The novel follows Elizabeth Egan, a serious woman living in a small Irish town who takes care of her sister and nephew after being abandoned by her mother. Her nephew Luke claims to have an imaginary friend named Ivan that only he can see. Though at first exasperated, Elizabeth plays along with Luke and finds that Ivan's presence helps bring her joy. A friendship and then romance blossoms between Elizabeth and Ivan, though he is invisible to everyone except Luke. However, Ivan's boss warns him that the time will come when Elizabeth can no longer see him, as he is an imaginary friend who can only be seen by those truly lonely. Reluctantly, Ivan realizes this time has come and says goodbye to Elizabeth, leaving her

1. The Element of Novel ‘If You Could See Me Now’ by Cecelia Ahern
CHARACTER :
Main Character : Elizabeth Egan, Ivan, Luke, Saoirse, Opal, Benjamin, Brendan, Grainne
Minor Character : Vincent Taylor, Joe, Becca, Poppy, Sam, Fionna,Mark
CHARACTERISTIC:
- Elizabeth : Loner, do not have sense of humor, cynical, caring person, workaholic,
unfriendly, hard worker, responsible, realistic person,
- Ivan : Friendly, lovable, carefree, joyful person, funny, sweet, tender, innocent person.
- Luke : Imaginative, full of energy, free and wild personality, cheerful
- Saoirse: Selfish, Childish, irresponsible, bad girl, alcoholic,
- Opal: Grace person, wise, caring person, friendly, lovable
- Benjamin: Extrovert, carefree, friendly
- Brendan: Stubborn, loyal, boring person
- Grainne: Irresponsible, alcoholic
CHARACTERIZATION: Indirect
SETTING: Ireland, Country Kerry, Baile na gCroithe, Fuchsia Lane
CONFLICT:
- Social conflict: Elizabeth x Saoirse, Elizabeth x Brendan, Elizabeth x Neighbor, Brendan
x Grainne, Saoirse x Luke, Elizabeth x Mark
- Psychological conflict: Elizabeth with her feeling about the existence of Ivan, Ivan’s
feeling toward Elizabeth and his decision whether he is stay with Elizabeth or not,
Elizabeth with her loneliness, Brandon’s faith that his wife will come back someday.
PLOT:
- Straight vs Flashback
- Open

2. POINT OF VIEW: Omniscient
TITLE: Symbol
SUBJECT MATTER:
- Nobody can live alone, we will always need somebody else.
- Believe that anything is possible
- Every problem has a solution
-
THEME: Romance and Family Life
TYPES OF NOVEL: Domestic
INTERESTING OF NOVEL:
Because this novel has incredible story about something that unbelievable thing and then this
novel thought the important of having family and friends.
SUMMARY:
Trapped in the stifling, small Irish town Baile na gCroíth, Elizabeth Egan had always been
known as a serious woman, never laughing at jokes or taking joys from the simplest pleasure of
life. This is due to having been abandoned by her free-spirited mother when she was young and
was forced to grow up quickly to take care of her sister, Saoirse.
Taking advantage of Elizabeth's sense of responsibility, Saoirse has led life with abandonment,
and when she gives birth to a son, Luke, she leaves Elizabeth to take care of him.
At the age of six, Luke claims to have a friend named Ivan whom Elizabeth cannot see. Though
at first she is exasperated with this imaginary friend, she starts playing along with Luke when she
learns that imaginary friends will only last about 3 months.
Though invisible to most, Ivan is real. Only Luke and Saoirse can see him, though he comes to
realise that Elizabeth can feel his presence. Knowing that only people who are in real need of a
friend are able to see him, he follows Elizabeth around. When, suddenly, she is able to see him,

3. Ivan is delighted, but disappointed just as quickly when she thinks him to be the father of one of
Luke's friends. A friendship which soon turns into romance blossoms between them.
Elizabeth meets Benjamin at work, and he asks her to dinner, but Ivan prevents her from going
by inviting her out instead. Ivan's boss, Opal, sees his love for Elizabeth and tells him her own
sad tale. She tells him that however much he wishes to be with Elizabeth a time will come when
she will no longer be able to see him and will eventually age while he would remain young.
However, Ivan is too much in love with Elizabeth and refuses to listen. To convince him, Opal
takes him to see her own love, who has become an 80 year old man while Opal has remained
young.
One day, when Elizabeth is hosting a party, she is no longer able to see Ivan for a while and he
realises it is time to move on to a new friend. Ivan visits Elizabeth one last time while she sleeps,
explaining why he has to go. Elisabeth thinks it was a dream. A few days later, Elizabeth realizes
that it wasn't and that Ivan was Luke's 'imaginary' friend.
They go their separate ways, and not only Elizabeth but Ivan as well are changed by the
experience. Elizabeth is more relaxed and Ivan admits that Elizabeth has been by far his favorite
friend...