Harvard Extension School Expo E-25; Section 8 (7:45PM-9:45PM) Instructor: Julie Anne McNary Please check your Elluminate Audio Wizard We will begin at 7:45PM.

Online WebConference Via Elluminate Software Website: Elluminate Room: Expository Writing E25: Introduction to Academic Writing and Critical Reading Analyzing the Short Story

Our Book and Chapters ISBN # ISBN # Chapters we’ve read so far: Chapters we’ve read so far: –1: Reading a Story –2. Point of View –3. Character –4. Setting –5. Tone and Style –6. Theme –13. Writing about A Story –7. Symbol –8. Evaluating a Story –Re-assigned section in Writing about a Story,

Overview  Updates about schedule  Evaluations  Outline for Essay #3  Scheduling conferences  Adjourn early to allow you to work more!

Upcoming Schedule  NO CLASS ON DECEMBER 14, CONFERENCES THAT WHOLE WEEK.  SOME conferences available THIS WEEK, depending on your comfort-level  Brainstorming and outlines done on your own.  First Drafts due Friday, December 11  Final Papers due WEDNESDAY, December 23.

Book-Film Comparisons for Essay #3 The Age of Innocence, novel by Edith Wharton and 1993 film of the same name Breakfast at Tiffany’s, novel by Truman Capote and 1961 film of the same name The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the 2008 film of the same name Election, novel by Tom Perrotta and the 1999 film of the same name Fight Club, novel by Chuck Palahniuk and the 1999 film of the same name The Great Gatsby, novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the 1974 film of the same name Little Children, novel Tom Perrotta and the 2006 film of the same name Mystic River, novel by Dennis Lehane and the 2003 film of the same name Push, novel by Sapphire and the 2009 film Precious, based thereupon Room with a View, novel by E.M. Forster and the 1985 film of the same name Twilight, novel by Stephanie Meyer and the 2008 film of the same name Extra Credit Options: Heart of Darkness, novella by Joseph Conrad, and the 1979 film Apocalypse Now based thereupon (must also use Hearts of Darkness: A filmmaker’s Apocalypse, as well) Little Women, novel by Louisa May Alcott, and two films of the same name (1949 and 1994) The Odyssey, poem by Homer, and the 2000 film O Brother, Were Art Thou? based thereupon. Where the Wild Things Are, children’s book by Maurice Sendak and 2009 film of the same name (must read the David Eggers screenplay, as well)

Essay #3 – Exercise 3.1 – Due in Two Weeks – 11/30 First read the book/story in question in detail and write a one- page plot summary thereof. Then, see the movie(s) in question and write a one-page plot summary thereof. JUST ON THE LEVEL OF PLOT, write a page or two about what the similarities and differences between the book/story and the film: – –Sequence of events (are they in the same order) – –What scenes are left out, added, enhanced, diminished? – –Characters left out, added, enhanced, diminished? – –Setting changed, enhanced, diminished? Brainstorm for a paragraph or two about why the filmmakers might have made these decisions about plot.

Essay #3 – Exercise 3.2 – Due in Two Weeks – 11/30 After reading the book, focus in on the protagonist – –Write a one-page character analysis thereof. A close-reading of this character alone. Then, after seeing the film, write a one-page analysis of the protagonist thereof. Then do the following: – –Write a list of all key characters in the book – –Write a list of all key characters in the film – –Take the top three characters in each and compare/contrast their respective roles. Consider the book the primary source and the film the secondary. How well does the film adhere to the book regarding character? do the characters in the book change in the film? are they used differently? – –Brainstorm about why the film makers may have made the decisions above about character.

Exercise 3.3 – Due Friday, 12/4 First write me a letter in your own most comfortable register, telling me what you found most compelling about the difference between your literary work and your film (s). Then choose three elements between the two that you would like to microanalyze (one character, one element of setting, one plot point). Make sure these three elements can be related to each other in some meaningful way to help you construct a larger macro-argument about the overall adaption you are studying.

ESSAY #3 Microcosmic Analysis of Three Elements in Works of Literature Adapted into Film

What is Adaptation? In their book, Adaptation: Studying Film and Literature, John Desmond and Peter Hawkes write that “adaptation is the transfer of a printed text in a literary genre into film.” “Even when the adapter attempts to transfer the original story to film as closely as possible, film is another medium with it’s own conventions, artistic values, and techniques, so the original text is transformed into another work of art.” “Adaptation, then, is an interpretation…” Microcosmic versus Macrocosmic Analyses of Adapted Texts and Films

Outline of Essay #3 Closely examine your three micoanalyses – ideally, one character, one element of setting, one plot point. WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM A SYNTHESIS OF THE ABOVE? Construct a larger argument that you will present in your introduction and thesis and use your body paragraphs to show how each mico-element contributes to that larger argument. The structure of your paper will closely follow the structure of Essay #2, your comparison and contrast paper (based on point by point or source by source comparisons).

The Odyssey and Oh Brother, Where art thou? Character: Odysseus versus Ulysses Everett McGill Similarities: both tricksters, both leaders, both experience terrible luck, both cursed and pursued by a god-like figure (Poseidon and Sherriff Cooley). Differences: Odysseus was protected and aided by Athena, Odysseus was a King, Odysseus was a warrior, Odysseus was of noble birth, etc. etc. Setting: Ancient Greece versus Mississippi during the Great Depression Plot point: Odysseus is plagued by floods and the sea; whereas Everett is saved by a flood. Plot point: Odysseus wins his wife back, whereas Everett does not fully do so…or at least we are left unsure, because of the missing ring.

Potential Unifying Themes Nobility and a Sense of Honor versus Desperation and Materialism Luck versus Accountability Loyalty versus the lack thereof; i.e. what traits in Odysseus’ character engender such loyalty, versus the traits in Everett’s character that do not… Honor versus Materialism The influence of humor in both stories