Author's Choices (Literature)
The Goal: Analyze and evaluate how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a work of literature, order events within it (e.g., parallel episodes), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
Often parallel episodes are used to demonstrate a change to a character. For example, in Daniel Keyes's classic novel "Flowers for Algernon," Charlie experiences multiple events first as a mentally handicapped man, then as a genius. Keyes uses these parallel events to demonstrate Charlie's differing attitudes and points of view, exposing much of the cruelty that had previously been directed at him.
In "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien frequently used this technique. One notable example is the chapter "The Scouring of the Shire," in which he highlighted the changes to the Shire from a paradise to a land of corruption and pollution due to the evil wizard Saruman.
Parallel episodes often reflect the heart of a story's theme. They also frequently involve similar events happening simultaneously to two different characters as a method of underscoring the differences between them.
When a story happens over several years or happens because of a past event, flashback can be used to help us connect the dots. Flashback is a scene in a movie or novel that is set in a time earlier than the main story.
Flashback isn't just a character telling us about a past event. Real flashbacks transport us back to the event, so we see it as it happens and hear the real conversation, not just a character’s memory of what was said, just as we do when describing present-day action.
Flashback does several things:
Sometimes it's hard to keep time straight when flashbacks are involved. Movies often have an easier time than books in this way.
In "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien frequently used this technique. One notable example is the chapter "The Scouring of the Shire," in which he highlighted the changes to the Shire from a paradise to a land of corruption and pollution due to the evil wizard Saruman.
Parallel episodes often reflect the heart of a story's theme. They also frequently involve similar events happening simultaneously to two different characters as a method of underscoring the differences between them.
When a story happens over several years or happens because of a past event, flashback can be used to help us connect the dots. Flashback is a scene in a movie or novel that is set in a time earlier than the main story.
Flashback isn't just a character telling us about a past event. Real flashbacks transport us back to the event, so we see it as it happens and hear the real conversation, not just a character’s memory of what was said, just as we do when describing present-day action.
Flashback does several things:
- Shows us characters' past, and reveals information about the characters ("How I Met Your Mother" tells the entire story about how Ted meets his wife; The Bourne Ultimatum shows us Bourne's induction into the Treadstone program once he regains his memory)
- Shows us why the current story is happening (motivation from the past [Iron Man 3's villain is shown trying to get Tony to go into business with him back in 1999])
Sometimes it's hard to keep time straight when flashbacks are involved. Movies often have an easier time than books in this way.
Activity: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
Link to the text:
http://mrgunnar.net/files/Occurrence%20Owl%20Creek%20Text.pdf Questions:
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