What I have learned this semester

In my first semster senior year, I choose creative writing as my English class. It is a free-minded class and gives me a lot of fun. In the class, I read poems and stories, write my own works and improve them.   

 

In the short story Cats and Students, Bubbles and Abysses, the writer uses the first person narration that makes the story more natural and genuine.  And the writer is well writing in description. Through the description about  physical appearance , “”tall and skinny” and special language style “I went to Millsaps” ， it is easy to  image the roommate. Also,  when the writer compared himself to his room “I’m 5’6’’ tall, eighteen inches shorter than he but I’m thirty pounds heavier, an even 195“, I can see a short but heavy person stand by a tall but light person with “angry” emotion, and try to beat the tall person. Because the heavy person is proud of he “played for the Tiges three years and can deadlift 700 pounds and run a marathon in under three hours six minutes”.  The writer conveys his hateful feeling through writing in comparison that makes the story in a caricature and humor tone, which is more attractive. And the word “pre-oil” is ironic.

 

For Young Goodman Brown , it tells an allegory that a young man Brown after left his village, went to a evil forest following the allurement of an old man. In the forest, Brown met the meeting of evils. The participant includes venerable man, normal people, and his innocent wife. He strongly believes that everyone is guilt, and lost the confidence to life until died. The author uses symbolism in the story. For example as “the pink ribbons”. In the beginning of story, it talks about the pink ribbons, later it mentions over and over again. And the ribbons tie on Brown’s wife Faith ‘s hair. The pink ribbons symbolize the innocence of Faith and her religion belief. When the pink ribbons fall from the sky, it symbolized Brown begin to doubt the god and innocence of humanity. When Faith lost her ribbons, it symbolizes she lost her innocence.  In the story, it has a lot of description about environment."He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest,...the narrow path…the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs overhead." The deception makes a mystery and dark ambience which shows the way people closing to  devil is evil and dark.

 

As for Mexico written by Rick Bass, the author  uses great writing skills in the story. He tries to explore the characters of Kirby and Tricia by comparing them to the fish, commutatively writing about fish and main character. What is a funny thing is that the big and deep pool only has a fish, and Kirby pushes his car into the pool when it breaks. And one of impressed thing is that although the words Rick Bass writes are concise, but the details make up a completed picture and paint vivid characters.

 

And for a short story by Italo Calvino,  the metaphor works good in writing fiction. It shows the conflict between hare and wolf, white and black, and brings vivid image to readers. The writer let reader think more about what going on and leave more space for reader imaging. "Is he here? There? Is he a bit farther on?" This series questions can inspire the reader's interest.

Through workshop reading and commenting others’ poems, I can see different style from different people. And as a non-native English speaker,  I can find my advantage in writing my own poems, and linguistic differences compared to narrative speakers. 

 

Thank you, Mr.Sabatelli and memorable Creative Writing class.