Questions:
Storytelling and Style
Create a character, real or imagined, with a distinct manner of behaving or style of talking. Put this character in a situation where he or she plays a public role (the public persona shown to others) and contrast it with the character's private persona (the real character when no one is watching). Narrate your episode or vignette in first person point of view (as in the Bambara story) or in third person point of view (as in the Parker story). 200-300 words, 1-2 paragraphs
You are creating a new character, not writing about a character in literature, movies, or TV.
The same character must possess different traits depending on setting. For instance, a CEO who is a tyrant at work, but can be bullied by his children (do not use this example - come up with your own). Account for the differences in behavior by providing solid motivations for the character.
Donald sat in his vice-presidential office conducting a meeting of his marketing executives. His upright posture added an inch to his height. His impassive face concealed his thoughts. From time to time he spun a glass paperweight on his desk as a mark of his authority. When the executive finished speaking, Donald leaned back and held the silence for a moment, merely to create an atmosphere of tension. He picked up his spectacles and jabbed the air with them from time to time while speaking. He concluded in slow staccato fashion, "What Operations should do and what Operations will do are two different things. If they are giving you reduced quantities then create a shortage scare and jack up prices." He put on his glasses to indicate that the meeting was over.
It was three thirty in the afternoon. Donald glanced at his memo pad to see what other tasks had to be performed. His shoulders fell and sweat began to form on his brows. At 4.00 PM he was supposed to collect a gown from his wife's designer. He dialed the designer's number. While waiting for a reply he began to wipe the lenses of his spectacles. The designer informed him that his wife had collected the gown herself. He slouched further in his chair. He could hear the phone ringing at his secretary's desk. His face turned a shade lighter. He grasped the paperweight as if taking support from it. The line was transferred to him. As expected it was his wife. "Dear I was busy with the boss. Just called the designer and was told that you had the gown collected", he mumbled without a pause and disconnected. In reality, Donald is a timid person, given unconditional authority he put up a front of bravado