Plot is one of the basic elements of narrative. Its most general definition is the following: the basic action of a narrative, or the pattern of events. Aristotle claimed that a plot should include a beginning, a middle, and an end in order to make a narrative whole. Fretyag takes this model a step further with his pyramid, arguing that plot structure must have an introduction, a rising action driven by some conflict, a climax, and then a resolution. This plot convention can be mapped onto a novel like Blu’s Hanging fairly neatly; the narrative begins with an introduction to the mourning Ogata children. Their problems with the Reyes family and particularly with Blu’s naïve vulnerability to sexual predators drives much of the narrative, as does Ivah’s struggle with whether she needs to stay in Molokai to protect her siblings. These conflicts climax in the scene where Blu is molested, and are resolved as the children learn to let go of their mother and seek a safer future for themselves.
Mapping the plot of The Museum of Unconditional Surrender, on the other hand, is more of a challenge. Rather than thinking about plot in terms of rising action and then resolution, you might find thinking about structure to be more useful with this text. How are the pieces of the narrative arranged? How does one lead to the other? Can you find patterns that help the pieces cohere? Focus for this blog post on the series of short tales told in “Part Three: Guten Tag.” In 150-250, describe a pattern that you find across at least three of the short pieces. How do you interpret the pattern? What story is being suggested through the pattern?
Your post is due by 11:59 pm on Monday, March 7. Reach through several of your peers’ posts and be prepared to comment briefly on them at the beginning of class.
Mapping the plot of The Museum of Unconditional Surrender, on the other hand, is more of a challenge. Rather than thinking about plot in terms of rising action and then resolution, you might find thinking about structure to be more useful with this text. How are the pieces of the narrative arranged? How does one lead to the other? Can you find patterns that help the pieces cohere? Focus for this blog post on the series of short tales told in “Part Three: Guten Tag.” In 150-250, describe a pattern that you find across at least three of the short pieces. How do you interpret the pattern? What story is being suggested through the pattern?
Your post is due by 11:59 pm on Monday, March 7. Reach through several of your peers’ posts and be prepared to comment briefly on them at the beginning of class.
