Friday, July 31, 2015
Prompt 5 - Weather
In Chapter 10 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor,
Thomas C. Foster writes that rain is never just rain and snow is never just
snow. He says that weather has a larger role in a story rather than just being
weather. The weather in a story can affect the character's mood, the setting,
and the overall atmosphere. For example, in The Odyssey, the gods use weather
to keep Odysseus away from home. Odysseus is blown off course while sailing,
which keeps him away from Ithaca for almost twenty years. In his absence, he
misses his son growing up and his wife becomes surrounded by men who try to
convince her that Odysseus is dead. So, the weather played a larger role in The
Odyssey than just being weather. It effected Odysseus' family, relationships,
and emotions throughout. Weather can also set the tone for the story. For
example, if a character is having a depressing time, the author could include
that it is raining to enhance the overall gloomy feeling. If the character is
excited, the author could include that it is bright and sunny to show a sense
of positivity. In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s entire experience occurred because
of a Tornado that knocked her out. Dorothy would have never experienced Oz if
there would not have been a storm in the beginning of the story. So, weather
has a variety of usages in a story that occasionally are not acknowledged by
the reader until they take the time to reflect.
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Morgan, I think a story's weather is not just a setting element. When an author states the weather readers should expect it to evolve and expand in the story's future. I do not believe an author says it is raining because she wants to add that detail; the rain is to affect the plot. The rain may symbolize cleansing or foreshadow a car accident caused by hydroplane. However, the weather may not develop in the story. Therefore, the reader has the golden opportunity to seize the weather and interpret it as they like.
ReplyDeletePS. Your use of The Wizard of Oz, was clever. I never realized that the entire story revolved around a tornado. Without that severe storm, the events in Oz would not have occurred. This is a prime example of weather’s effect on plot.
I think your usage of The Odyssey was an exemplary representation of how weather in fact changes an entire story. Weather places characters in situations that both help and hurt them. I honestly find it so interesting that merely drops of water falling out of the sky can produce such an exaggerated impact on a story. Out of all the atmospheres in a novel, I personally find myself liking rainy ones the most. It cleanses, it's like a new start. Another cool aspect about weather in literature is that it doesn't affect solely one specific group. Weather impacts everyone, whether old, young, poor or rich. Weather is equal.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Morgan. I also discussed the implication of weather in text that is not often times not discussed. Although weather is essential to a story’s setting, weather also is significant with understanding the author’s purpose and theme. The weather also foreshadows an event. For example, in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi the weather drastically shifts to a dark and powerful storm. This foreshadows a disaster and in this case, the main character, Pi Patel is hurled into the ocean. The next day’s weather is clean and sunny. These two weather patterns symbolize the trials and tribulations of life.
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