First, we’ll get started with ‘Elephant.’

What could go in the following blanks.

• “No one had the ___________________ to raise a riot…”
• “…the crowd yelled with __________________    ____________________.”
• “…the sooner I ________  ____________  ___________ ___________ and got out of it the better.”

Then, we’ll use the questions to lead us through the piece and analyze how he captures his ambivalence with the specific situation as well as with the general situation.

We’ll then take a shot at some AP type multiple choice questions and see how they are put together.

Next, I want you to search through This I Believe for 2 essays based around the same idea and write a quick compare/contrast as well as 4 excerpts that you think illustrate some of the ideas we’ve been talking about (hook, specific examples, surprising language, persona, and complexity/nuance). Be ready to present.

Finally, I want you to take a walk and tell a buddy about something important that happened to you.  When you get back, buddies will tell us the story and see if we can hook it up to something larger.

HW:  Read Frederick Douglass’ “Learning to Read and Write” and analyze in 250 words how the writer creates a persona.  How does he present himself to the reader?  What examples does he choose and why? How does he deal with the issue of power and culture in the society he is a part of?

Also, brainstorm 2 pages or so of possibilities for personal essay work.

Image Credit: “Elephant”" by BigFrank Flickr

We’ll start off with me…giving a short talk called 10 Things I Believe about writing…

Then, you’ll tell me 3 Things You Believe.

We’ll start with a look at the two This I Believe essays and create T-charts on aspects of writing, especially:  the hook, specific examples, voice and language, creating a persona, complexity/surprise.

After a break, we’ll read Shooting an Elephant and answer the following questions.

1. Explain the implied assumption underlying the statement in the first sentence.
2. Describe the nature of the voice in the opening paragraph. How does he use irony and humor?
3. What is Orwell’s attitude towards imperialism?
4. What is Orwell’s attitude towards native peoples?
5. What is Orwell’s attitude towards his own position in Burma?
6. In the second paragraph, what is suggested by the qualifiers “and secretly, of course” and “if you can catch him off duty”?”
7. Note Orwell’s language in paragraph 5. What are the rhetorical effects of “merely ravaging their homes” and “as it would be to an English crowd.”
8. Why does Orwell shoot the elephant even though he knows he shouldn’t?  Be specific about the reasons.
9. In paragraph 11, Orwelll says, “At last after what seemed like a long time–it might have been five seconds, I dare say–he sagged flabbily to his knees. “  Explain what the characterization of the time period says about Orwell.
10. Compare and contrast the description of the killing of the elephant  (par. 11) with the killing of the Indian (par. 4).  Why does he describe them so differently?
11. The Final paragraph presents Europeans’ views of the elephant killing.  Explain the differences.
12. What is he getting at with this story? In what way does the personal story of Orwell mirror the larger story of Colonialism and Imperialism?  What would it compare to today?

Update:  Forget what is below. We’ll do this on Thursday.

For homework, I’d like you to go home and jot down some ideas for personal essay writing. What has happened to you (even if it’s small) that is intriguing or holds promise as a subject?  We’ll do some sketching out of ideas on Friday. Also, choose 2 essays (you can browse here) on a subject you’re interested in, write 200 words responding to your analysis of the hooks, examples, voice, persona, and suprise.  Bring in 2 good excerpts from the essays for the rest of us to analyze.