Reading Assignment: pp.71-119
Writing Assignment: Writers of fiction, good ones at least, are careful about how they describe the people they write about. They make it a point to include incidents and behavior along with gestures, clothing, and dialogue, all of which give readers a strong sense of the characters. These bits and pieces of description and dialogue make up what’s called characterization. Taken together, the bits and pieces create a fictional person with a, usually, recognizable personality. Thus we are inclined to say that Charlotte in Charlotte's Web is a loving and loyal friend. Similarly, we might say that Fadi in Shooting Kabul is both brave and devoted to his family.
Please start your writing by explaining generally--Remember our discussion of general and specific language-- how you think Katherine Patterson wants Leslie to be viewed by readers. In other words, how does Patterson characterize her. For example, if I were writing about Jess’s mom, I might open by saying something like this: “Mrs. Aarons may love her son, but she almost never shows it.Throughout Bridge to Terabithia, she is a cold and demanding task master(person who is always making other people get work done).”
Then I would become more specific and describe how she never seems to want Jess to rest. As soon he finishes one job, she finds another job for him to do. She also never thanks him for the work he’s done. Even when he spends the day in the kitchen with her canning beans, she doesn’t say thank you to her son. Most of the time, she seems not grateful but angry, especially when she thinks he is enjoying himself.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this assignment.
