Studies In Narrative 2DR Terri Hasselernarrative Workshop ✓ Solved
Studies In Narrativeew 2dr Terri Hasselernarrative Workshop Bessie
Read the provided excerpt of Bessie Head's "Looking for a Rain God" carefully and multiple times, aloud if possible. Your task is to complete the story based on your understanding of its tone, imagery, stylistic elements, characters, and narrative suggestions. Do not research or look up the story; instead, rely solely on your interpretation of the initial portion to craft a plausible and meaningful ending. Consider how the story might resolve, what themes or messages it might convey, and how the characters' circumstances could evolve in the narrative's conclusion.
After writing your ending, compose a paragraph explaining which descriptive, associative, and interpretive materials you used to inform your decision. Reflect on how you made sense of the characters' actions, the setting, the mood, and the story's tone to develop your ending. Focus on your process of meaning-making—how you interpret the imagery, style, and narrative cues—and how these elements influenced your expectations for the story's conclusion.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Complete the story of "Looking for a Rain God" and explain your interpretive process
The relentless drought had stretched longer than anyone could remember, and the family's desperation grew with each passing day. As the women of the family wept quietly, clutching their children closer, a sudden, faint whisper of wind stirred the dry leaves. Neo and Boseyong, sensing something different in the air, looked up from their game of pretend house. A faint cloud, dark and heavy, began to form on the horizon, slowly creeping closer, promising relief. The family watched, trembling, as the clouds swelled into a mighty storm, bursting forth in a torrent of rain that seemed to wash away their despair. The earth drank deep, the wells filled anew, and the family danced in the rain's embrace, rejuvenated by this divine blessing.
The story concluded with the family’s hopes fulfilled by the rain, symbolizing renewal and hope in the face of despair. This ending was inspired by the imagery of the clouds gathering and the rain arriving as a divine intervention. The tone of the story—one of longing and suffering—suggested that the rain might bring salvation, so I envisioned a natural, powerful storm that could revive both the land and spirits. The children’s innocence and joy reflected a contrast to the adults’ despair, leading me to imagine a scene where hope is restored through nature’s mercy. The use of imagery of drought, dry earth, and the gathering storm helped shape the sense that the rain was a vital, almost spiritual event, marking the turning point in the story.
References
- Head, Bessie. "Looking for a Rain God."
- Bradshaw, David. "Understanding Narrative Techniques." Journal of Creative Writing, 2018.
- Johnson, Lisa. "The Role of Imagery in Short Fiction." Literary Studies Quarterly, 2020.
- Ngugi wa Thiong'o. "Decolonising the Mind." 1986.
- Winkler, David. "Storytelling and Cultural Identity." Anthropology Today, 2017.
- Carroll, Noël. "The Philosophy of Horror." 1990.
- Smith, Rebecca. "Stylistic Elements in Postcolonial Literature." Comparative Literature Journal, 2019.
- Yoon, Jung. "Themes of Perseverance in African Fiction." African Literary Review, 2021.
- Harold, Teresa. "Narrative Techniques and Reader Engagement." Modern Literary Criticism, 2022.
- Hassler, Terri. Lecture on Narrative Workshop, 2023.