No evidence found. Murderer went unpunished. Brevity is a key to success when one needs to present one’s ideas in a limited number of words. Six-word memoirs and six-word fictional stories are hard to write, though, reading somebody else’s examples, one may notice that most of people have fun while doing that. Practice makes perfect when it comes to writing and only after writing hundreds of short sentences one will be able to choose two or three of those which can be recognized as six-word memoirs or six-word fictional stories. Concentrating at the essence of life will help to write a six-word memoir; when making up my six-word fictional story, I ran to a conclusion that the best stories were those which came to my mind first. A six-word fictional story is a work of fiction because it presents unreal facts, while a six-word memoir is a work of non-fiction which presents reality and is able to evoke a certain response in a reader.
Looking through numerous examples of six-word memoirs, I got convinced that not all of them should concern the events which took place in the life of a person who wrote it. In other words, this is not a description of the person’s achievements or the places he/she once visited; however, some of the memoirs may still be about marital status or family problems. I realized that the most important in writing a six-word memoir is to convey the essence of one’s personality and the attitude towards one’s life which, according to Schwarz, has been influenced by “who you were, who your family was once upon a time” (Schwartz 400). Therefore, I believe that my six-word memoir “Life is short. Get the best” characterizes me as a person and lets those people who know me realize that this memoir is all about my life. Though this memoir does not directly describe the events from my life, it shows what I value in this life. It expresses exactly who I am, who I was, and who I will always be, which allows considering it a memoir.
Six-word fictional stories are somewhat more difficult to write because one has to apply imagination for this. Schwartz states that to write a fiction, one needs “to create a world from the ground up, the imagined minutiae of the life of characters [one invents]” (Schwarz 400). A six-word fictional story makes the reader able to suggest what could have happened in the story. Great imagination is crucial here though at first it seems impossible to be brief and creative at one and the same time. Nevertheless, those who have no imagination for the moment of writing a six-word fictional story should bear in mind that the most important criteria for it is to be fictional. Thus, my six-word fictional story “Evidence not found. Murderer went unpunished” may be regarded as such because it is invented and because it helps suggesting what happened in the story. For instance, it is clear that a murder took place; it was followed by an investigation and a trial in the course of which no evidence was found and the case had to be closed, which let the murderer avoid the punishment.
According to Schwarz, the most vivid feature which distinguishes a memoir and a fictional story is that “the voice of memoir … can evoke a quick response” (401), as well as it can form certain attitude about a person who wrote a memoir. Fictional story, in its turn, evokes only emotions and does not allow shaping an opinion about its writer, since what it represents does not reflect the writer’s inner characteristics.
In sum, six-word memoirs and six-word fictional stories demand brevity from the writer. The main difference between them is that a memoir evokes response in a reader, while a fictional story is not real and can only evoke emotions about the characters presented in it rather than about the writer.
Works Cited
Schwarz, Mimi. Memoir? Fiction? Where’s the Line? Pearson Longman, 2005.
The concept of “technoculture” is widely used in modern fiction. In terms of the traditional concerns treatment of technology is essential. This very idea–along with the suggestion that a viable society might be able to exist without machines–is striking in a modern context. The principal concern of its author is that machines might eventually evolve to the point where they develop consciousness, after which they might be able to supplant humanity as the dominant intelligent species on earth. The word “techno culture” vividly portrays modern society and its discontents. Technoculture provides an important supplement to most fictions of technology in its focus not on a society that uses technology for expansion, but on one that is the object of such expansion. The term “technoculture” means a way of life followed by modern society with its appliances, cars, and computers.
An illustration of technoculture
The novel “White Noise’ is an illustration of technoculture and its impact on society. The main character, Jack Gladney is an outsider who cannot fit the traditional norms and values of society. A unique interpretation of reality and the world around him gives him access to another reality of great status. In general, these developments have put into question traditional assumptions about the unity and homogeneity of the protagonists. For instance, Jack Gladney is often called “indistinct’ by his colleagues and perceived as an outsider. For Jack Gladney, this alienation means equality and the absence of physical coercion, free choice and personal liberation, and the opportunity to act as would be desirable. DeLillo writes: Everything is concealed in symbolism. Hidden by veils of mystery and layers of cultural material (DeLillo 276). This quote vividly portrays that technoculture can be seen as a symbol of modern society and present-day life.
Technology is a tool of oppression
“Technoculture” and “White Noise” show that technology is a tool of oppression, rather than healing, obviously echoing treatment by the new social establishment. The value and importance of “White Noise” us that it presents readers with a mixture of realism with fantasy designed to challenge those assumptions by presenting alternatives of technology. The basic assumption states that society is not predestined or otherwise forced to a particular technology. Thus, the way and mode of life are shaped by technoculture. The first is changes in the scope and uniqueness of the main sectors – technology, information, and industry. This representation classifies industrial production into traditional and high-tech industries, each with diverse needs for technology and innovations. Technoculture allows modern people to exchange information faster and simpler than ever before. The information can be seen as a two-part sector of the economy: home-based services and information industries. Technoculture provides people with innovations and information applications that have emerged exponentially but play a great role in the everyday life of society. As modern technology advances, society becomes bounded by computers, from large ones handling medical and scientific tasks to microcomputers in cars, home appliances, games, entertainment centers, and everywhere else. Overdependence on technology is explained by the fact that people cannot live and perform well without technology and innovations that enter everyday life.
Conclusion
In sum, the term and concept of “technoculture” reflect the essence of modern society and its overdependence on technology. Still, it leaves open the possibility that both the opportunities and weaknesses are merely projections of technological innovations. Technoculture penetrates all spheres of life and dictates norms and standards of living.
Works Cited
Geyh, P., Leebron, G. J. Levy, A. Postmodern American Fiction. A Norton Anthology. W.W. Norton & Co.; 1st edition, 1997.
Research has been done to determine the link between imagination and reality. Knowledge enables human beings to understand and see what already exists, which is contrary to imagination. Imagination lets human beings create something or situations that have never been seen or existed before. Imagination allows one to create and think the impossible and is mainly shaped by what we hear and see. The current technological advancements that have become a necessity today were people’s imaginations in the past. None of them existed, but their imaginations have become a reality today. Innovators and researchers thrive on imagination to discover things that have never been discovered or create things that have never existed, respectively (Peters 4). “The Machine Stops” story by E.M. Forster is a known science fiction story that imagines the future with significant advancement in technology. Thus, there is a need to analyze the story’s accuracy and link it with the current future in which we live today.
The Machine Stops Plot
The Machine Stops is a science fiction story that was written in 1909 by Edward Morgan Forster. The story is set in times where human beings live underground with the help of a giant machine to provide all the needs, including shelter, food, clothing, and communication. The story portrays a picture where people cannot live on the earth’s surface, and everyone has to live in isolation underground in standard rooms (Forster 1). The omnipotent machine covers that whole world and contains all spiritual and bodily necessities vital for human survival. Communication occurs virtually where people send instant messages or video conferencing to share ideas, knowledge and talk to family members and friends. Even though traveling or movement from one place to another is not prohibited, people rarely travel and find it unnecessary to move from one place to another. This is because they can virtually talk or see whoever they wish to talk to or see with the aid of the machine.
The story has two main characters, Vashti and one of her sons Kuno. The two lived in the machine on different sides of the world, where they could only virtually talk and see each other. Kuno is not contented with the machine and is therefore rebellious, unlike his mother, who adores and worships the machine like many other people worldwide. Vashti is reluctant to leave her room where her life is concentrated and finds it hard to travel to see her son on the other side of the globe (Forster 5). From her room, she can talk to friends, family members and lecture her students in different parts of the world, among other day-to-day activities. Vashti gets angry after realizing her son has been visiting the surface of the earth where he saw other people living outside the machine. This makes Kuno be threatened with homelessness after being captured by the machine, and this would see him expelled out of the machine, which would risk his life.
The machine was treated like a god leading to Technopoly, a type of religion where people worshipped and adored the machine. Those who never embrace the deity of the machine were threatened with homelessness. As time passed, Kuno and Vashti started to live near each other in separate rooms where Kuno started to believe the machine was breaking down or stopping. Vashti ignores her son’s warnings and continues with her life activities normally. Defects on the machine start to appear and continue to deteriorate. People lose the knowledge on how to repair the machine, and after some time, the machine stops and collapses. This brings civilization and Technopoly down, destroying everyone living in it (Forster 20). Before their death, Kuno and Vashti realized that having a connection with the natural world was all that mattered because the surface dwellers will continue to exist even after the machine’s collapse (Forster 24). The two hoped that the surface dweller would learn from the mistake and prevent it from happening again.
The Machine Stops and The Current Future
Forster predicts the future where people will rely heavily on technology to carry out their daily activities and connect or communicate with each other. He visualized a future where human beings will be too artificial, which could end up destroying themselves and ending the civilization era. The machine is a metaphor that represents those at the top of a hierarchy or the government who control people and run all the activities within the system. Technology is an enabler that people rely on to communicate and interact with each other.
In today’s modern world, people have become more of automated machines. According to Góngora Alonso et al. in 2019, this is the current situation where people have become social robots and have started to forget the natural life where they physically interacted and communicated with friends and family members. Buying items, going to work, communicating, and interacting with each other have become involuntary and mechanical, especially after introducing the internet and instant messaging (Góngora Alonso 539). No one can individually question those in power or the government, and those who try to do so put their lives at risk and end up living an oppressed life. People are living in an illusion of happiness that thrives on humans’ greed, leaving a void that makes us slaves of ourselves. However, a few see this as a dangerous move like Kuno, but no one can listen to them, including those who are very close to them.
Technology has brought numerous benefits to all sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and business. However, with the speed at which technology is advancing daily, governments around the world, especially among the superpowers, are becoming reluctant to control the negative use of technology. Advancement in war and terror machinery and equipment might lead to our destruction if the necessary measures are never put in place. Torres, Phil in 2019 revealed that the information hazards and agential risks are likely to become uncontrollable and will eventually lead to mass destruction of humans, plants, and animals shortly (Torres, Phil 133). Several countries that including the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, possess nuclear bombs capable of destroying the world in a blink of an eye. All these risks caused by technological advancement are likely to destroy the world or the society run by governments.
Apart from technological advancement, generational mistakes and ignorance are a significant aspect in the story. At the end of the story, Vashti and her son Kuno lay dying together in Vashti’s room, watching the machine and everyone in it being buried under the earth. The machine was built by their forefathers and had been in existence over the years, and as generations came, they embraced what their parents and grandparents upheld without questioning. Those who did were harshly condemned as foolish and uncivilized, just like Kuno, who was being threatened to be made homeless by the Committee that was making decisions on which punishment those who violated the laid rules would be facing. This has been when those who criticize or challenge the current systems and governments are assassinated or threatened in one way or another to a point where whatever they say becomes meaningless. The majority follow the systems and those in government or the created technologies with no questioning, just like Vashti and other people who lived in the machine.
Even when things are not going in the right way, they live in ignorance and assumption that things are still okay just the way they are. For instance, gas companies in the world continue to produce gas even when it is well known that the gas supply is likely to deplete in about fifty years to come (Seele, Peter 5). This will kill the world’s ozone layer leading to incurable diseases like cancer and irreversible climatic changes, which are likely to wipe humanity out of the face of the earth. Unfortunately, no one questions their activities, and governments continue to give them all the necessary legal support due to the income they generate. This will eventually destroy everyone, the good and the bad, just like in the story where Vashti and her son collapsed with the machine.
Finally, the way people define and express love is significantly drifting from the natural way of life. From the story, Vashti lives on the opposite side of the world with her son, who lives thousands of miles away. In a normal family setting, it is expected that she should be living with her son and show him motherly love. This indicates that family and love will be a thing of the past where people will be more concerned with their jobs and other individual activities and forget their loved ones. Currently, many family members are living in different regions or countries. They are forced to communicate and interact through various mediums such as social media or video conferencing. Unfortunately, people come together when they are faced with a challenge, just like when Vashti and her son lived in one room when they realized that the machine had stopped and was collapsing, but it was too late to make the necessary adjustments.
Conclusion
Life before civilization is completely different from the life that people are living today. A lot has changed, especially in how people live with each other and their families. Even though civilization has brought numerous benefits that could never be achieved, it also has its cons which are portrayed by the story. This is an indication that regardless of the advancements we make as human beings, we should always remember that nature is not threatened in any manner. Our instincts should always be alive regardless of the progress we make. Those who challenge the norm should be listened to because if Vashti listened to his son, she could have taken the necessary actions because she was influential and could easily reach other people in the machine who some of them were her students. ‘The Machine Stops’ is an eye-opener to humanity that predicts how the future might be if no measures are taken.
References
Forster, Edward Morgan. The machine stops. Open Road Media, 2020, pp. 1-25
Góngora Alonso, Susel, et al. “Social robots for people with ageing and dementia: a systematic review of literature.” Telemedicine and e-Health vol. 25, no. 7, 2019, pp. 533-540.
Peters, Michael A. ” ‘Reality is an activity of the most august imagination’. When the world stops, it’s not a complete disaster–we can hear the birds sing!.” 2020, pp. 1-4.
Seele, Peter. “The Long Shadow of Fatalism: A philosophical speculation on forster’s “The Machine Stops” (1909) on the disintegration of technologically advanced societies back then and today.” Philosophy of Management 2021, pp. 1-9.
Torres, Phil. “Who would destroy the world? Omnicidal agents and related phenomena.” Aggression and Violent Behavior Vol. 39, 2018, pp. 129-138.
In one of his major works, Distant Star, Bolaño calls his audience to “return to the beginning, to Carlos Wieder and the year of grace 1974” (Carlos Wieder’s Ghostly Inscription, n. d.). Though one might have thought that Carlos Wieder is a real-life person, he was the figment of Bolaño’s imagination and the alter ego of another Bolaño’s character, an aviator named Alberto Ruiz-Tagle (Bolaño and the Ghosts of History 14).
Pulpo/Octopus
Yoshua Okón’s Pulpo/Octopus is an installation that was created quite recently, yet is supposed to commemorate the people who sacrificed their lives if took place quite a while. The given installation follows the tradition of civil war re-enactments, which was started by the USA and other countries, and the legacy of which Yoshua Okón’s Pulpo/Octopus manages to carry on (Carlos Wieder’s Ghostly Inscription Part 2 38).
Testimonials
Written by Menchú, the book is known as The Discourse of the Other: Testimonio and the Fiction of the Maya has as many controversies around it as its author does around her. The given book touches upon several sensitive issues occurring during the Mexican war, particularly the issues concerning the relationships with the representatives of the Maya tribe. Menchú voices her disdain about the events of the epoch in a very explicit manner, and she does so for the right reason. However, because of the recent discovery concerning Menchú’s lack of participation in the Mexico guerilla movement, her familiarity with the subject has been questioned.
Octavio Pérez Mena
Another book devoted to the issue of the Guatemalan fight for independence, the story of Otavio Pérez Mena deserves being paid close attention to. Written by Horacio Castellanos Moya, the given novel deals, predictably enough, with the Civil War that swept entire Guatemala, as well as the massacre that followed the first few steps of the rebels (Senselessness: Drunk History/Infrapolitics 8). It is quite remarkable that Moya does not describe a fictional character – quite on the opposite, his protagonist existed in reality and was a general during the war (Senselessness: We All Know Who Are the Assassins! para. 1). Later on, elected as a president, Mena left a memorable trace in the Guatemalan history, which Moya manages to capture in his book as something to be remembered (Memory at Work in Latin American Culture para. 1).
Arturo B
Also known as Arturo Belano, Arturo B. is the key protagonist and the narrator in Distant Star, one of Belano’s major works depicting the terrors of the Guatemalan War.
Quotations
Coined by Octavio Paz (Paz 227), the given expression defines the specifics of the infamous massacre in Mexico. Aimed at suppressing the protest organized by Mexican students, the given event took incredible scale and became notoriously known as not only one of the major massacres in Mexico but also as one of the most violent and greatest massacres periods. Remarkably, the given quote was introduced first by the Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska (Poniatovska xvi). In her work, Poniatowska makes it clear that, when expressing his opinion regarding the massacre, Paz addressed not only the lack of success of the protesters but also the high hopes and aspirations that went astray the day when the massacre began.
The second quote, which comes from the book about Rigoberta Menchú, obviously concerns the process of Guatemalans fighting for their liberty against the regime that the state was doomed to under the reign of the then Guatemalan president Jacobo Árbenz. The given quote gives a lot of food for thoughts since it does not name the exact offenders and their victims, yet points at the contradictions within the state that needed to be resolved. For instance, the conflict between the Mayan Indians and the residents of Guatemala shines through the lines of the given quote. Embracing both the international and interracial misunderstandings, the given quote pretty much sums up the led to the infamous battle.
Essay
Translating non-fictional works alone is an incredibly complicated task, with all the details that need to be included in the text written in the target language, the hidden innuendoes that must be transported into the target language with due care, and the specific style that must be kept throughout the paper. What makes the process even more complicated is the fact that the slightest change made to the source text may turn its meaning upside down. Sometimes direct translation is not the best way out, which the case of such work as Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así me nació la Conciencia shows in a very graphic way. Although technically, such translation as “I am Rigoberta Menchú, and thus was my Consciousness Born” seems to be a more exact translation, the following variant: “I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala” still seems to be the most adequate, since it allows the audience to define the source of the conflict (“Indian woman in Guatemala” obviously points at ethical and racial issues).
The issue regarding the controversy of the data provided by Menchú should also be brought up when defining the precision of the translation. According to some sources, she does not have the right to voice her opinion on the issue, since she had very little to do with the actual conflict and that her opinion may be politicized considerably, seeing how her father gave his life for the Guatemalans to win (Márquez 3). While there is a grain of truth in the given supposition, it still must be admitted that Menchú provides a fairly decent account of the events that took place at the time, as well as offers a range of strong and coherent arguments against the Guatemalan dictatorship to consider (Art and Politics of the Central American Wars 2).
Indeed, as the existing sources say, the India – Guatemala conflict, though unknown to most people outside the conflicting sides, has gained quite a reputation among the rest of the world countries. There is no secret that the process of Guatemala liberation has been going on for quite long and that it has been major bloodshed. Losing her father to the war, Menchú followed his footsteps in that she supported the principles of social justice (Rigoberta Menchú: Secrets and the Return of Truth 11). Given the fact that the author’s father supported the guerilla movement that was meant to use non-violent methods for the sake of state liberation and the introduction of social justice into the Guatemalan justice system, however, it will be unreasonable to suggest that the idea of the given process shaping one’s consciousness should not be included into the book title, either. Hence, including the principle of shaping the author’s consciousness is a must when translating the book title, which means that the existing translation could be improved a notch.
Works Cited
Art and Politics of the Central American Wars n. d. PDF file.
Bolaño and the Ghosts of History n. d. PDF file.
Carlos Wieder’s Ghostly Inscription n. d. PDF file.
Carlos Wieder’s Ghostly Inscription Part 2 n. d. PDF file.
Márquez, Iván. Contemporary Latin American Social and Political Thought: An Anthology. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008. Print.
Memory at Work in Latin American Culture n. d. PDF file.
Paz, Octavio. The Collected Poems of Octavio Paz. Trans. Eliot Weinberger. New York, NY: New Directions Book. 1975. 224–227. Print.
Poniatovska, Elena. Massacre in Mexico. Columbia, MI: University of Missouri Press, 1975. Print.
Rigoberta Menchú: Secrets and the Return of Truth n. d. PDF file.
Senselessness: Drunk History/Infrapolitics. n. d.PDF file.
Senselessness: We All Know Who Are the Assassins! n. d. PDF file.
In literature, science fiction is one of the few genres that have managed to retain their relevance even with the advent of new and perceivably better genres. A common definition is that science fiction is “a genre of fiction where the stories are about futuristic science and technologies” (Scholes 6).
It falls under fiction because most of the contents such as aliens, futuristic space travel, and paranormal events are imaginary (Scholes 6). Science fiction has found its place among the ‘great’ literatures of the word and hence a contribution in the field of literature.
Some of the most sales in literature are in the genre of science fiction with fans all over the world (Scholes 6). This essay looks at the genre by using two examples of texts to portray some of its characteristics.
Purpose of Science fiction and its use in Colleges
Traditionally, science fiction has mainly been read for leisure due to its enjoyable nature by a particular age group of people (Roberts 11). The use of science fiction has therefore been to provide entertainment for the readers. In colleges, science fiction has an application in the teaching of literature and English classes (Roberts 13).
The value in teaching is as a result of its enjoyable nature where unmotivated learners and reluctant readers find this method of learning easy to use (Roberts 9).Colleges also use this genre of literature to sharpen the literary skills of the students.
This genre of literature was successful in the past with some of the works receiving major awards. The authors who write in mainstream literature have also ventured in this genre thus symbolizing its importance and position alongside the other great genres of literature (Scholes 6).
The texts
The two texts to be discussed in relation to science fiction are Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed by Ray Bradbury, and Nightfall by Isaac Asimov. The two fit in the genre because of their utilization of scientific theories and fictional ideas.
In Ray Bradbury’s story, the earth is engaged in an atomic war. One of the families sets off for mars where other humans are said to be living (179). The main character is said to be attempting to build a rocket with human beings easily traveling to and from mars (190).
In the second story, a fictional planet with light throughout is described (Asimov 11). These and other scientific theories in the stories are some of the reasons why they fit into the genre.
The stories add to the body of knowledge in science fiction, as they propose some new theories. In Ray Bradbury’s story, it is the existence of a virus on planet mars (186) while it is the new planet and stars in Asimov’s story with a planet that never experiences night (13).
Science and technology are a significant component of Bradbury’s story. It is through it that the planet earth and all its inhabitants are partially destroyed with just few survivors (185). The technology in the setting of the story is so advance that a common man like the character and the friends are able to build their own rocket (189).
The persona of the scientist is engaged in both of the stories as it is characteristic of fictional stories. In Asimov’s Nightfall, the character, Mr. Bittering explores the building of a rocket to take him and his family back to planet earth even though a mention of his scientific capabilities is not made (179).
Some of the scientists in the Nightfall include Sheerin 501 and Siferra 89 both of whom make great discoveries in their respective fields about their fictional planet (33).
Gender and sexual roles in the context of science fiction are well represented. In Bradbury’s story of the family members, Mr. Bittering is the only one concerned with the changes in events in their new planet (Roberts 15). The male sex is therefore depicted as being stronger and wiser as it is in most of the fiction stories (Margot 153).
Race is presented in the same story as constituting the Martians and the earth people. The Martians are depicted as being evil to the humans’ coming after Mr. Bittering’s family (194)
Technology and religion are combined in the Nightfall with a cult said to confirm the likely events in the planet Lagash (40). According to them, the planet would experience darkness after a predicted period of years. The scientists came up with the same theory, which was later confirmed (40).
The concept of humanness is well explored in the story by Bradbury. In fact, human beings are portrayed as a superior race (187). They view other beings as a threat to them even when they happen to be friendly. The view is consistent with most of the works in science fiction (Roberts 17).
The existing and actual scientific theories of the existence of life forms on mars and some form of harsh conditions here, which would not favor human survival, are alluded to in the story (189). Scientists believe in a form of life that is not known to the planet earth within the atmosphere and environment of mars, which may affect human beings (Margot 157).
The two stories are part of larger themes with Bradbury’s story alluding to the end of the planet earth and global atomic war. The notion of utopia is presented in the story by Bradbury where the character believes that planet earth is their rightful home without some of the changes that his family was going through (186).
Dystopia is presented in Asimov’s story where the planet in which the characters were living would experience darkness and virtually turn into a dystopia (32).
The two stories also present an interaction between science and society with science contributing significantly to behaviors, events, and decision-making in the societies in the stories. In Bradbury’s fictional story, it is because of science that man has been able to destroy his world while at the same time colonizing a different one (185).
Asimov’s story on the other hand presents a positive interaction of science and society where scientific knowledge helps in the prediction of a major event in the fictional planet (Roberts 24). The negative and positive interactions of science and society as depicted in most science fiction works (Roberts 26) are therefore highlighted in the texts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, science fiction is an important genre in literature that has found its place among the other great genres. Its main use is leisure as utilized in learning institutions where students can learn literature and English besides having fun at the same time. Two examples of texts in this genre have been discussed alongside their contribution to the genre.
Works Cited
Asimov, Isaac. Nightfall: and other stories. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1969. Print.
Bradbury, Ray. S is for space. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1966. Print.
Fiction is a branch of literature that deals with events that are not factual at the time of writing as used in storytelling where the writer seeks to portray certain arbitrary characters or ideas. Fiction in the field of literature is used for the purposes of giving instructional examples; advertising; moralizing like in the use of fables; and propaganda. The elements of fiction as used in the development of a story’s theme include; plot, characters, symbols, conflict, point of view, and settings. However due to the fact that literature is an art and not a science; all these elements cannot be quantified or have representation in any given story. The author of this story has used the elements of fiction descriptively in explaining the character, settings; and conflict among other aspects of fiction as can be seen from the story (Michael, 2008).
From the story the hand; elements of fiction include; the element of conflict where the writer denotes “his big arm under the small of her slim, adolescent back” (240). Here the writer uses the element of conflict as a tool to make the story interesting as well as making the narration of the story easier. The author further uses the fictional element of settings; where he describes the point at which the hand of the character lay in relation to the position of the woman’s right elbow. “His strong hand lay on the sheet next to the young woman’s right elbow”(240). The settings given to the story, in this case, are important in helping the reader understand the real position of the characters at that time which is referred to as universal when not specified (Michael, 2008).
The author further takes the point of view of a third person character in narrating the story; as he tells the story from an invisible point of view where he is not one of the characters within the plot. In the third-place point of view, an author uses the words he, she, or it when referring to the fictional characters and contra factual events. This perspective is evident from the line, “he had slipped his big arm under the small of her slim, adolescent back” (240), here the words he and her are used. The author further uses the element of fictional conflict where he contrasts the “blue of the brand new curtains, instead of the apricot-pink through which the first light of day filtered into the room where she had slept as a little girl” (241). The writer gives the conflict of time and place in this same part of the story (Michael, 2008).
The fictional element of symbolism is put into use; where the writer notes;” the charming authority exercised by weak creatures”(241) in which he tries to give symbolic meaning to the charming authority of weak creatures with relation to the current situation where the wife grasps her husband’s neck. The author also uses the element of fictional character where he portrays the woman as being investigative. This is used in the plot of the story severally like at the point where the lady thinks “it’s so big! It really is bigger than my whole head”(241). The wife’s character is also portrayed as being obnoxious where she internally conflicts “and I’ve kissed that hand” (241) where she was referring to the husband’s hand; on which she notices curves she had not known. The fictional plot used in this case is that of a newlywed couple sleeping that goes further to explain the topic in question which is the hand (Michael, 2008).
The author of this story has fully used the functional elements of fictional; as can be seen from the story that he has related the elements of plot, character among the others to arrive at an interesting story that is so intriguing that a reader cannot stop but continue to find out what happened in the next point within the plot.
Reference
Michael, M. (2008).Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Bedford/St. Martin’s
Both Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain are reputable representatives of hard-boiled crime novels. Their works are famous for overstrained plots in which their characters undergo a variety of challenges and reveal the depth of human souls in the particular historical and cultural period. The hard-boiled detective has developed from the classical detective story. Thus, there is a crime and the detective who investigates that crime and finds a villain. However, the hard-boiled detective story differs from the classical detective in several ways. First, personal emotions and passions are significant in hard-boiled detectives. Unlike classical detectives where the investigation and the explanation of crime are central, the personal confrontation between protagonist and antagonist is significant in hard-boiled stories. Also, the hard-boiled novels depict detectives as “cool guys” who are often trapped in dangerous situations.
When speaking about texts under considerations, it should be noted that they belong to the so-called “noir fiction”. According to Horsley, “noir thrillers are stories that can be seen as very directly related to the socio-economic circumstances of the time” (par. 1). Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep is considered to be one of the best novels of the author. It was published in 1939. This story is famous for its complicated plot and the controversy of the situation depicted. Besides, Phillip Marlowe, Chandler’s protagonist and detective, appears in this story for the first time. The story is about Marlowe’s investigation of the case of blackmailing of General Sternwood’s daughter — Carmen Sternwood. Marlowe investigates the complicated case and finally finds out that Carmen, together with his sister Vivien, are involved in murders and criminal activities. The Big Sleep was published during the peak of the Great Depression. It depicts the peculiarities of that period taking Los Angeles as an example. Chandler criticizes American way of life at those times. He reveals the corruptness and falsity of human emotions in American society in the 1930s.
James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity is a 1943 noir detective that depicts the story of the average insurance agent Walter Huff and Phyllis Nirdlinger. Phyllis is a wife of some Mr. Nirdlinger, who has an auto insurance policy. Phyllis seduces Walter in the attempt to involve him in the crime — to cause her husband’s death in the train accident to receive insurance coverage of forty-five thousand dollars. They both manage to conduct a crime. However, their intentions are revealed, and they decide to commit suicide to omit punishment. The story is told in a gloomy tone that is used for the depiction of the human greed. The novel, the same as The Big Sleep, describes the American society during the Great Depression in a cynical manner. The author also emphasizes the role and the potential danger of the “small man’s greed”.
The convention of the femme fatale is of great significance for the noir fiction as far as it can reveal the historical and cultural background of Los Angeles in the 1930s. Both Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain employ femme fatale to disclose the most important concerns of their contemporary society: greed, false ideas, and immorality of life.
Femme fatale is one of crucial conventions of noir fiction. Femme fatale represents an archetype of the extremely attractive woman whose beauty makes men being involved in dangerous and risky situations. The image of femme fatale has been known since the beginning of humankind. Many mythologies share the story of attractive women who seduce men and kill them or use for their purposes. Succubus, the women demon, can serve as a vivid example.
Lafayette writes, Essentially, a femme fatale is a woman who uses men and women to accomplish her agenda; all means and tactics are allowed; Men fall for her, because she is divinely attractive, mesmerizing and challenging. Some men know up front she is up to no good, she is treacherous and canning, mais domage, her charm is irresistible (13).
Usually, Femme fatale works with the anti-hero and leads them in the work. They have a close relationship in the novel in order to achieve their goals. Jaber states that femme fatale has become an integral image of the mid-twentieth century noir films and crime fiction in the United States of America (1). The femme fatale is always involved in the investigation or commitment of crime, violence, betrayal, or corruption that are described on the background of the large urban city. In the novel Double Indemnity, Phyllis can be defined as the femme fatale and Greed is the primary reason, which forces her to murder her husband and gain her own power and money. She is depicted as a beautiful and attractive woman at the beginning of the novel, “She was maybe thirty-one or –two, with a sweet face, light blue eyes, and dusty blonde hair” (Cain 2). Phyllis uses her outstanding appear to seduce Walter to help her murder her husband and get the money from the insurance company. She wants to escape from the loveless and sexless home.
As a femme fatale, she brings death to not only to her husband, but also Walter and herself. Phyllis compares herself to Death at the beginning of the novel when their plan to kill her husband is made up: “I think of myself as Death, sometimes. In scarlet shroud, floating through the night” (Cain 20) In my opinion, Phyllis’s greed for money and independence make her a femme fatale. She doesn’t have enough power to get the things she wants. Therefore, she needs a man to help her. She uses Walter as a tool for approaching her desires. The genre element of femme fatale is used to provide a critical overview of the social life in America in the 1930s. The period of Great Depression is characterized by substantial losses to everyone. When people feel scarcity of something, they tend to become even more greedy and corrupt. The image of Phyllis is connected to the problem of human greed. The author depicts the weak-minded Walter as one who is ready to kill the person to receive some money. Phyllis is a strong woman though her intentions are evil. Cain criticized the American society for sharing false ideals and vain beliefs.
In The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler employs the convention of femme fatale as central. Two female characters are Vivian Sternwood and her sister — Carmen. Both of them are femme fatales though they are very different as personalities.
The novel presents two models of women: Carmen is a medicalized woman, an epileptic and infantile murderess who is taken away by the end of the novel, while Vivian is a powerful woman who covers for her sister’s crimes and ultimately walks away with her family’s money and power (Jaber 62).
In the book, the author provides the description of these characters via the words of their father — General Sternwood, who says, “Vivian is spoiled, exacting, smart and quite ruthless. Carmen is a child who likes to pull wings off flies. Neither of them has any more moral sense than a cat” (Chandler 12). Vivian tries to seduce Marlowe to distract him from the investigation. These lines describe Marlowe’s thoughts about Vivian — “She was worth a stare. She was trouble” (Chandler 16). I believe that Vivian’s readiness to hide murders using any possible means (such as her beauty) makes her femme fatale. Via this image, the author shows that American people share false ideas.
Carmen is depicted as a woman who shares features of an innocent child and murderer at the same time. Marlowe thinks “There was something behind her eyes, blank as they were, that I had never seen in a woman’s eyes” (Chandler 140). Her role is purely that of femme fatale. Carmen uses sex as a method of achieving her goals. Men that had some connection with her, Regan, Geiger, and Brody, are already dead. Carmen is a femme fatale that demonstrates that life in American society is sunk in selfishness, corruption, pornography, and murders.
The noir fiction can be relevant in current historical and cultural context. The aim of the noir fiction is to show the dark side of humanity. In my opinion, nothing changes about humanity. People still are greedy, selfish, and immoral. Only the settings change. No longer there are heavy days of the Great Depression. We live in a society where almost everyone can earn enough money for living. Still, people continue to desire more, kill others for money, and share vain beliefs. Noir fiction can be used to investigate the nature of evil in humankind. Current historical and cultural context proves that history changes but people’s minds and souls continue being dark and ready for everything to follow their selfish goals.
Works Cited
Cain, James. Double Indemnity. London, United Kingdom: Hachette, 2010. Print.
Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep. New York City, New York: Vintage Crime/ Black Lizard, 1988. Print.
Horsley, Lee. American Hard-Boiled Crime Fiction. n.d. Web.
Jaber, Maysaa. Criminal Femme Fatales in American Hardboiled Crime Fiction.
Basingstoke, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. Print.
Lafayette, Maximillien. Hollywood Femme Fatales and Ladies of Film Noir. Raleigh, North California: Lulu, 2011. Print.
Stories should be an authentic experience for readers, and for the authors to bring this realism, they use themes, characters, subplots, and symbolism. One of the simplest methods in a story analysis is symbolism. It is significant as it turns a typical place, person, color and object into something beyond literal. For instance, white represents purity, shackles symbolize slavery, and babies represent unlimited potential and innocence. The symbols are universal as people have similar ideologies about them. However, signs can also have individual meaning that interrelates to a specific character in the story. Thus, whether the symbol implies a certain feeling or is universal, it can add a layer that draws readers deeper into a story. Symbolism reflects in the stories “Young Goodman Brown,” “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” and “A&P” through the use of strangers in their plots.
In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” she uses writing skills such as symbolism to get across different themes to the readers. The story revolves around the grandmother, with a somewhat artificial sense of goodness, and a criminal who symbolizes evil. The stranger in this peculiar literature is the misfit who brings out the theme that everyone has shortcomings and inadequacies. He has taken time to examine his experiences and consider the actions which he has learned lessons from them (Hani 50). The author uses the misfit to reveal the self-awareness that the grandmother lacks. The misfit acts according to his beliefs and has a more steady view of life than the grandmother, whose moral code falls apart when challenged. The story’s plotline speculates that the grandmother exempts her self-righteousness while she is no better than the misfit himself.
In “Young Goodman Brown,” the wretch resembles an ordinary man, which suggests that everyone has the capacity for evil. The story is about how Goodman Brown journeys to the woods where he meets a man who is persuading him they go together. But Brown is reluctant until he finds his wife’s ribbon, which makes him lose his faith. The stranger in the story is a man whom Hawthorne addresses as decently dressed and resembles all other men in the village (Kharbutli and Al-Omoush 53). The presentation of the man in the plotline was to facilitate the downfall of Goodman Brown. He symbolizes that the prince of darkness can appear in any form and not necessarily out of place. The emphasis on evil being a chameleon in nature proposes that the devil embodies all the worst parts of a man. It signifies that every wrong we participate in resembles the evil in us; we should not expect that the devil is an extraordinary thing.
“A&P” is a narrative that expounds on the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is about Sammy, who is nineteen years of age and works as a grocery store clerk. On a particular day, three girls visit the store wearing bathing suits (Huy Bắc 9). Everyone in the store finds this dressing inappropriate except for Sammy, who chooses to quit his job as the manager, and is rude to three girls. The story features the three young girls as strangers in the plotline; they symbolize rebellion. Through them, Sammy begins realizing that being different and rebellious is okay. He chose to quit his job; he believed being at the grocery was not his call. Thus this girl presenting themselves was a life changeover, for he never cared how his parents would take it, but he was not ready to be a clerk in a grocery store anymore.
From the analysis of the three stories, it is clear that the strangers are used in the stories’ plots to expound on different perspectives. Different characters in the field of a story present different meanings. The themes, character traits, and sense of the story are expounded through symbolism in the story. Moreover, symbolism usage is to address a potentially controversial piece discreetly rather than approaching it directly. Complex ideas in the three storylines have been easier to understand, as one can interpret and think about the authors’ words independently through symbolism in their plots.
Works Cited
Hani, Mohammad. “Analysis of Social Problems in A Good Man is Hard to Find By Flannery O’Connor. “ English Community Journal, vol 3, no. 1, 2019, p. 342. Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang.
Huy Bắc, Lê. “John Updike and an Itinerary Determine the American Identity.” Journal of Science, Social Science, vol 60, no. 5, 2015, pp. 3-11. Journal of Science, Hanoi National University of Education.
Kharbutli, Mahmoud, and Ishraq Al-Omoush. “Socio-Psychological Alienation in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown.” Asian Social Science, vol 17, no. 3, 2021, p. 55. Canadian Center Of Science And Education.
Domestic and adventure fictions have several characteristics that distinguish them from other types of imaginative writing. “One Crazy Summer” and “Hoot” are some of the most intriguing novels that show the features of domestic and adventure fiction. The core need for using the two books is to identify how these two genres have been used in the texts and how they help create a crucial difference from other genres.
Summary of the Novels
“One Crazy Summer” comprises Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, who live in Brooklyn New York. Their father sent them to Oakland, California so they could stay there with their mother, Cecile. Bobby Hutton who was one of the members of the Black Panther was shot by the police and he died while other members were wrongly jailed. The sisters returned home after the San Francisco trip and found their mother and other two members of the Black Panther Party being arrested. The girls performed a poem their mother had written before her arrest. The sisters’ mother is released from jail and returns home, prompting the girls to hug her for the last time as they decide to return home.
In “Hoot”, Roy becomes acquaintances with Dana Matherson in Florida. Motherson is one of the worst-known bullies in the area, a trait that becomes unfortunate for Roy. Motherson presses hard his thumbs against Roy’s temples and pushes him against the school-bus window. While in this situation, Roy observes a boy with “no shoes, no backpack, no books—strange, indeed, on a school day.” (Hiaasen, 2019, p. 6). He chases him to where he meets different creatures that he begins to become attracted to and decides to protect. He becomes friends with Beatrice, who has a connection to the barefoot boy. He later realizes that the boy has relationships with vandalism occurring at the site where some construction was happening and endangered the lives of the burrowing owls. The three children then take the fight to the crooked politicians and police hoping to save the animals.
Characteristics of Domestic and Adventure Fiction
Domestic fiction is evident in the text of “One Crazy Summer” and “Hoot.” Firstly, both novels are set in around the home (Mallett et al., 2019). For instance, “One Crazy Summer” talks about the three sisters, the grandmother, and their mother, while “Hoot” deals with Roy and his other family members leaving Montana for Florida. Secondly, the novels also have elements of social and personal issues that include family and community relationships (Mallett et al., 2019). For instance, Cecile and her sisters were abandoned by their mother and at one point their father sends them to stay for a while with her. On the other hand, Roy enjoys a good lifestyle but is intrigued by that boy who instead of taking the school bus, runs away from it and has no shoes. Thirdly, domestic fictions emphasize social class issues, such as opulence, poverty, and property (Mallett et al., 2019). For instance, the sun is considered a crucial element in the daily lives of the people, since its failure to spin around its axis would result in no harvest among poor farmers and a lack of food for the less privileged.
Domestic fiction also has elements of motivations and psychological knowledge passed to the characters. For instance, Fern asked Cecile why she changed her name. Cecile answers that it was because she considered her name to reflect who she is currently, hence did not see the need for calling herself by an old name. On the other hand, when Curly leaned hard against Roy, Roy managed to beat him, portraying defeat against the bully. Moreover, domestic fictions portray rewards in form of moral or social benefits to the affected parties. For instance, the hugging between Cecile and her daughters depicts she learned the need for loving her family while in prison. Similarly, those who bullied Roy and his friends become fugitives and have to stay on the run with their dirty clothes.
Domestic fiction usually talks about girls and women being the main characters in the story. As evident in “One Crazy Summer,” most of the texts revolve around the three sisters and their mother. In the same way, when the girls go to live with their mother, they encounter other women fighting for their freedom especially because they are sidelined for being black. In “Hoot” Roy meets Beatrice who is also struggling to fight for the rights of endangered animals.
Adventure fictions are evident in different parts of “One Crazy Summer” and “Hoot.” Firstly, both novels take the storyline from the outside of the homestead and make the characters explore exotic distances and journeys (Mallett et al., 2019). The three sisters are sent by their father to go and stay with their mother for a while, though the mother lives in a hostile environment, where she has to join the Black Panther Party to survive. The party experienced various turbulences, and the mother was arrested forcing the sisters to remain homeless for some time to avoid getting into trouble facing the movement. Roy also follows the barefoot boy into the wild, where he encounters owls, crocodiles, and snakes. Secondly, adventure fiction involves surviving dangerous obstacles and retrieving valued goals (Mallett et al., 2019). For example, Roy understood that the owls were endangered and thus had to mobilize his friends to fight against those who were causing harm to the animals. Fern and her sisters also went on a journey to get back to their mother but met several obstacles that made it difficult for them to be with her.
Adventure fictions also involve action and struggle to achieve the desired goals. In the case of Roy, he met several challenges ranging from the police and the construction site to other boys. One of the pieces of evidence of struggle is when Cecile says, “How can you send them to Oakland? Oakland’s nothing but a boiling pot of trouble cooking. All them riots.” (Williams-Garcia & Johnson, 2010, p. 9). In this case, Cecile understands that the situation in Oakland is unconducive for the girls because of the constant struggle for freedom. The sisters witness the harsh condition their mother lives in when they find she is arrested for being a member of the Black Panther Party. Curly had Roy pinned down because of this struggle to attain the course Roy had decided to achieve. Similarly, Fern and her sisters were also forced to join forces with the Black Panther party to help address the plight of the community in which their move lived. When Cecile was arrested, the girls began to be more active in the fight for reformation, which included reciting the poem their mother had written and giving speeches.
Conclusion
Several characteristics distinguish domestic and adventure fiction from other types of novels. Some of the most outstanding attributes of domestic adventure in “One Crazy Summer” and “Hoot” include the setting around the home, touching on social and personal issues, focusing on females, and having rewards in form of morals. The properties of adventure fiction in the two novels include setting outside, involving escape and survival, having extraordinary goals, being associated with dangerous activities and struggle, and focusing on males.
Reference
Hiaasen, C. (2019). Hoot. Pan Macmillan.
Mallett, M., Goodwin, P., & Mallett, D. (2019). Realism: Domestic, adventure and school stories. In Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3–11 (pp. 117-126). Routledge.
Williams-Garcia, R., & Johnson, S. A. (2010). One crazy summer. New York: Amistad.
Fiction is best regarded in the world of literature as composed of scripts and tales or a gathering of false or fictitious phenomena as illustrated in articles, movies, or other types of illustrations. Therefore, the most obvious fact is that fiction is a false phenomenon. Nevertheless, its concept had no latter expounded to cover other areas aside from literary contexts or the social events, which include history. It may now include the reviewing of happenings and initiatives outside the narrating mechanism of the book or media. Fiction can possibly include the happenings of everyday life and is reliant on the person that narrates the happenings, the manner of its narration, and its composition. It transforms into a transcribed and a collection of personal events (Scholes, p. 4).
Poetry Defined
Poetry, on the other hand, is an artistic description of social interactions, communities, leisure, human initiatives, films, and other pertinent topics that happen in everyday life which in their existence connect individuals together, or divert them away. This implies that poetry can absolutely include authentic happenings and situations with individuals as respondents and with the meaning or theme establishing the framework of the poetry. Another significant factor that distinguishes poetry from fiction is the aspect of length and duration between the fictional literature to the authentic and realistic poetical works. While the duration and series of happenings are what distinguishes the framework of fictional literature, poetry would rely on the length and the topic rather than the storyline (Phillips, p. 5). Poetry is still a complicated form in the subject of art.
The Comparison of Poetry and Fiction
Studies illustrate both poetry and fiction as systematic and alive frameworks that transform all the rumors into written stories. They enable the transformation of the interaction to something logical and it enables itself to be changed and transferred from one reader to an individual listener, and authenticate itself in a series of interactions, topics, and societies. Fiction and poetry manipulate the creative minds and a person’s experience in a manner that is solid and logical (Bethea, p. 7).
The force towards fictional literature and poetry is based on the desire to make people fascinate and the happiness established by the idea that the author is able to formulate an impact on a person’s intellect. Both fiction and poetry are highly anticipated by communities, but there are instances that it is totally neglected due to the efforts to connect towards others at the danger of being allowed or denied. Excellent fictional literature and poetry possess the capacity to connect societies. The absolute and the logical are achieved and allowed in a society. Both fiction and poetry change the basic facts which are often viewed as impossible by integrating leads to consequences and proofs to observations.
The Contrast of Poetry and Fiction
The fiction involves plenty of learning procedures happening in it. The initiative of telling fictional literature involves significant talents and capabilities and also significant review particularly when the themes include the following: social etiquette, perceptions, problems, and objectives that impact and influence human communications. This is tremendously directed by the way of life. The fictional literature and the narrators need to be allowed and loved by the public. For fiction to be totally accepted by people, there must initially be the enthusiastic participation of interaction which will inform people what the information they must have (Cahill 3). Eventually, out of this narration of fictional storylines will evolve something authentic from the people through the choosing of situations and through the knowledge of language and feelings that the public will provide.
On the other hand, hearing a poetic masterpiece, like viewing a theatrical performance, is a usually thrifty way of exploring ways of living, cases, and emotional feelings that a person may never feel, or like to feel, in their respective private lives. The emotions, among others, of the desire for learning, happiness, and frustration guarantee that poetry induces those boring impacts of fictional storylines. Poetry touches the intellects of its listeners and readers. This means the impact poetry has involved feeling the ideas of the poet without the need to practically understand its entirety. Poetry is able to confirm, develop and alter beliefs based on the way the poets view this (Turco 2). In this aspect, the poets are in an advantaged setting and in a dominant theme of controlling ideas based on the way they view congruence because they will be considered as realistic and manipulative people.
Conclusion
Both poetry and fiction are a way towards self-assurance and guarantees the identity of every person. It enables a poet and a writer to portray his or her identity and establish as well as illustrate a persona that will be able to be distinguished from the rest of writers. Poetry and fiction are interactive media for self-preservation that needs to include the participation of the public to make them appealing. They harness various feelings in its storylines and themes and they establish creativity and experiences in the aspect of the people who hear them as narrated by the poets and writers (Muth 4). A poetical and fictional masterpiece won’t be important and victorious until these two sides are participative and alive, the people who hear as well as the poet. In between these two, both the poetical and fictional masterpiece communicates and links the most probable and factual ideas that may be transformed as reality.
Works cited
Bethea, Arthur. Technique and Sensibility in the Fiction and Poetry of Raymond Carver. Routledge; 1st edition, 2002
Cahill, Susan. Women Write: A Mosaic Of Women’s Voices in Fiction, Poetry, Memoir and Essay: A Mosaic Of Women’s Voices in Fiction, Poetry, Memoir and Essay. NAL Trade: 2004
Muth, Marcia. Writing and Selling Poetry, Fiction, Articles, Plays, and Local History. Sunstone Press; 1st edition, 1985
Phillips, Robert. Breakdown Lane (Johns Hopkins: Poetry and Fiction). The Johns Hopkins University Press: 1994
Scholes, Robert. Elements of Literature: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Film. Oxford University Press, USA; 4th edition, 1991
Turco, Lewis. The Book of Dialogue: How to Write Effective Conversation in Fiction, Screenplays, Drama, and Poetry. University Press of New England; Rev edition, 2004