English Creative Writing 2009 Session Four Short Stories 25 April 2009

2 nd assignment Diaries of Adam and Eve … –2 different angles of the same things/events –Gender differences –Individual differences –Differences because of positions

Diary of the Monster –Importance of the “name”: self-ownership (vs slaves, prisoners) –Monster’s responses towards his isolation: Revenge Acceptance Endure and suffer –Monster as another Adam figure

The new/creative/alternative a matter of positioning –Narrator/writer trying to approach from a different position –What will she/he think? –What is the reason for thinking like that? –What will be the implication/consequence if the reason is different?

Today: The short story A narrative Background (character, situation) – development – climax (ending, a twist at the end) An example: “Mr. Bean Rides Again”

Background: –Introduction of the two main characters (Bean and the boy) –Boy traveling alone, needs attention Development: –Bean trying different methods to entertain him –But fails to get him interested Climax: –Finally getting his attention!

Our text today: “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Background? –Characters –Situation Development? –Events Climax? –Result

Task One Imagine you are one of the characters in the story. A newspaper reporter is asking you to give an account of the death of Mrs. Mallard. Write the account for him. Take one of the following roles: –Brently Mallard –Richards –Josephine –The doctor

Task Two Josephine, Richards, Brently, the doctor, can now share with each other what you have written about this incident. Tell us what you have discovered from the different reports.

Task Three (A) You are Brently Mallard, you have to leave town for a week and your wife will be alone. Write a short note to your friend Richards, asking him to take care of things when you are not there. (B) You are Louise, your husband has to be away for a week starting from tomorrow. What will you write about in your diary tonight before you go to bed?

Perspective –Individual personality –Physical condition –Psychological condition –Knowledge –Position in relation to the event/other people –Gender –Age –…

Other possibilities? Let’s look at what other people have made of “The Story of an Hour”.

Assignment for today Write 200 words about one moment in the story. You may invent anything to suit your purposes, as long as you do not contradict what is already stated in the story. Please submit a hard copy to me next time (9 May 2009).