Eit #5
Páginas: 3 (508 palabras)
Publicado: 19 de marzo de 2012
Kou Sua
ENGL 241A
Dr. Khader
March 19, 2012
EIT #5
Quotation: “It may be that characterization and thinking in types is part of our mental equipment, and it may also be that rich complexity andconstantly changing nature of human beings can never be adequately captured by this narrative equipment” (Abbott 137).
1. The idea of using types that Abbott talks about is important because manyreaders, when asked about a character in a particular narrative, describe that character using one or two words. The reader, however, fails to recognize the smaller traits of that character becausethey are focused on the larger and perhaps more important traits. Whether it is on purpose or accidental, the reader uses cultural stereotypes to define characters. Abbott’s discussion of denyingpeople their full identity makes me think about the importance of culture when it comes to reading and interpreting narrative.
2. This idea of using type to characterize a character is important tointerpreting narrative for many reasons. As Abbott discusses earlier in this chapter, there are two different types of characters in narrative: flat and round. A flat character has no hidden complexitywhereas a round character has varying degrees of complexity (133). Abbott’s conclusion that it is difficult not to characterize characters on the basis of types is important because it means that nomatter how hard the author tries to portray a character as complex, the reader will find a way to apply a specific type to that character.
3. A good example of using types to characterizecharacters can be found in D. T. Niane’s Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. The characters in this narrative produce certain actions that make it fairly easy for the reader to characterize each one by using atype. One of the characters, Sassouma Berete, is the first wife of the king Maghan Kon Fatta. When the king dies, Sassuoma ensures that her son, and not Sundiata (her co-wife’s son), takes the throne....
ENGL 241A
Dr. Khader
March 19, 2012
EIT #5
Quotation: “It may be that characterization and thinking in types is part of our mental equipment, and it may also be that rich complexity andconstantly changing nature of human beings can never be adequately captured by this narrative equipment” (Abbott 137).
1. The idea of using types that Abbott talks about is important because manyreaders, when asked about a character in a particular narrative, describe that character using one or two words. The reader, however, fails to recognize the smaller traits of that character becausethey are focused on the larger and perhaps more important traits. Whether it is on purpose or accidental, the reader uses cultural stereotypes to define characters. Abbott’s discussion of denyingpeople their full identity makes me think about the importance of culture when it comes to reading and interpreting narrative.
2. This idea of using type to characterize a character is important tointerpreting narrative for many reasons. As Abbott discusses earlier in this chapter, there are two different types of characters in narrative: flat and round. A flat character has no hidden complexitywhereas a round character has varying degrees of complexity (133). Abbott’s conclusion that it is difficult not to characterize characters on the basis of types is important because it means that nomatter how hard the author tries to portray a character as complex, the reader will find a way to apply a specific type to that character.
3. A good example of using types to characterizecharacters can be found in D. T. Niane’s Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. The characters in this narrative produce certain actions that make it fairly easy for the reader to characterize each one by using atype. One of the characters, Sassouma Berete, is the first wife of the king Maghan Kon Fatta. When the king dies, Sassuoma ensures that her son, and not Sundiata (her co-wife’s son), takes the throne....
Leer documento completo
Regístrate para leer el documento completo.