Monday, January 26, 2015
Snow Day Post: "Lydia's Story"
Read over Jan Brideau's narrative, beginning on page 128. Using the
list of characteristic features of a narrative provided on page 108,
evaluate her narrative. Where do you see her making sure her narrative hits those marks? What does she do quite well? Do not focus on what you didn't like: we are focusing on strengths here.
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I like how in the posts you say to not focus on the dislikes, but rather on what you liked. I'm sure that is a common theme between us students.
ReplyDeleteJan Brideau makes a most excellent narrative, specifically intertwining the exact points listed on how to make one. The story is quite personal, right off the bat. She describes Lydia's poor features, making one understand where she is coming from, then talking about her trials and tribulations. She was hit by an awful storm, and just lucky to be alive. This is her triumph, which the readers feel, then we are brought back to reality by realizing she is still in pain, and not doing well. The story is so personal and descriptive that the narrative puts you right in the woman's shoes without actually being there.She described the event that took place, what happened, who was involved, who was telling the story, a clear concise point, and important details. The narrative is very well done in my opinion.
I agree with Laura's comment about the narrative "specifically intertwining the exact points to make one" for example, Jan Brideau supplied the readers back round information about Lydia giving details about her abscessed tooth and her inability to afford care. This drew my attention right away and made me feel sympathy for Lydia the way the author did. Although Brideau gave background and drew the reader in from previous events, she did not take away from her main and clearly identified event as page 108 tells us to do. In fact, giving the background gave the readers insight on where the story took place and when it happened giving us a time frame. Also, in her concluding paragraph she mentions why Lydia's story was the one that "stays with her" and "represents the essence of hope and determination in the face of terrible adversity" providing the reader with a clear point for the narrative.
ReplyDeleteJan Brideau was quite effective in building her descriptions of "Lydia" as to make the audience feel the hurt that she has for persons like Lydia who were affected by the two storms. She begins at the end of the story, where her and Lydia first met, outlining the setting in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita. Jan also makes sure to include her own back story which gives validation to the reader that she is a reliable source to tell the story. The artful way in which she retells the horrifying ordeal that Lydia faced and how after everything that happened to her, all she wants is to go back and get the picture album that she shared the linen closet with.
ReplyDeleteThe most moving detail that Brideau added for me was the mention that the survivors of the storms do not call them by name, but instead refer to them as first and second. This was a powerful message to me, made even more so because Brideau did not explain further and left the readers to wonder why. This may be because Brideau did not want to offend by assuming that she understands the meaning of these storms, or the hurt that their names may cause.
I did not feel pity for Lydia, and I believe that was Brideau's intention. Just as Leah remarked that the concluding paragraph included the phrase "the essence of hope and determination in the face of terrible adversity", I felt hopeful for the survivors and their chance for a future.
I'm going to start off by saying that Laura and I have different opinions on the instruction to "not focus on what you didn't like: we are focusing on strengths here." While I'm going to follow the instruction, I've always been better on pointing out the things that I took issue to, possibly because I'm just a negative person. I will say that this passage is one that it is easy to focus on the positives of. It's well written and held my attention well. It has all the criteria discussed on page 108. The event is clearly the storm, specifically how if effected Lydia. The setting is clearly New Orleans. The writer uses a great deal of details and a consistent point of view, and the story matters so that we can feel (as Meghan put it) "hopeful for the survivors and their chance for a future."
ReplyDeleteI saw that this really pulled on heart strings. Jan does a great job at telling Lydia's story and even great detail although she wasn't there. Like laura brought up, I like that the writer starts off talking about Lydia's tooth it makes the story seem very small in the beginning and keeps the readers attention. At first I didn't like the story, only because I thought the setting was missing detail. this was until Jan started framing around Lydia's story. I really enjoy the fact that she made a story within her own.
ReplyDeleteThe most vivid part that gives me anxiety and worry was the instance Lydia grabbed the stool to climb into the linen closet. The numbness the narrator describes about Lydia's captivity and the escape really does combine past, present, and future. The author manages vivid, descriptive details; consistent point of view, and a clear point of view(as mentioned on pg. 108).
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