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Lessons learned from writing a personal narrative
Lessons learned from writing a personal narrative
Write a personal narrative story
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Going on a vacation to a beautiful beach, just to lay back. Doesn’t that sound like the most relaxing thing ever? Just like in this short story called “Through the tunnel”, and it is written by Dorris Lossing. This short story is about a growing little boy named Jerry. He is determined to go through a tunnel on his own to prove to his mother that he is growing and mature. In this quest to get through the tunnel, Jerry faces a lot of obstacles that involves the setting. The setting of this story impacts the story in many ways, such as the characters, the plot and through symbolism.
One of the first ways that the setting has an impact on the setting involves the characters. For example Jerry feels challenged by the tunnel at the bay, he really wants to prove to himself that he can go through the tunnel, and make it out the other side. He knows that he will have to learn how to control his breathing under water in order to get through the tunnel. “First, he thought he must learn to control his breathing under water” (4). What he means by learning how to
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control his breathing is, he will have to hold his breathe under the water, until the time he got in the tunnel and the time to get to the other side. He does that by gathering rocks into his hand, so that he can sink in the water to hold his breath for an extended time. He exercises his lungs everyday. After an extended time of practicing and holding his breath, he then wants to examine the tunnel, to see how far and deep it is. “Studied the entrance to the tunnel” (4). He studies all the turns, corners and rocks of the tunnel as far as he can see, because there is no light, this makes him only able to see from a certain distance. So after he has done all he possibly can to get himself prepared to go through the tunnel, he no longer wants to go through with his plan, but then again he does. “Perhaps he would go back and next year he would swim through the tunnel” (5). So basically he is scared to swim through the tunnel, he thinks he needs more practice. But even after the fact that he makes his decision, he still wants to swim through the tunnel, he feels challenged. If he does not do it now he never will(5). Another way that the setting has an impact on the story involves the plot. One example, the rising action creates suspense, when Jerry does not ask or tell his mother that he is going to the bay on the second day of the vacation. “He did not ask for permission, on the the following day, to go to the beach” (4). This is important to the plot, because it creates suspense going toward the climax, on whats going to happen when he goes through the tunnel. Whether he’s going to make it through the tunnel or not. What if he drowns trying to swim, or what if his mother is looking for him, worried sick, or what if she has good reasonings for him not to go to the bay that day. Another impact on the plot, was the climax. For example the climax of this short story was Jerry eventually going through the tunnel. the thing that creates suspense was when he thinks he is going to drown inside the tunnel he gets scared. “He was at the end of what he could do” (5). At this point in the story, this is when Jerry finally thinks that he can go through the tunnel without any help. So he does not tell his mother and he does it on his own. And the resolution of the plot was Jerry making it out through the tunnel, but as he made his way through the tunnel he hit his head on some rocks, and his head was throbbing. His nose was also bleeding which filled up inside his goggles, and made him unable to see when he made it out of the tunnel (6). This is important for the resolution, because he made it through the tunnel without any help, and he now can say that going through the tunnel was an accomplishment for him as to growing up. And the very last thing that the setting has an impact on in the story involves symbolism.
For example Jerry going through the tunnel symbolizes his growing, and maturity. The tunnel represents growing, and maturity because the little boy Jerry, wants to prove to his mother that he is not a little boy anymore, and that he is grown, so that is why he went through the tunnel on his own, and without telling his mother, because he knows that she will not let him go on his own. (2). This is important to the story because it shows that every parent has to let there child grow up one day. The tunnel shows symbolism in this story too. The tunnel symbolizes an obstacle. This is important to the story because, everyone faces obstacles in life, and if you don't get by them, they will keep pulling you back. But once you accomplish them you’ll feel much better about life. The last thing that this short story symbolizes
is.. These are all of the ways that the setting impacts this story involving plot, characters and symbolization. When Jerry felt challenged by the tunnel so he wanted to over come his fear, so he prepared himself by going through different procedures to get him through the tunnel. As Jerry came to the ending of his practices he decided he didn’t want to go through with the plan but he finally did it. And last but not least he over came his fear and made it through the tunnel, but after that he didn't really care to much about it. If one overcomes all obstacles in life or tries to, then there will be no pressure on the heart.!
The setting is extremely important in both novels and films. It can have immense effects on the plot and characters, establishing the atmosphere or mood
Setting does affect character development and storyline in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. If the setting in The Outsiders were different than the East side of Oklahoma then the greasers and the socs wouldn’t be their tough, mean, selves.They would be completely different then they are now. The setting really is fatal to all of the characters and the storyline of The
The setting in the story play a very important role in the story. The setting brings readers the understanding on where this story is taking place and how condition of that area. In forge it covers mostly on Valley Forge an area in Pennsylvania which is a military camp for the American Continental Army over the winter during 1777-1778 during the American Revolutionary War. This brief understanding speaks about Valley Forge gives readers the understanding on the setting of the story. Laurie Halse Anderson also forges the situation whereby the soldiers get inadequate food supply and were stuck eating firecake and hot pepper soup. The setting makes readers understand the story more because the setting also helps initiate the main backdrop and mood of the story. The setting in every story serves as the world of the story that gives half of the story.
One example of symbolism is the water and canal itself. The water is a representation of freedom because it flows out of town going where it wants to. In the last two lines of the poem, the author says “ our eyes followed the water, white-tipped but dark underneath, racing out of town.” (Soto 1). When the poem mentions the water racing out of town that’s the narrator’s way of alluding to the water’s seeming independence from the town. Another symbol that represents freedom in the poem is the postcard of San Francisco. This is the most obvious, yet one of the most powerful symbols. The reason for this is because to the narrator San Francisco is where he belongs, it represents a lifelong goal for him, and is the epitome of pursuing life’s journey. San Francisco is known for having an artistic atmosphere and for being a place where one can be themselves, and it seems as though this is what draws the author to the city. As he states in the lines 13-14 “And to be with people who knew more than three chords on a guitar”( Soto 1), this tells the reader that he views San Francisco as a place where talented people flock to, and he wants to be apart of that. The last use of symbolism in the poem is the reference to the narrator’s hair. The lines 15-16 describe the hair as “ shoulder
"A Pair of Tickets" and "Everything That Rises Must Converge" are good examples of how setting explores place, heritage, and ethnic identity to give us a better understanding of the characters. In "A Pair of Tickets" Jing-Mei Woo discovers for herself what makes her Chinese and the setting played an important role in helping us understand how she came to this discovery. The setting in "Everything That Rises Must Converge" gave us a good understanding of why the characters acted as they did to the situations presented. The setting in both of these stories greatly contributed to the understanding the characters better and in general the whole story.
Setting in all types of literature is a basic element that at a foundational level provides the reader with an atmosphere and physical place to position the characters. The setting in any dramatic work is an especially vital element since gives the players somewhere to bring to life the playwrights work. Furthermore, “The settings [the playwrights] describe are symbols that give the plays their meaning” (Barnet, Cain 210). Even a bare stage will contribute to the symbolism and theme presented on the stage. Every play ever written has been assigned a setting and each and every one has made an impact on the writing style, topics, and theme encompassed in the play.
The setting affects the story because to survive in this tough environment when you are just a fourteen year old trapped in a horribly litten crate with twenty strangers that might even be criminals, it requires a lot of courage. Evidence from the text that supports this idea is, “He pulled himself into the container, and seconds later the trapdoor slammed shut behind him. He heard the bolt slide across with a loud clang. Now there was no way out. It was only as he straightened up that he realized he could see.
Most importantly setting affecting a character was shown on their many bombing runs and also with their time on and off the base when they had to make tough decisions that would affect them in many ways. It's also shown in the Nazi POW camps where conditions were crowded and Inhumane. Finally, topping it off the numerous historical events and influences showed the setting affecting the character by making him have to make tough choices. To conclude, we learn that where we are or who the people we're with can affect the way we are and the choices we make. Even what year it is can affect the person we are. Maybe this is something that you can reflect on and see, maybe the people you're hanging out with might be influencing you in the wrong way, or maybe just the setting you're in is a bad you. I greatly urge that you take a minute and look back on your life and see in what ways you can change your setting to positively affect your
The story has different elements that make it a story, that make it whole. Setting is one of those elements. The book defines setting as “the context in which the action of the story occurs” (131). After reading “Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemmingway, setting played a very important part to this story. A different setting could possibly change the outcome or the mood of the story and here are some reasons why.
...found experiences and feelings that the reader can somewhat relate to. The narrator was changed from only seeing herself as an American and only seeing herself and her mother’s daughter to being Chinese and being a part of her mother. Setting can create: a better understanding of the characters experiences, the challenges they’ve had to work through, and the longevity of their being. Without the proper use of setting one can only assume that any story could be only dialogue followed by the feeling of being stuck in a blank room with nothing more than the characters. Therefore, setting should never be overlooked or thought as less equal to any other storytelling element.
The setting can also show the gloom and despair of the character's emotion. Jane is looking for a place to stay, is refused and made to stay outside in the weather. She weeps with anguish, feels despair, and rejection. The setting echoes her in that it is "such a wild night". There is a driving rain and it is cold. The setting can be a reflection of just about any human emotion.
Symbolism can really make a story meaningful. Through the Tunnel is a story full of symbolism. There is symbolism in anything from the setting to the tunnel itself. The three major symbols in the story are the beach, the bay, and the tunnel. They all represent a progression from dependent and irresponsible to independent, responsible and mature. Doris Lessing does an excellent job at showing how symbolism can tell an entirely different story.
The setting or settings in a novel are often an important element in the work. Many novels use contrasting places such as cities or towns, to represent opposing forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. In Thomas Hardy's novel, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, the contrasting settings of Talbothays Dairy and Flintcomb-Ash represent the opposing forces of good and evil in Tess' life.
The setting of a story is the physical and social context in which the action of a story occurs.(Meyer 1635) The setting can also set the mood of the story, which will help readers to get a better idea pf what is happening. The major elements of the setting are the time, place, and social environment that frame the characters. (Meyer 1635) "Trifles by Susan Glaspell portrays a gloomy, dark, and lonely setting. Glaspell uses symbolic objects to help the audience get a better understanding for the characters. The three symbolizes used are a birdcage, a bird, and rope.
setting was the major factor in the plot of the story. If this had taken