In high school, it is important to read stories that teach the students lessons, teach them different literary devices, and allow them to discuss the story among peers to gain different views. Kevin A. González’s “Wake” and Laura van den Berg’s “Volcano House” are two stories that teach valuable lessons and offer new information for those trying to learn through stories. Both authors wrote short stories that were meant to entertain students while offering them a valuable lesson as well. Kevin A. González’s “Wake” and Laura van den Berg’s “Volcano House” are both short stories that should be taught in high school classes because of their lessons, the use of literary devices, and what can be gained from class discussion. “Wake” and “Volcano …show more content…
Instead of facing current issues, two of the characters in “Wake” use the trip to the islands as a way to escape reality and the other main character does not properly maintain his boat. As far as escaping, Tito goes on vacation to the Virgin Gorda Islands instead of filling out the “applications on [his] bed” that his mother is constantly reminding him of (González 13). He does not want to go to “the Ivy league schools” or “college in the states”, but would rather go to the University of Puerto Rico (González 13). He choses to be irresponsible by not filing out the applications because it is not what he …show more content…
González’s “Wake” and Laura van den Berg’s “Volcano House” are two short stories that should be incorporated into high school curriculums due to the knowledge that can be gained from discussing the works in class, the use and examples of literary devices, and the lessons included. Students would have the opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge to better improve future pieces of writing, look at works of literature from different viewpoints, and take the lessons to carry with them in everyday life. These stories will not only better the student in the English classroom, but will help them in other classes and outside of school. I firmly believe that “Wake” and “Volcano House” should be added to high school
Even though the story might seem ordinary at times, it allows you to look at the big picture, which is the most important aspect. The main character-Brent- displays characteristics that a lot of high school students can relate to; whether male or female. In his cross-country adventure through the U.S., exciting and unexpected moments never cease to amuse you. All kinds of people contribute to Brent’s change of attitude; one comment or story or facial expression at a time. And possibly the best part of it all is that you get all of this educational, amusing literature in only 133 pages.
Young adult fiction is a unique area in its own way, and one that incorporates forms of lives not common in society. The book, Maze Runner is a typical example of adult fiction in which the author presents scenarios involving various forms of life, which readers can learn from and apply to their own, as well. To begin with, by reading this book in class, students will not only learn about magic and terror, but also about sorrow, bravery, friendship as well as suffering in attempts to find redemption. Everything about this book is fictional but subsequent events from previous ones make things even more real. In the beginning, fiction is achieved when the main character, Thomas, wakes up in some metal box, but has no memory of the person he is, only remembering his name (Dashner 1).The place in which the boys live is covered in high wall and called the glade. Additionally, outside the maze are monsters called grievers, which can make a person undergo the process of ‘changing’ upon being stung. The fictitious nature of this book...
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Short stories are temporary portals to another world; there is a plethora of knowledge to learn from the scenario, and lies on top of that knowledge are simple morals. Langston Hughes writes in “Thank You Ma’m” the timeline of a single night in a slum neighborhood of an anonymous city. This “timeline” tells of the unfolding generosities that begin when a teenage boy fails an attempted robbery of Mrs. Jones. An annoyed bachelor on a British train listens to three children their aunt converse rather obnoxiously in Saki’s tale, “The Storyteller”. After a failed story attempt, the bachelor tries his hand at storytelling and gives a wonderfully satisfying, inappropriate story. These stories are laden with humor, but have, like all other stories, an underlying theme. Both themes of these stories are “implied,” and provide an excellent stage to compare and contrast a story on.
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