Questions for 9/26 in EN 190/190HM

 Good evening :)

Today we began our unit on fiction, introducing the genre and focusing on plot.  Thank you to those who helped me read "Coyote and Eagle Visit the Land of the Dead"!

For Thursday, we will continue reading ch. 5, moving on to character and graphic fiction.  The stories that we will discuss will be Louise Erdrich's "The Red Convertible" and Lynda Barry's "Today's Demon: Magic."

To start with, here is a video of a Native American storyteller's version of another Coyote story.  Note that he is not from the Wishram but the California Pit River Nation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCjooh6oUSA

This video may be another version of the story we read:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0qGxVx8OpY

Below is the link to "Coyote and Eagle Visit the Land of the Dead":

http://www.native-languages.org/wishramstory.htm

What does performance add to folktales?  Where does it detract?

How does the storyteller's performance help us understand Coyote's character?

Here are other stories about Coyote:

http://www.ucan-online.org/legend.asp?legend=4297&category=2

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/rabbcoy.htm

http://www.snreview.org/0205Lockwood.html

http://www.ucan-online.org/legend.asp?legend=6017&category=2

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/coyotead.htm

How do these stories establish Coyote's character?  Is he a round or a flat character?  Why?  Why not?

Are Jake and Mariana from "Love in LA" round or flat characters?  Why?  Why not?

Joseph Campbell discusses the Trickster here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM10AvJ3bsM
How does he help you understand Coyote--and Jake better?

How do our fiction authors use exposition to establish character?

How do they use description to create character?

How do they use dialogue to create character?

In the stories we've read so far, what is more important: plot or character?  Why?

Discuss the brothers' relationship in "The Red Convertible."  What does it add to our literature about families?

Are the characters actions believable or not?  why?

How is "Today's Demon" like or unlike other literary fiction you've read?

How is it like or unlike other graphic fiction you've read?

What would you add to our editors' section on graphic fiction?  Why?

Which graphic fiction ought our editors include in our anthology?

How does Lynda Barry use visuals in "Today's Demon"?  What would this story be like without them?

How does she use plot?  How does she use character?

What do you make of young Lynda's actions?  How might Ev respond to this story?

I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing what you have to think!

Dr. Szlyk