker speech

8/3/2019 Ted Dekker Speech

1/6

Stone1

Ted Dekker

by

Jake Stone

Lit2000 T/R 12:30-1:45


2/6

Stone2

Jake Stone

12-8-11 Ted Dekker

Lit2000 TR

You Wake up to the sounds of fearful murmurs coming from the adults outside your tent.

You overhear them say, They took another one. Your stomach drops and your mind races to

those whom you cherish most and you think, Did the cannibals take them too? This was the

reality that Ted Dekker, a bestselling author, knew all too well as a child. Ted Dekker is an

accomplished author with an interesting past, various accomplishments, and has earned my

personal title of favorite author.

Ted Dekker was born October 24, 1962. As a child Dekker was raised in the jungles of

Indonesia. During an interview on CBN, Dekker said that as a child he would, throw a pair of

shorts on no shoes no shirt, and take off into the jungle. Both of his parents, John and Helen

Dekker, were missionaries to the headhunting tribes of Indonesia. As a result, some lost their

lives including several of his parents colleagues and family friends. Ted Dekker often describes

his childhood as lonely. This is largely due to the fact that during the year his parents would

send him and his siblings to boarding school. They would return to their parents during the

summer, but due to the nature of their work their parents would be gone most of the time

(www.helium.com). Now that I have spoken about his childhood, I will tell you more about his

early years as an adult.

After graduating high school, Dekker decided to go to the United States where he

attended college to study Philosophy and Religion. After college, he went into marketing where


3/6

Stone3

he had a successful career. He eventually became a successful entrepreneur who sold businesses.

Then, in the early nineties Dekker visited a friend who had just completed a book. After reading

it, Dekker realized how much he wanted to become a novelist. It was then that he decided to sell

his business and begin pursuing his dream of becoming a novelist.

Dekker has many accomplishments both as a Christian fiction and action thriller author.

However, his first four novels were all rejected. All the publishing companies thought his books

were too dark and edgy, and that people wouldnt be interested. Dekker didnt give up; rather he

decided he would tailor his books for Christian fiction readers and decrease the intensity of the

content in his books. After the changes were made he was able to get his books published.

Several bestsellers later, he decided to write both Christian fiction and thriller novels.

Dekker has written over 30 books. His most popular series, the circle trilogy, was completely

inspired by a dream he had. He has sold over five million copies worldwide. Two of his books,

house and three, have been turned into movie productions. One of which was directed by the

person who directed the X-Men movie. Many of his books have reached bestseller status and

one book, Thr3e, won the 2004 ECPA's Gold Medallion Book Award (www.teddekker.com)

Overall, there are many reasons why Ted Dekker is my favorite author. The way he

describes the events in his books always keeps me hooked. He depicts the scenes as they unfold

in his books from a different perspective that always has me thinking. He always impresses me

with his use of symbolism and imagery, and consistently ties his books together with an ultimate

theme of good verses evil.

Dekker does an excellent job portraying the conflict of good verses evil, and I often find

myself questioning my own sense of good and evil when reading his work. My favorite book

series he has written would have to be the paradise novels. This series is gives a great example


4/6

Stone4

how well Ted Dekker writes when concerning good versus evil. The first book in this series,

Showdown, is also my favorite book by Ted Dekker. When the book initially starts you are

follow the story of two different people. This is a common occurrence in Dekkers books. He

likes to have two or more stories playing out at the same time and, in the end, pulls all the stories

together in some insane conclusion. This, however, can become aggravating because the second

something climactic is about to unfold, he switches to the other side of the story. So, there are

two people and for the first half of the book you are following them and their mental

justifications for right and wrong. Then, out of nowhere, a new element is added to the story, and

one of the characters you were captivated with a few pages before now becomes the source of

conflict and disgust. In a split second, he turns what you thought was good into evil incarnate.

His use of imagery is unique, and his use of imagery and symbolism has a great impact on why

he is my favorite author.

The girls eyes were wide open but had rolled back into her head so that her irises were

hidden. Her white eyeballs started ahead, sightless. Mucus ran from both nostrils and mixed

with foaming spittle that seeped from her mouth. Stringy blonde hair hung below her ears,

trembling. The girls head moved. Turned slowly toward them. Her mouth parted and she

began to suck air in short, tight gasps. Her nostrils flared with each inhalation (Dekker).

This excerpt from Dekkers book Adam and it is a great example of imagery. While

reading this passage you can visualize this girl who is dying from the disease in great detail. His

use of symbolism is evident throughout all of his books as well. Sometimes his books symbolize

good versus evil. Other times they have a more religious symbolism. Since he is considered a

Christian author many of his books have this type of hidden symbolism.


5/6

Stone5

Will you follow me, Darsal? Will you Silvie? Will you both follow me to hell and back because

two fuzzy white bats told me you should ("www.cloverquotes.com")?

This is an example of symbolism in Dekkers work. This basically symbolizes faith and how

sometimes the things God wants us to seem so outrageous we're unsure whether we should

follow Him or not.

Ted Dekker is an accomplished author with an interesting past, and accomplishments. You

have been informed on who Ted Dekker is, and why he is my favorite author. I have also

provided examples of his work to show how well he uses imagery and symbolism. So, if you

ever decide to read one his books you will have a better understanding of who he is where he has

come from.


6/6

Stone6

Sources

I. "About Ted." www.teddekker.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2011.

II. Dekker, Ted. Adam. 2008. Print.

III. Ramos, John. "Biography: Ted Dekker ." www.helium.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct2011. .

IV. "Top 10 Dekker Quotes ." www.cloverquotes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2011..

ted dekker speech

Documents