"Choose a reading selection. Explore the relationship between elements of the selection. For example: how does setting influence character development?"
This topic requires me to not only find literary elements in a text, but to also find its effects on other aspects of the text. Some literary elements include; plot, setting, narrative structure, characters, mood, moral, and theme.
While I initially liked the idea of describing how setting influences a characters development, I now think I would like to take it a step further for Bret Harte's "The Outcasts of Poker Flats" (216-225). I decided that it would be a great story to discuss how setting influences not only the characters, but also its effects on the mood and possibly even plot.
For this I will have to reread the section and annotate parts that I can use for my argument while also reviewing my reading notes that I had taken for that section. If I do decide to incorporate plot, I may have to look into the historical Poker Flats as well as Angel's Camp (possibly a map of the area) and use that information to describe the impending doom the exiles were in.
As an outline i will probably model it as a standard paper with:
-Introductory paragraph mentioning topic points and a thesis (thesis will highlight the prompt)
-multiple body paragraphs discussing each topic point with proof from the text (citations)
-a conclusion that relinks the topics and restates the thesis
Example Introductory Paragraph:
Setting and plot can have an impact on the overall mood experienced by a character which, in turn, can be reflected in a characters decision making. For example, in the tragic story "The Outcasts of Poker Flats" by Bret Francis Harte, the author uses the setting and plot to set the story's mood and uses it to foreshadow the inevitable fate of the characters deaths. While doing this, Harte also utilizes these tools to change the actions of Oakhurst, who decides, in the end, to make his own fate.
Hi April!
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome to see that you are really digging deep and getting into your project. It appears that you have a pretty good game plan on what you are going to talk about and what you are going to show relationships with. Are you planning on writing about each of the elements that you mentioned in the first paragraph (plot, setting, narrative structure, characters, mood, moral and theme) or are you going to narrow it down to just a few of them? Have you been able to find a section of the story where the setting was a very big influence on the sequence of events or a characters personality? Good luck with your project April, I look forward to seeing your final paper!!
Hi April,
ReplyDeleteI like that you have a thorough idea of how you are going to format your literary project paper. I also like that you are tentatively looking to use some actual data from Angel’s Camp and Poker Flats it would be intriguing to have the actual historical context. It would be interesting to see how the elements of the story, including the moral and characters influence one another. Will you be focusing primarily on Oakhurst or will you include the other characters as well? I think it may be interesting to view the perspective and the impact on other characters. Do you think that group morale could have an impact on the characters or the way that the story plays out? If the group wasn’t over confident, would they have been trapped on the mountain and stuck in the storm? You did a great job of giving an overview of your project, I especially like your example introductory paragraph.
Best,
Corine