Day 8
Wed. Apr. 12
Share “postcards from the past”
Share characters based on “Proverbs of Hell”
Write new aphorisms based on “Proverbs of Hell”
Homework
➤ Be ready to talk about “Uncle Pat”
Next class be ready to share one sentence from Uncle Pat that for you really captures the character of either Uncle Pat, or the town of Jean Lafitte.
➤ Write three new aphorisms
Pick one of the Proverbs of Hell that you like or find intriguing. Write three new aphorisms that express the same kernel of truth or way of seeing the world that you see reflected in it.
Make these be original aphorisms (don’t write a famous proverb or phrase that already exists).
Try to make each aphorism you write use different language from the original. (So if the Proverb you chose uses the words “dog,” “bone,” “love,” and “flower,” try to avoid using the words “dog,” “bone,” “love,” and “flower” in your threw new aphorisms.)
Upload your three new aphorisms in a Word document to our SharePoint folder.
➤ Read “The Man Who Eats” and/or “Mazie” (excerpts)
These are both pretty long, so if your time is limited I’d recommend you focus on either the one you like most or the one that matches the genre you’re planning on writing in (“The Man Who Eats” for memoir; “Mazie” for journalism). However, please make sure to at least read the first couple pages of each.
As you read, keep your eyes out for these things and try to find at least one of them. Mark them so you’re able to share them in class.
Things to look for:
Physical description of a character’s appearance
A list of concrete objects
An anecdote about a character (something they once did)
A description of a character’s habits (something they always or often do or did)
An aphorism that reflects the character’s values or worldview
Something another character says about that character
A description of the character acting in a scene (physical action)
Quotation or dialogue that captures a character’s voice
