Faves and Not So Faves

Top 3:
1.) The Veldt- I liked this story the most for it's originality.
2.) Paul's Case- I related most to this story and it really stuck with me.
3.) The Lottery- The ending. Need I say more?

Not So Top 3:
1.) A Spinster's tale- This story really didn't keep my attention.
2.) The Jilting of Granny Weatherall- Again, just didn't keep my attention. I couldn't really relate to this story at all.
3.) The Birthmark- Good premise, but I couldn't keep my head in the story.

The Conscience of the Court

Does Laura Lee telling her own story in her own voice help the story? Or does her rambling slow down the action in the courtroom? Why do you think Hurston chose to include her testimony?

I think having the story in Laura Lee's voice helps the story. It makes the reader sympathetic to her situation since you're experiencing it first hand. At first I wasn't sure if she was in the wrong or not, but as the story went on I realized that everything she did was simply out of self defense and love. At one point during her testimony she really stated rambling a little. I almost started to think she was nervously going on and on and thought the verdict was going to go the other way. I think Hurston chose to include Laura Lee's testimony so the reader will get that first hand experience of what happened, and so you'll gain sympathy for her. Overall, it was a very intriguing story that made want to know what happens next, which is something that I really look for in a story...

Peace.

A Worn Path

Do you think she is in the right state of mind? Or is this all in her head?

I think she is just the crazy person that every town has. The person everyone puts up with and gives in to because they've been doing it for so long. It's a kind of the routine of the town. But, there's also enough evidence to make the reader believe that everything is going down as it is really happening. Although I lean toward her just being crazy, I ultimately think it's a toss up. I'm guessing that's what the author's intentions were, to make the reader wonder... Overall, I thought it was a good representation of what getting old must be like. She uses symbolism very effectively as well.

*We have one of these in my hometown, Robert. We call him CCR (Cruise Control Robert) because he's always walking the exact same pace everywhere he goes, and with a little hitch in his giddy up. And, because he's crazy, everyone in town just kinda gives him things and puts up with his craziness. So I was thinking about CCR when I was reading this story so that's how I interpreted it. Maybe I'm way off.

Peace.

A Spinster's Tale

Do you think Elizabeth has changed from the beginning to the end? If so, what causes her to develop and change?

I think she tried to change from a child to a more mature person from the start of the story to the end. At first, she is just this scared child who is afraid of this Mr. Speed, who ends up being harmless, and obviously doesn't know a whole lot about the hardships of adulthood and why people spiral down, as Mr. Speed as done. He is just a drunk who, for whatever reason, has lost his way. Towards the end of the story you see her trying to grow up a little bit when she gets the black boy to stop stealing milk and telling the cook to leave, it almost seems like she's becoming the lady of the house, like her mother was. But, by the end of the story she's just this little girl again, afraid of Mr. Speed, and not sure of how to handle things. I think she wants to grow up, but just like every 14 year old girl/boy, there are steps that have to be taken to become an adult.

Peace.

The Lady with the Dog

Why is Dmitry so infuriated when the official says, "the sturgeon was just a leetle bit off?"

He was angry because he didn't have anyone to talk to about Anna, and the official didn't really care about what Dmitry was saying. Dmitry had a longing to just talk to anyone, to tell anyone about how he felt about Anna and get all this stuff off his chest and maybe gain some outside perspective of what to do. I don't suppose this was something men sat around talking about back then, feelings and such. But given the way Dmitry described the beauty in the things he saw, he obviously isn't a "man's man" who just wants to sit around and play cards, drink brandy, and smoke cigars; he has thoughts that go deeper and beyond those. I think that might have been another reason he longed for Anna so much, the fact that he could talk to her about those things.

Peace.

The Girls in their Summer Dresses

What are your impressions of Frances and how do you feel about her role in the relationship?

I see her as kind of weak. I mean every man, in a relationship or not, looks at other women; we just do. The only difference is some of us have the smarts to keep it to ourselves. So for Frances, she's hearing her man just ramble on and on about all these women and she's not really doing anything about it. So I think she's weak and needs to stand up for herself. Also, they can't even stand to be around each other for a whole day so obviously they aren't happy. My theory: When you're not happy with a situation, stand up and do something about it or suffer... Easier said than done though I suppose... I thought this story was a very truthful and accurate depiction of what really goes on inside a man's head. I love real and raw stories, so I enjoyed this one.

Peace.

Desi's Baby

What type of irony appears in the final paragraph? What is the effect of that irony?

I belieive that would be situational irony. Where you think one thing is going to happen, but then something else does. The effect of this irony really makes you feel for the woman. The man, who was throwing around accusations, ends up being in the complete wrong in the end of the story. I mean she was at the point where she wanted to end her life all because he made her feel so guilty, and for something she didn't even do. The total effect of the irony on the story is shock, you don't expect for the man to be the one who is mixed race. I don't know, it was just kind of a crazy story. Pretty heavy.

Peace.

•Which characters out of the story are most sympathetic to you? What about the character(s) makes him/her sympathetic?

Which characters out of the story are most sympathetic to you? What about the character(s) makes him/her sympathetic?

As an aspiring writer myself and someone who spends half of my time living at home, I felt most sympathetic with Julian. Like Julian, I too don't agree with my mother's way of living (I'm not going to go into details), but I don't harass her about it or look down on her for her it. Don't get me wrong my mother is my rock and without her I would not be the man I am today, but sometimes I think she's a little crazy, and I know she thinks the same of me sometimes... Overall I thought the story was quite boring and found it hard to read (after reading Good Country People, I was waiting for one the Negros to go on killing spree or something, ha ha), but I did relate to it a couple ways which is always nice while reading anything...

Peace.

Good Country People

The phrase "good country people" from the title is repeated a number of times throughout the story. What is the effect of this repetition? How does this phrase become ironic in the story?

I guess I'm a little weird but I really liked this story. It started out kinda of slow, setting up the characters and all, but once Hulga/Joy got involved with "Manley Pointer" I couldn't wait to see what happened next, I knew it wasn't going to be good. Given the theme of the stange stories we've read this far, I thought he'd probably end up killing her...

I think the repetition of the phrase "good country people" is to lure the reader into thinking that this boy, "Manley", really is a good Christian boy, and that everything between him and Hulga is going to turn out good, seeing as she's never had her a fella and has a disease that'll kill her by the time she's 45 or so. But, not the case. The irony of the story is that "Manley" just has a weird obsession/fetish with collecting odd inanimate objects after getting people/women to believe he is a bible salesman. He seems to find a weak spot in his victims and targets in on them to really get into his victim's head so he can get his way. Kind of a twisted story, but a good'n.

Peace.

Group Choice of Story

Our group (Michael, Tali, Christina, and myself) have selected Chrysanthemums as our story. Out of the two stories we had to chose from we felt this story would flow better, plot wise, and be easier to work with using Facebook. The characters are pretty straightforward and plot isn't too difficult to map out, so I'm anticipating that this project will go relatively smooth. I hope...

Peace.

Conversion - Angel

Are any characters in the stories sympathetic to you? If so, which characters in the stories are most sympathetic?

Manischevitz and Ozzie. Obvioulsy I was sympathetic with Manischevitz because he had lost SO much, it's hard not to feel for him. As a parent myself, I can only imagine what it would be like to lose a child. And then having to deal with another child taking off, and a sick wife, just terrible. Also, while I was reading the part when he's looking for the Levine, I got a clear mental picture in my head of this old man, completely desperate, trying to find this "Angel", anything to make his life a little easier and stop the suffering his life had ultimately become... As for Ozzie, he was just a kid who had some questions and got punished for it. He was getting hit at home and at the church. It was easy for me, personally, to see where he was coming from when he took off to roof, not that I want to go on top of a roof and stir a commotion, but I can completely understand not being able to have a voice, or say, in something, then acting out...Basically Jr. High through High School for me.

Author's Note

After working feverishly until almost 3:00 last night and pretty much all day today, I have finally completed my final revision. After working through 3 different versions I finally came up with one I really liked. I fear that I have provided too much story and not enough details about the story though (about plot, setting, irony, etc.), but I tried my best. Since I chose Hills Like White Elephants extending the story was crucial, so most of paper had to be the story. I hope I didn't make it too long. I really saw more to the story than I wrote down and really wanted to make it more detailed, but I refrained. You should have seen my first draft! I was on page 5 and only half way through the story, so I dialed it down a notch.

I love Independent Films! And when I write a story I tend to see it as a movie as I'm writing. While I was writing this I really envisioned it as an independent type movie, with artsy camera angles and out of the ordinary shots of things like: snow, facial features, landscape, the chipping of the wood on the framed house in the beginning...things like that. This is something I couldn't really incorporate in my paper, but I think it gives the story a different feel if you look at that way.

Paul's Case

What do you think it is about Paul's job at Carnegie Hall that completely changes his attitude about life?

The job at Carnegie Hall represents beauty to Paul, a life that he doesn't exactly want, but one that he feels very comfortable in. It's his escape, a way to get away from normalcy, away from an unfulfilled life. It would be like a musician, whose stage is the ultimate rush, having to perform in coffee houses when he belongs in jam-packed stadiums filled with screaming fans. There is no reward in living an uncomfortable lifestyle. Unless your one of those people who gets a rush out of trying something new everyday, finding a place where you're comfortable is an important aspect of living a healthy life. Easier said than done though. People live, work, go to school, etc. in uncomfortable places everyday.

Intervention

Why did you choose the story you chose? What about it appealed to you as a reader?

I read this story based on title and the fact that I was bored to tears within the first few paragraphs of the other one.

My family has had to deal with a situation similar to this, but it never made it to an actual intervention. It is a difficult thing to do because you never know how that person will respond, which is scary. So, this story appealed to me in a real hit-close-to-home kind of way, which was heartbreaking but helpful at the same time...

I also found this story quite charming in the way these two individuals loved each other. The husband was so understanding at the end of the story, even after all he had to put up with in the past. And the wife really didn't want to disappoint or hurt him, especially after all she put him through. Overall, I thought it was a very pleasant story.

Peace.

Film Adaptation Outline for Hills Like White Elephants aka Shangri-La

I'm still working through a lot of the details and back story, but here's what I have so far.

Title: Since I've changed the story so much, and so much of the story revolves around the title, I've decided to change it entirely. Shangri-La will be the new title.

Character: I'm still working through who's going to play who, but I've added a few characters. Including but not limited to: an older version of the American man who will narrate at different times, a best friend to the American man, the American man and Jig will remain the same, several female "extras", the waitress and perhaps a few more people in the bar in Spain.

Setting: I'm starting the movie in a location that, from the reader's point of view, will be unknown. Then it will progress to Chicago, Spain, and then back to the unknown location from the beginning. A few other cities will be mentioned but none of the characters will actually be in these locations. The movie will start in present time.

Plot/Conflict: I'm keeping Hemingway's exact story, which will be the second to last scene in the movie, but I'm coming up with a back story to explain how these people ended up in this situation. The conflict will be mostly man v. man and man v. self, with a little bit of man v. society.

Irony: The main irony of this story will occur in the very last sentence. It is situational irony. There will also be some irony with the American man character throughout the story that will gradually become more ironic throughout the story. (This is kind of hard to explain)

Symbolism: Here's what I have so far. The story will be going from climate to climate. Whether it be a hot place like Spain, cold place like Chicago in the winter, or a hot/cold room, etc., the mood and intensity of the story will coincide with the climate. Also an open field will be symbolic of freedom, an interracial relationship will somewhat symbolize the times, and I'm still thinking of a few more which I'm sure will come to mind as I'm writing...

Peace.

Thunderbuns!

In each story, who do you side with? the older generation? the younger generation? a specific character? Why do you take the side of that person or group?

Girl:

It appears that the narrator is talking to her daughter, and that's who I would have to side with in this story. So the younger generation. I've never been one for rules, or authority. Whether the person who's telling me these things is my mother, or the president, I just don't like being told what to do. It seems as though all she wants is for her daughter, or whomever she's talking to, is for her to grow up and be strong willed like her. But at the end when the daughter asks the question about the bread, she seems a little reluctant to listen to everything being thrown at her (no matter how knowledgeable that person may be), which is the way I am.

Everyday Use:

I related to all the characters in this story, the mother and the two daughters. I grew up with an older brother so I know what it's like to not feel like the favorite, and vice versa. My brother is 4 years older than me and all the way through high school, and up until recently, things always went smooth for me, and a little rough for him. Now, it's the other way around. My brother has all his ducks in a row and I'm just floating along until I find out what the heck I'm doing....

As a parent I also related to the mother. I always want to see my daughter in the best light possible, and, I'll try not to make a complete ass of myself while she grows up to rid her of any embarrassment. Also, I will do anything in my power to make her happy, by any means necessary. I would have handled the situation the exact same way the mother did in the story.

Gorilla, My Love:

Although I found the story really interesting (especially the way it was written), and could see the reality in it, I didn't really side with any of the characters. I just kind of took the story in stride and went on to the next one... I guess if had to choose I would say the younger generation becuase of the rebellion, but those days are long gone so it doesn't really apply anymore.

Peace.

Film Adaptation

I have chosen "Hills Like White Elephants" for my film adaptation. There is so much of the story that isn't told that I can't help but wonder how these two individuals ended up in this situation. It will be interested to see where my mind goes in coming up with the rest of the story.

The Minority Report

If you've seen the movie The Minority Report, then think about how the scenes you're reading appear in that version. Which is more interesting or engaging? What changes would you make if you were directing the film?

I haven't seen the movie in quite some time, but I remember it being very futuristic with a very progressive idea on solving crimes, through the precogs. The idea is very interesting and extremely creative. In the short story it doesn't give great detail of how the precogs look, so it really left it wide open for the people who created the film adaptation to play with the that idea. I vaguely remember them being submersed in water and like tubes coming out them or something, I don't remember, like I said it's been a while since I've seen the movie. But interesting none the less...

As for any changes I would make as a directer, I would have to say none. Wasn't it directed by Steven Spielberg? You can't really go wrong there. I believe he had just directed A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), which is also a futuristic movie, so he was a perfect choice for the film. This is also the guy who directed: E.T., Jaws, Saving Private Ryan... I mean come on, he's one the best!

Peace.

The Story of an Hour

What do you think is the larger meaning or message of this story?

It appeared that, after she calmed down from the initial shock of her husband's death, Mrs. Mallard was relieved that her husband was "dead". She was free. It's not that she didn't love her husband, she just finally felt free to do her own thing and be independent. So she came to the conclusion that this was going to be her new life. She would be living on her own, and perhaps she could truly find out who she really is. Which in my opinion can only happen by really looking at yourself and finding out who you are, and being content with what you see. Something that is hard to do when you live your life with someone else and have never known otherwise.

So to me, the larger meaning behind the story is that some people really are in search to find themselves, and they don't want to rely on other people to do so. And when she found out her husband was still alive she couldn't handle it because she had already made her mind up that she was going to lead this great new life, a life she could be happy with, and on her own terms.

Independence is a strong attribute to have, whether you are in a relationship/marriage or not.

Peace.

The Management of Grief & the Lottery

In what ways can we identify with the characters in each story? How does the point of view impact the way we relate to the characters?

The Management of Grief:

For anyone who has ever lost something, or someone, whether it be a friend, a relative, a favorite hat, whatever, knows about the longing that is felt to have that person/item back in your possession, even if just for one more second. We relate to the characters in this story because, even if we haven't lost someone we love, we have all lost something we love, and we know what's it's like to want it back. The levels of longing maybe be a little varied, but loss is loss.

Having the story told through Mrs. Bhave's eyes, in my opinion, doesn't really bring out the story's full potential. But perhaps that's the way the author wanted it. Since Mrs. Bhava doesn't completely come to terms with families deaths for a while, it makes the reader think about how they would handle that situation if it were them. I agree with the girl in class today that said, I find myself just reading the story and not really trying to understand it, which is exactly how I read it. My input on this story may be a little off since I couldn't really get into it.

The Lottery:

I didn't really relate to any of the characters in this story, simply because we never find out a whole lot about any of them. I understood the characters and why each one was created for the story, but didn't really see myself in any of them.

I think the reason this story has had such "staying power" over the years, is because it's told from an outside voice, someone not a member of the village. If the story had been told by an insider the ending would have been given away in the very beginning, because surely they would have thought about their name being picked and having to die, right?

As a side note, this story reminds me of the movie Hot Fuzz! Great film.

Peace.

Entry One

Hello. I'm Adam Ramsey, I'm from Mineral Wells, TX. I am in my 3rd year at TCU and recently changed my major to writing. I chose this particular course to gain knowledge in not only reading fiction, but understanding how to write and analyze it as well. I plan to eventually write fiction novels, so, I believe this course will help set the foundation for what I need to formulate my thoughts and put them into words on a page.


I mostly enjoy reading fiction novels, but I also enjoy the occasional non-fiction book. I like to read a variety of books, anywhere from Henry David Thoreau, to Gogol, all the way to the Twilight series. I enjoy reading outside of the classroom much more than in, but I'm always up for finding new things to read so I don't mind reading something that I "have to" if it's interesting... The thing I love the most about fiction is getting lost in the Author's world, the characters they've created, and just trying to figure out what they were thinking when they came up with the story. I hope to one day have someone thinking the same thing about my own work. To have someone truly and completely compelled by my stories would have to my ultimate goal.


As I mentioned before, I would really just like to learn as much as possible about fiction, and set a strong foundation before I sit down and start writing my own stuff. As for the how I learn, I tend to really understand material after I've gone over it a second time, and usually by myself in order to think things through thoroughly. So this class should fit the way I learn perfectly.

Something interesting about myself? My world revolves around my 5 year old daughter, James. I wouldn't be doing any of the things I do if it weren't for her. In my free time I play guitar or piano, read, and play basketball. I try to stay in the best shape possible, although I don't have as much time for exercising as I would like.

I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus...

Peace.