Journal Five: Analyzing
Memoirs
The nine that follow correspond to memoirs in the "Memoir" chapter in Call to Write and the narratives in The Mercury Reader. Select two of the prompts and use them as starting points for journal entries. You need not respond to all of the questions in a prompt. The comments and questions in each prompt are intended to get you stated on writing your journal responses to the selected readings that appeal to you. These prompts will help you analyze techniques used in writing memories and should help you start thinking about what you can select as subject matter for writing your own narrative memoir.
Looking Back: In "Black Hair," Soto looks back on his experience as a seventeen-year old. What does he notice about the experience that he did not see then? What impression does Soto leave you with about his life at that time? Why do you think Soto wrote this piece? Have you had a work experience that you could use to create a memoir? If so, what was the experience, and what message would you want to convey to a reader?
Story within a Story: Tan's narrative contains two memoirs. One is a narrative of her mother's past and adds an intergenerational quality, showing the similarities and differences between generations. How is Tan like her mother? How is Tan different? How effective is the use of the photograph to open the piece? Notice the use of the two funerals in the memoir. How are they different, and how does this difference serve to make a point? What do you learned about writing memoirs from this narrative?
Historic Periods: Gates’ narrative covers three different historical time periods. Identify these periods. What do the time periods have in common? What is Gates's main point? How might you use different time periods in your life to write a unified memoir? What would be the common thread? Comment on the way that Gates ends the piece. What do you think of his use of a song to trigger a memory? Think of a song that triggers a memory for you. What is the song and the memory?
Writing with a Message: Angelou’s graduation narration is a story about a special event in her life. Her recollection on this event holds a strong social message. What is the message? What strategies does she use in her narrative to emphasize her point? Think of an event in your life with a social message, and briefly describe the event.
Family Ties: Kearn’s narrative is about her childhood memoirs of her
love of baseball. These memoirs are
linked to her father. What techniques
does
Three Days to See:
Keller’s narrative helps us to reflect on the power of our senses and
might help us to think about times we walked in nature, visited a museum, saw a
play, or visited with special friends.
Using the power of your senses, begin a description of a special day in
your life trying to be as detailed as Keller is.
Workers: Rodrigues’s work experience teaches him some important lessons about himself and life. What are these lessons? Think of a work experience that you have had that has taught you a valuable lesson and write about this experience.
Cultural Identity: Wong’s narrative focuses on a cultural and generational identity crisis that she experienced. Think of a cultural or generational crisis that you have experienced in your life, and write about it briefly. Perhaps try to include some humor, as Wong does.
Overcoming Obstacles: Wright’s narrative addresses overcoming discrimination. What was your reaction to his narrative? Briefly describe an event in your life where you faced discrimination.
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J. Arzt