Memory Moment

 Points in a story where a character remembers something from the past.  When you (the student) learns to be alert to these moments, you quickly see that memories often play an important role in the book  It may tell about the character and his/her background that we wouldn’t otherwise know.

 The point in the book when the writer/author interrupts what’s happening in the story to show us the main character as he/she remembers something.

 Obvious clues:  Example – the character will say something like,  “I remembered the first time I met him”  “In that very moment the memory came flooding back.”  Subtle Clues:  Example – the character might say,  “My dad liked to tell the story about…”  “This picture always reminded me of…”

 Remembered  Memory  Reminded

 When a memory interrupts the flow of the story, stop and ask yourself…  “Why might this memory be important?”  The answers to your question will tell you about the theme, conflict, or might foreshadow what will happen later in the story.