Power of Stories- Tim O'Brien

His sentences range from four words long to 37 words long which is a vast discrepancy. Usually a small sentence introduces an idea that is expanded upon in the next sentence, which is long. This happens twice in the passage. The first of which is when O’Brien writes, “I did not look on my work as therapy, and still don’t,” and follows that sentence with, Yet when I received Norman Bowker’s letter, it occurred to me that the act of writing had led me through a swirl of memories that might otherwise have ended in paralysis or worse.” The first sentence is brief and introduces the concept of telling stories being therapeutic. The second sentence begins to explain why it is therapeutic. The second time O’Brien does this is when he writes, “You make up others,” (referencing truths) and next, writes, “You start sometimes with an incident that truly happened, like the night in the shit field, and you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but that nonetheless help to clarify and explain.” O’Brien in a small sentence introduces making up truths and then describes the process in the next sentence. In this instance, the shortest sentence in the passage precedes the longest sentence in the passage.

According to Henry James, the ability to successfully compose a fictional story is in knowing the difference between imagination and reality. This ability as conveyed by James is a gift given to us by nature for simply being human. Our life experiences equip us with the ability to effortlessly discern the “unseen” (our imaginations) from the “seen” (reality).

This can be true for a lot of fictional stories, while writing this type of literature an author must have previous background information or experiences to create a story. Tim O’Brien wrote a compelling novel that kept you in awe about whether or not the story could be a true experience or if it’s just a crazy story he devised.

The writer of a fiction text uses plot, setting and characters to create imagery and influence the reader's response to how the author wishes the reader to perceive a situation. This can be done through many methods, which include detailed descriptions of any settings, detail of weather, characters stereotypical of society and colour association.

In literature, there are genres. Two main genres are fiction and nonfiction. Fiction is a work of art that is not real or based on the facts. “‘Fiction’ refers to literature created from the imagination” (“What is the difference…?”). It can explain a story in a different point of view, maybe in a way that is out of the norm. Fiction is basically just nonfiction in an exaggerated way. Though fiction may not be based on the facts, it can still resemblance a sense of real life events. “Fiction may base on stories on actual historical events. Although fictitious characters are presented in a fictitious setting in stories and novels, yet they may have some resemblance with real life events and characters” (“Fiction”). Literature is meant to

Douglas Light said that our imagination is better than any answer to a question. Light distinguished between two genres: fantasy from fiction. He described how fantasy stimulates one’s imagination, which is more appealing, but fiction can just be a relatable story and results in being less entertaining. In the short parable Doubt, the readers are lured in to the possibility of a scandalous relationship between a pastor and an alter boy. Their curiosity is ignited because they are not given all the details. Therefore, their mind wanders further than the plot to create a story and characters that acted on one’s imagination; thus, the story became entertaining- flooded by the questions of what? Who? How? By which the reader can only answer.

Many Aboriginal populations have been using storytelling as a way of communication for centuries. Storytelling is used on a day to day basis whether it be reading a story to kids or telling friends about an experience. The importance of storytelling is highlighted constantly throughout the book Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden and the entire story itself is a recollection of memories. Niska tells stories of her past to warn and teach Xavier. Xavier tells stories of his haunting and innocence shattering experience at war to help him heal. Elijah tells stories about his life before and during the war as an attempt to maintain what is left of his aboriginal culture and to heal himself by reminding himself of his achievements and what he has proudly accomplished . Storytelling plays a significant role in the novel by teaching and helping to heal the characters.

When one thinks of a novel, a word that usually will come to mind is fiction. In fact, other meanings for the word novel are new and unique. Although an author may use real places, real time, or base their story on real events in part, their outcome is essentially a creation. We, as readers, are in a sense captive to the writer's imagination and must conform to the rules of the worlds they create.

The reason I chose this quote is because O’Brien reflects on his own storytelling after Bowker sends him a letter asking for a story. The letter that Bowker sends inspires O’Brien to use his own storytelling to help cope with his own experiences. This quote helps in proving that sometimes telling the truth in a story is not as important as emotional truth.The whole key of the book.

author was able to lure his reader's into almost believing the reality created by his imaginative writing.

Novels intrigue anyone, whether it brings in the intellectuals or the ones who prefer to fantasize. Azar Nafisi, the author of Reading Lolita In Tehran, hooks the audience, page after page, filled with fascinating details of her and her loved ones life experiences of the perplexities that make up the society all together. Throughout the book, each chapter presents a new message as it introduces a new novel with each one. Nafisi introduces novels in order to create a different, separate life within the reader, creating memories and experiences unique to the combination of the books and the reader. This changes what the reader believes, no matter whether the differences are positive or negative, life changing or miniscule, it will still always change what the reader believes.

One reason that both of these characters show leadership is that they are both brave. Conner is brave when him and his sister Alex come across a troll bridge. Alex chooses to solve the riddle that the troll gives her. Conner however, chooses the more risky decision and swims across the river to keep leading them even though there could be even more dangerous things in there than the troll. I think Conner does this because

LUBBOCK, TEXAS – A communications expert shared her perspective on storytelling at Texas Tech on Friday Sept. 23.

Wouldn’t it be odd if you met your best friend at grief counseling? Psychologically, it’s not as odd as you may think. For example, The Storytellers is a book about two unlikely friends that connect through their losses and further their friendship by using each other as filters to talk to someone that will listen when you are willing to tell. The characterization aspect will be done on Sage, her past and how it has affected her. Predicting what will happen next is the part that will show inside the mind of the reader thus far. Lastly, evaluating both Sage and Josef’s situations at the moment.

Ordinary, innocent individuals tortured for simply being Jewish. Sage Singer’s grandma has blue numbers tattooed on her arm because she is a Jew. Because Sage is Jewish, she feels segregated from the rest of the world. Sage works night shifts creating freshly baked goods for customers to indulge in at Our Daily Bread. Ms. Signer feels at home behind a counter kneading bread dough nightly. She prefers night shifts, so she doesn’t have to socialize with customers. One night Josef Weber starts showing up at night to chat with Sage. Josef shares his guilty past with Sage, and it affects her significantly. I am reading The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. In this journal, I will be predicting, questioning, and visualizing.