Mr. Catron’s Blog

In Class:

• Story boarding
• Hero’s Quest Comic Strip

Homework:

• SSR tomorrow. Bring your own books.
• Foreshadowing Directed Reading and Response, posted below.
• The full text of this story is available at: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html

Creative Writing Directed Reading Assignment

Read “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

As you read, write responses to the following prompts in your journal.

1) How does O’Connor create “tension” in this story? What is the “inciting event”? What makes up the rising action?

2) As you read, O’Connor drops hints as to how the story is going to end. Whenever you read something that makes you predict an ending to the story, write it down. Also, write down exactly how you think the story will end. You may change your mind about the ending—that’s okay. You may also find yourself coming up with more specific ideas about the ending. Be specific in your responses.

3) What is the climax of the story? Why did you choose this moment? What about it makes you certain the story can end only one way?

After you read, write a response to the following prompt in your journal.

1) Leading your reader to predict what’s going to happen in a story is called “foreshadowing”. This technique increases a reader’s interest, usually by heightening a sense of anticipation, either of dread (the young couple walks into a dark and creepy house) or of joy (the boy comes home from school to find his missing father’s shoes in the alcove). Foreshadowing is different than telling or revealing the ending. Describe how O’Connor uses characterization, dialogue, and setting cues to foreshadow the ending of this story.

2) Write a response to the conclusion of this story. This particular story is often cited as one of the best American short stories ever written. Do you agree? Why or why not? What elements of fiction did O’Connor use that you can learn from? What can you learn? How will reading this story influence your own fiction writing?