introducing the story literary focus: fact versus fiction literary focus: theme and purpose reading...
TRANSCRIPT
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose
Reading Skills: Determining an Author's Purpose
And of Clay Are We Createdby Isabel Allende
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And of Clay Are We Createdby Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende’s story is based on a real-life tragedy: a volcanic eruption and mudslides that destroyed whole towns in Colombia in 1985.
• The main character, Rolf, is a reporter who arrives to cover the disaster for the TV news.
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• The narrator, Rolf’s girlfriend, tells us how Rolf abandons his role as a reporter to help and comfort a trapped girl named Azucena.
And of Clay Are We CreatedIntroducing the Story
The story you are about to read and the newspaper article that follows are two versions of the same event written in different genres:
• fiction (story) • nonfiction (newspaper)
And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
• fiction—character, setting, and theme
Allende creates a realistic and moving story by combing elements of
• nonfiction—facts about real events
And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
Rescue workers were unable to free thirteen-year-old Omaira Sanchez, who was trapped in the mudflow from the Nevado del Ruiz eruption.
As you read the two accounts, think about how they differ and how they are alike.
• Compare and contrast
events
people
setting
style
tone
details
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And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction
Theme is the central idea or insight about life in a work of literature. Writers use theme to
• convey an important message
• reveal their purpose for writing
And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Theme and Purpose
To determine the theme of a work, consider how
• the struggles of the main character may reflect a larger, more universal problem or situation
• the main character changes
• the conflict is resolved
And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Theme and Purpose
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The main purposes of writing are
Although a writer may have several purposes for writing, one purpose usually becomes the focus.
newspaper editorial
about upcomingpolitical election
to inform to persuade to entertain
persuades readers to vote for a particular candidate
entertains readers with humor
informs readers about the issues
And of Clay Are We CreatedReading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose
As you read the story, consider Allende’s purpose for writing a fictional story about a real event.
• Ask yourself
WHY…
was this subject important to her?
WHAT…
does she want us to think about it?
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And of Clay Are We CreatedReading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose