In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Hemingway starts off the story with a third person objective point of view. In this point of view, everything the reader gets from the narrator is from an objective point of view - the narrator gives an unbiased depiction of what is going on in the story. This point of view is consistent until the very end, when Hemingway shifts subtly to a third person limited in the last two lines of the story. This affects the story greatly, as it shifts from mere dialogue and gives insight to the inner feelings of the characters, especially the girl. Throughout the story, the emotions and inner thoughts of the characters are not revealed because of the subjective point of view, but when it shifts to a limited point of view, it opens up a whole new perspective about the characters. Hemingway definitely uses this as an advantage to make the reader think about the girl and how everything before hand is incorporated into her emotions and feelings.
“Gusev” by Anton Chekhov, also employs a change in the point of view. Throughout the first four sections, it is told through third person limited point of view, focusing mainly on Gusev and Pavel. This point of view allows the reader to get into the head of each character, by revealing that character’s inner thoughts and emotions. The shift in the point of view shifts when Gusev is about to die. From there on, everything is told in third person narrator point of view. This is also an advantage that the author uses to tie the reader into the story. This shift takes the reader out of the minds and thoughts of Gusev and forces the reader to look at the situation as a whole – to step back and re-evaluate everything that is taking place.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Introductions
Hello all - my name is Minh. I was born and raised in Houston and recently move out to the Conroe/Woodlands area. This is my third year at UH, and hoping for it to be the last since I will finally move into my major at another school.
In terms of writing experience, I have not taken a writing class since English composition II, which I took almost three years ago as freshman at North Harris Community College. Up to that point, most of the papers I wrote were basic, classic English papers: compare/contrast, informative, persuasive, narrative, and research papers. Although I do not enjoy writing, it comes naturally to me. This dates all the way back to high school writing. I never struggled much with writing compare to other students, and when I did feel that I was struggling, I still managed to come out with good results. I feel that writing is just one of those things that you have to learn whether you like it or not, and that writing comes easier to others while some really have to work at it to get the same results.
Writing is a double-edged sword - sometimes it works in your favor and you enjoy what you are writing, and other times, it seems agonizing and drawn out. I enjoy "free writing" where I am not limited by any certain topic or guidelines. Writing is easier when I get to choose the topic to write about versus an instructor picking out a random topic that noone has a clue about. I think writing has a negative connotation because students always relate writing to research papers. Research papers, in my experience, have their benefits as well as their downfalls. In a sense, they help a student develop critical writing skills but page/word limitations (ie the paper has to be at least five pages long) sometimes hampers a student's ability to "write." The student is more concerned about meeting that five page limit rather than being concerned about the content of the paper. Research papers are the worst papers to write - its like a never ending toruture except in paper and word form.
Like many other students, I took this class to meet a requirement, but aside from that, I hope that writing in this class is a bit more laid back and not so formal and uptight like compsition I and II. It has been a while since I have taken a writing class, so I hope to get back on the writing track and just write like I always have with improvements if possible. One aspect of my writing that I want to improve is analysis and critiquing of literature. I have always struggled in this area in terms of understanding the thoughts of the author.
I work full time for the Harris County Hospital District, so if I'm not at school, then I am stuck at work. On my days off, I like to go outside and just work on my car. I enjoy detailing (polishing, waxing, and cleaning) my car and try to do it as often as possible. It helps me take away all the stress from work and school. Aside from that, I am a monster procrastinator. I have improved in the past couple of years, but like the saying goes, "once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator."
In terms of writing experience, I have not taken a writing class since English composition II, which I took almost three years ago as freshman at North Harris Community College. Up to that point, most of the papers I wrote were basic, classic English papers: compare/contrast, informative, persuasive, narrative, and research papers. Although I do not enjoy writing, it comes naturally to me. This dates all the way back to high school writing. I never struggled much with writing compare to other students, and when I did feel that I was struggling, I still managed to come out with good results. I feel that writing is just one of those things that you have to learn whether you like it or not, and that writing comes easier to others while some really have to work at it to get the same results.
Writing is a double-edged sword - sometimes it works in your favor and you enjoy what you are writing, and other times, it seems agonizing and drawn out. I enjoy "free writing" where I am not limited by any certain topic or guidelines. Writing is easier when I get to choose the topic to write about versus an instructor picking out a random topic that noone has a clue about. I think writing has a negative connotation because students always relate writing to research papers. Research papers, in my experience, have their benefits as well as their downfalls. In a sense, they help a student develop critical writing skills but page/word limitations (ie the paper has to be at least five pages long) sometimes hampers a student's ability to "write." The student is more concerned about meeting that five page limit rather than being concerned about the content of the paper. Research papers are the worst papers to write - its like a never ending toruture except in paper and word form.
Like many other students, I took this class to meet a requirement, but aside from that, I hope that writing in this class is a bit more laid back and not so formal and uptight like compsition I and II. It has been a while since I have taken a writing class, so I hope to get back on the writing track and just write like I always have with improvements if possible. One aspect of my writing that I want to improve is analysis and critiquing of literature. I have always struggled in this area in terms of understanding the thoughts of the author.
I work full time for the Harris County Hospital District, so if I'm not at school, then I am stuck at work. On my days off, I like to go outside and just work on my car. I enjoy detailing (polishing, waxing, and cleaning) my car and try to do it as often as possible. It helps me take away all the stress from work and school. Aside from that, I am a monster procrastinator. I have improved in the past couple of years, but like the saying goes, "once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator."
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