Assignment:
Terri Hasseler
For this assignment, choose from one of the 5 following narratives:
Richard Brautigan, "The Weather in San Francisco" (119)
David Brooks, "Blue" (121)
Paule Barton, "Emilie Plead Choose one Egg" (230).
Ann Beattie, "Snow" (286)
Paul Milenski, "Lost Keys" (172)"Dziadz" means "old man" in Polish.
Your task, in this assignment, is to apply all of the skills you have learned so far (creative writing, narrative perspective, plot construction, and close reading) to one of these narratives.
Consider these following questions: (Keep in mind that your answer to these questions, requires close reading, providing concrete and specific textual support.)
1.) Narrative Perspective: What is the narrative perspective, and what is achieved in terms of "meaning" by the use of this narrative perspective? What would be revealed if you changed the narrative perspective in some manner? (Provide an example of what that might sound like.)
Example Thoughts: Ron Carlson's "Bigfoot Stole my Wife," is narrated in first person, from the perspective of "Rick," who claims Bigfoot is responsible for his wife's disappearance. What is achieved from this perspective is that we are given special insight into the irrationality, denial, and desperation of his character. Textual evidence supports this: (EVIDENCE/INTEPRETATION OF EVIDENCE). On the other hand, if the story were written from Trudy's perspective, something approaching the truth might be revealed. Trudy might be more inclined to say, "Rick is such a lousy guy, and I have had it up to my neck with his gambling and stupid stories. I am taking the Celica and going back to my mother's. Her couch is a lot better than his bed." Textual evidence, which would support these conclusions are revealed in the following examples: (EVIDENCE/INTERPRETAION OF EVIDENCE).
2.) Plot Construction: What are the main elements of the plot? (the what and the what and the what) Does the story (chronology of events) match the presentation of the plot elements, OR are there differences, OR does plot operate in a manner that is perhaps separate from elements of "time"? Explain the impact of these plot order choices in relation to questions of "time." What would happen if the plots elements were presented in a different order? Explain.
Example Thoughts: In Louisa Valenzuela's "All about Suicide," the reader is immediately misled about the plot because the title prepares the reader for Ismael's suicide. Through the effective use of an ambiguous pronoun, "his," and the presentation of events in a non-chronological order (EVIDENCE), the reader begins the story quite certain of what has happened, but leaves the narrative confused and tricked. (EVIDENCE). Should the narrative have been presented in a chronological order, beginning with the diaper scene, leading to the first grade friendship, moving towards the betrayal in the ministry, and resulting in the murder, the narrative would be less exciting and uncertain. Because plot elements are juxtaposed against each other, for instance the dirty diaper against the next passage about the first grade, the reader is able to see that betrayal is an important theme in the text-as the child has been betrayed by negligent parents and then by a close friend. Such betrayal is of a profound nature because it is of both family and friend. By placing these plot elements against each other, both out of time in relation to the main plot element of the murder, the reader is able to discern the complex theme of betrayal.
I provide these examples to demonstrate how you might begin to apply a close reading (with evidence) to the concepts of perspective and plot construction. Use this as a guide, not a template. (In other words, do not follow my example word-for-word, but use these examples to think about how you would pull the concepts together with each other.) In this way, we begin to learn how to write parts of a longer paper, which uses theory, evidence, and interpretation.