Thursday, February 4, 2010

Week 2 Assignments

Writing Assignment:

Write ten one-line stories or poems using a strong image as a metaphor that encapsulates a moment or situation, just as we did in class. Try to tell the whole story with a single metaphor. Bring a printed copy to class.

Reading for Next Week

LITTLE BOOK OF DAYS, BY NONA CASPERS

IN THE COURSE READER: Gesture, by Francine Prose pg. 138

Blog

1. Post an entry about any one of the readings this week. This may be a critical or creative piece of about 100-300 words. It MUST dialogue with your chosen reading in some way, either by identifying and discussing craft elements, themes, or techniques or by using those elements in a creative response. NOTE: If you chose to write your entry about the Little Book of Days, you may chose one piece from the book, or you may discuss the book as a whole.

2. Post comments on at least three other entries. Remember, this is not a place for critiquing each other’s work. Instead, identify something from the piece that strikes or interests you, ask a neutral question about the work, or suggest ways the author could deepen or expand it.

2 comments:

  1. My response is on Gesture by Francine Prose.In the beginning of her essay she defines gesture as "small physical actions, often unconscious or semi-reflective, including what is called body language and excluding larger, more definite or momentous actions." Along with this she cites examples from novels describing the gesture of characters helping the reader understand the setting, the personality of the characters, and the plot of the story. Prose gives us a passage from Joyce's, "The Dead." We can see simply by the dialogue between the two characters Lily and Gabriel, the class distinction between both peoples- a difference as Prose puts it of gender and power. Another example of gesture Prose discusses that I found interesting is her mention of a story in Isabella Rossellini's memoir, where the actress calls her former husband to tell of her being left by her lover. Her outer show of affection, her telephone call to her ex-husband, conceals and displays the passion and remorse she feels. Gesture is a powerful tool in story telling in which we can tell the psychology of the characters. Simple descriptions and actions can convey much along the lines of plot and its significance. By reading this essay I am given many ideas on how I can use gesture to build my story and create depth of my characters, and create the meaning I want to portray to my readers.

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  2. Hey Olivia!
    I think you're suppose to post responses in a new entry, not a comment. To do that, there is a white link that says "post" in the right hand corner next to your e-mail address. ^-^

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