Josip Novakovich pointed out several interesting ideas about plot. First, he explained the different types of plot that writers of the past have used: confrontational plots including man versus self, man versus nature, man versus society, man versus machine, man versus God, and God versus everybody. The type of plot I tend to use though, as a writer is either a slice of life plot or a combination plot.
Another important section is about how to generate plot. Novakovich points out one essential element that is necessary when writing either a short story or novel - "plot demands that all parts of the story need to be coherent in relation to the main event."
Ann Beattie's short story "Weekend" is a good example of a combination plot. There is conflict between Lenore and her boyfriend George and the plot is also an example of "slice of life." The actions the characters Lenore and George become involved in seem typical problems for a couple in that situation.
Beattie also uses a lot of detail in describing the setting and each of the main characters. The description of the relationship between George and Lenore - both past and present allows the reader to empathize with Lenore's predicament, but also one feels angry with Lenore for staying with her philandering lover. This story is definitely well-written to evoke such strong emotions.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Character Sketch - Captain Jimenez
Our blue books were scooped up from the edge of the desk, ready to be handed back to everybody. Dr. Jimenez dragged his feet up and down the auditorium, returning everyone's U.S. Government exams in the order he stacked them in his pile. I ended up being the last person to get their test back. When Jimenez slammed the test with his stubby hand on my desk, I gave him a look of concern. He encouraged me, “Don’t look at me like that. You did good!”
I felt relieved up until I opened up my blue book to the first page. That's when I noticed that I had gotten a seventy. Why was he smiling at me after he returned my exam? Even though I passed last week’s exam, I still could’ve gotten a better grade. I put an extensive amount of detail on each essay question and all I got was a seventy.
Jimenez told the class when he wrote the grade averages on the dusty chalkboard, "There was one A, two Bs, five Cs, six Ds, and eight Fs. You obviously need to make more of an effort in preparing for my tests if you want to pass this class. Otherwise, why did you even bother wasting your time and money with my class?"
We’ve only been in class for a month and almost half of the students who enrolled have either dropped out or quit showing up. Everybody in the class found his methods of teaching hard to follow. He spoke at a staccato pace and it was hard to keep up with what he was saying. Luckily, Jerry and I exchanged notes after every lecture. As we walked out together after class last Tuesday, I asked him, "Were you able to get everything down that Jimenez wants us to go over for Thursday's test?"
I felt relieved up until I opened up my blue book to the first page. That's when I noticed that I had gotten a seventy. Why was he smiling at me after he returned my exam? Even though I passed last week’s exam, I still could’ve gotten a better grade. I put an extensive amount of detail on each essay question and all I got was a seventy.
Jimenez told the class when he wrote the grade averages on the dusty chalkboard, "There was one A, two Bs, five Cs, six Ds, and eight Fs. You obviously need to make more of an effort in preparing for my tests if you want to pass this class. Otherwise, why did you even bother wasting your time and money with my class?"
We’ve only been in class for a month and almost half of the students who enrolled have either dropped out or quit showing up. Everybody in the class found his methods of teaching hard to follow. He spoke at a staccato pace and it was hard to keep up with what he was saying. Luckily, Jerry and I exchanged notes after every lecture. As we walked out together after class last Tuesday, I asked him, "Were you able to get everything down that Jimenez wants us to go over for Thursday's test?"
"I got as much down as could. It's hard to keep up with him," Jerry replied as he pulled his gray notebook out of his black Columbia backpack and showed me his notes.
"I tried too, but all I could get was a half page," I showed Jerry my notes as I had kept it on the page I had written them on.
"He's never available outside of class since he's also a small-town cop."
"Oh well! All we can hope for is to do our best."
Jimenez's fast-paced lectures weren't the only thing everybody complained about. He would write a key term on the board in a scrawl so illegible I could barely read it. During that day's lecture, I whispered into Jerry's ear, "What's that that he wrote on the board?"
"It looks like he wrote down criminal prosecution," he quietly responded.
"I shouldn't have to hear any whispering," Jimenez barked at us as he was getting ready to take a sip from his green coffee mug.
Jesus! He can't even tolerate whispering. Boy, this professor's really a jerk.
That wasn't the only time Jimenez got on somebody for breaking one of his class policies. The previous class during his lecture on the Supreme Court, he heard a tapping sound coming from one of the students. He profusely asked, "What's going on? Is someone texting? I hope no one's texting. You know my policies."
A guy wearing a red baseball cap several rows up from Jerry and I suddenly looked up and quickly put his iPhone back into his left shorts pocket before Jimenez could catch him. There was no escaping Captain Jimenez's ire.
"I tried too, but all I could get was a half page," I showed Jerry my notes as I had kept it on the page I had written them on.
"He's never available outside of class since he's also a small-town cop."
"Oh well! All we can hope for is to do our best."
Jimenez's fast-paced lectures weren't the only thing everybody complained about. He would write a key term on the board in a scrawl so illegible I could barely read it. During that day's lecture, I whispered into Jerry's ear, "What's that that he wrote on the board?"
"It looks like he wrote down criminal prosecution," he quietly responded.
"I shouldn't have to hear any whispering," Jimenez barked at us as he was getting ready to take a sip from his green coffee mug.
Jesus! He can't even tolerate whispering. Boy, this professor's really a jerk.
That wasn't the only time Jimenez got on somebody for breaking one of his class policies. The previous class during his lecture on the Supreme Court, he heard a tapping sound coming from one of the students. He profusely asked, "What's going on? Is someone texting? I hope no one's texting. You know my policies."
A guy wearing a red baseball cap several rows up from Jerry and I suddenly looked up and quickly put his iPhone back into his left shorts pocket before Jimenez could catch him. There was no escaping Captain Jimenez's ire.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Characterization and It's the Law
I first read some of Jim Lee's prose in the anthology of Fort Worth stories - Literary Fort Worth for a Texas Literature class that he co-taught at Tarrant County College with Dr. Ruth McAdams. In his short story "It's the Law," Lee uses several characterization techniques discussed in Josip Novakovich's chapter on characters. For example, we learned a lot about one of the main characters in the story, Melvin Spruille just from the dialogue between Isham Hayes, the judge, and Banty when Hayes first comes into the courtroom to pay the twenty-five dollar fine. Another technique that Lee uses is describing the characters through appearance. We know that Hayes is a mechanic because Lee describes him pulling out a greasy roll of bills from the pocket of his coveralls (2).
Lee does a great job of summarizing Spruille's miserly ways when Hayes explains why he wanted to beat Spruille up in the first place. It's amusing that despite the fact that he had harbored this grudge for twenty-five years, he waited for a day when Spruille would not have his glasses on. Hayes says, "You know, Texas don't let you hit a feller with glasses. It's against the law" (16).
Novakovich's chapter on characters and Lee's story have inspired me to continue working on my story about a family growing up in Utopia, Texas during the early 1900s. I can see now how I can make my story more interesting by using some of the techniques that were described in the chapter to round out the personalities of my characters rather than making them flat. I definitely agree with Novakovich that combining two or more approaches will improve the characterization of the people in my story.
Lee does a great job of summarizing Spruille's miserly ways when Hayes explains why he wanted to beat Spruille up in the first place. It's amusing that despite the fact that he had harbored this grudge for twenty-five years, he waited for a day when Spruille would not have his glasses on. Hayes says, "You know, Texas don't let you hit a feller with glasses. It's against the law" (16).
Novakovich's chapter on characters and Lee's story have inspired me to continue working on my story about a family growing up in Utopia, Texas during the early 1900s. I can see now how I can make my story more interesting by using some of the techniques that were described in the chapter to round out the personalities of my characters rather than making them flat. I definitely agree with Novakovich that combining two or more approaches will improve the characterization of the people in my story.
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