Analysis of Narrative Technique
Directions:
- Please read the specific articles / essays referred to in each exercise, and then answer the questions about narrative technique.
- There are 3 exercises/assignments total. Select ONE of these sets of questions.
- You will need to copy & paste your answers into the appropriate assignment on Canvas.
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ASSIGNMENT ONE: Dialogue |
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1) A dialogue is a conversation (or sometimes just an exchange) between two people, sometimes more. It is represented by reproducing the exact words of each speaker in quotation marks (indicated in the U.S. with the double apostrophe " at the beginning and end of the spoken words). Writers tend to use dialogue sparingly because too much dialogue in a work can interrupt the flow for the reader. For that reason, dialogue is generally used for important moments that either reveal something about one or more of the participants in the exchange, or mark a significant moment for the conversant / story plot. For this assignment, answer the following questions, analyzing how Cisneros uses dialogue, in the essay “Eleven”. 1. Which moments does Cisneros use dialogue? 2. Choose one to explain why she uses it. What does that dialogue reveal about a character, or how does it highlight a significant moment (and why is that moment significant)?
These questions are based on the readings that were recommended! |
See next page for the 2nd and 3rd exercise à
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ASSIGNMENT TWO: Sensory Details |
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Sensory details refer to the details that evoke the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Using these details creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind about the events being recounted by the writer. In this assignment, find a section of Neftali Cuello's essay "Now They Can't Get Me to Stop Talking" where Cuello uses sensory details. Answer the following: 1. Which sensory details does Cuello describe? 2. How do those details affect the reader? (In addition to creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind ;-) Why does Cuello make the effort to include those details? |
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ASSIGNMENT THREE: Imagery |
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Imagery is when a writer uses sensory details to create a powerful image in the reader's mind, either to highlight an important moment in a narrative, or to present a recurring idea that becomes a touchstone for the narrator (or the story line itself). Usually, the imagery can be analyzed for symbolic meaning that adds depth to the ideas the writer is conveying in the narrative (whether fictional or personal). For this assignment, answer the following questions, analyzing how Lam employs imagery in his personal narrative "One Asian Writer's Lesson." Answer the following: 1. What imagery do you see in the narrative (just list them)? Choose one of those images and explore the possible symbolism: What does that image represent, outside the context of the narrative? How does that external meaning add to the meaning of that imagery when used in the narrative? Does it connect to a character's conflict or goal, and if so, how?
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