For today's discussion, I'd like you to compare and contrast the two narratives you were asked to read Dillard's “American Childhood” and Rodriguez's “Always Running” (in Reading Critically, Writing Well). Use the following questions as idea generators-- don't simply answer them in order.
How was the tone of the two essays different? What terms do you notice that help set the tone?
What are some of the sections (or sentence, or phrase) of each essay that were especially descriptive?
of these two essays, which did you like more? Why?
Both of the narratives contained some of the same things as far as descriptions to paint the setting of the boys playing basketball and the little girl/kids running away from the man who got out of his car. I liked the "Always Running" narrative a little more than the "American childhood" narrative because there was more of an element of suspense than the other narrative. However, both stories kept you wondering. The areas of the text that described the setting of where they were the most descriptive in both of the texts which really helped me visualize the scenery that the author was intending to portray. In "American Childhood" the tone was more playful, fun and lighthearted; whereas in "Always Running," the tone was more serious, and uneasy, and harsh.
ReplyDeleteThe one I enjoyed more was "American Childhood". I related closer to the structure of the essay;I believe the essay structure is call antidote. The author zoomed in on a specific moment and reflected on the experience. I like how most of the essay was to describe the observation and how they used action verb forms like banged and fired to excite my interest. "Always Running" had a more college like structure with background and credit in the front and small paragraphs. I think it loses more meaning when the essay it split in many pieces.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream Annie Dillard was about two girls who where chased around her neighborhood after throwing snowballs at incoming cars. The theme of The American Childhood describes the fun of a mischievous and care free childhood childhood. When compared to Always Running Running by Rodriges which was about two boys who entered a school playground to play ball and ended with a chase with the police, it describes the differences between two very different childhoods. The American Childhood was full of action and lighthearted while Always running had a more dismal tone especially when the author describes the running away from the police as running away from everything not just the police.
ReplyDeleteThe two narratives were different in most perspectives. I enjoyed "Always Running," due to the suspenseful tone being built, while one the other hand "American Childhood," had no major suspense. "Always running," had a big climax, and the way that the author described the setting made you feel as if you were in it. The suspense and wanting to know more after the narrative was done. That questioning is what drove me into the story. Both of the stories were about different authorities. In "Always Running," the authorities portrayed in it were the police officers, that had to enforce a law. It was something that the kids were scared of forever. In "American Childhood," the kids higher authority was the upper classman who the kids were not used to seeing around, and trhe4 man had to enforce a discipline upon the children. In both stories both kids were running from something that terrified them, and both were a higher authority than them.
ReplyDeleteThe tone of "American Childhood" displays a sense of amusement while the tone of Rodriquez's "Always Running" was fearful and terrified. Both writers used certain diction and vocabulary to display their tones. In "Always Running" the author puts an emphasis on the storm and the darkening setting to hint at the internal and societal problems. Dillard puts an emphasis on the chase and the exhilaration that she felt. Sections that are descriptive in "American Childhood" are the chase throughout Pittsburgh and the fascination with the chaser's determination. Sections that are descriptive in "Always Running" were the description of the School, Basketball Court, and the fence. Out of the two essays, I favored "Always running" due to the idea that it brought a more serious, social aspect. The essay hinted at the prejudice and conflict between the police and Hispanics while "American Childhood" was a more lighthearted event with a sense of innocence. "Always Running" presents a general problem that are or were common between different groups or ethnicities.
ReplyDeleteAmerican Childhood was my more favored narrative because there was more of a thrill to the story while the tone was still "laid back". Annie Dillard's first person narrative portrayed a rush of adrenaline or thrill when she talked about "being caught". Dillard made sure to express this emotion through her use of syntax. In Rodriguez's narrative "Always Running", the tone seemed to be more hesitant and less thrilling then "American Childhood". I did like the story telling in "Always Running" but in my opinion "American Childhood" gave me more of a thrill and amusement.
ReplyDeleteAmerican Childhood portrayed a typical "american childhood" because of the carefree tone and thrill of being caught. Dillard expressed the rush of adrenaline through her first person narrative. In Rodriguez's "Always Running" the tone was hesitant and shaky. The scene was set with a dark playground matching the tone, while "American Childhood" took place in a blue collar neighborhood in daylight. Rodriguez's friend, Tino was mangled and the anecdote took a morbid turn. Both narratives emphasis different authoritative attitudes. Although both narratives were detailed, I preferred "American Childhood" due to the playful tone.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading "American Childhood" and "Always running" I feel that both were very similar due to the situation the Characters were put through. For example, Dillard and Rodriguez were both at fault for what they did and were caught by either the authorities or just a random person whom felt the need to chase them and tell them what they needed to hear. The tone of the essays ended up being different because in "American Childhood" it was more of a Lighthearted scenario because Dillard found that although she was at fault she admired the mans drive and determination to catch them both. However, in "Always Running" it was a completely different setting because Rodriguez was more of in a serious situation and didn't experience the same thing as Dillard. Of these two essays, I liked "American Childhood" the most because I feel that their was a better outlook at the end of Dillard being chased by the man who was determined to catch them.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Rodriguez's "Always Running" much more due to the plot twist at the end about Rodriguez's friend having fallen to his death. I think that the reader's assumption of reading an innocent personal narrative only heightens the shock at the end in realizing that accidents can easily happen. I thought that the climax of the story would be if and when the boys got caught by police, only instead it was when Tino fell into glass. This story was definitely darker than Dillard's "American Childhood" since it proposed a more serious, dangerous setting of rough neighborhoods surrounded by gangs. "American Childhood" gave more light into the adrenaline of being a child and getting into harmless, non-life threatening trouble. While both narratives involve a chase, "Always Running" provided more descriptive language of the surroundings in his tone. I was captured by the genius of the line, "Sometimes they were teachers who jumped on us Mexicans if we were born with a hideous stain. We were always afraid."
ReplyDeleteDillard's "American Childhood" really caught my attention on how descriptive the setting is. From the narrator's neighbors to the scene where they were being chased by a man across Pittsburgh after a snowball landed on his windshield. "American Childhood" kept the momentum going through the use of surprises and curiosity. I also enjoyed Rodriguez's "Always Running" because it was a more personal autobiography including the death of his friend Tino running from the police. He also did a great job in foreshadowing Tino's death through the setting such as describing the black sky and the mini tornadoes of trash on the basketball court.
ReplyDeleteThe Readings both had unique story's but "Always Running' by Rodriguez had a sharp realism to the writing than "American Childhood" by Dillard. All tho both narratives are expertly written you can tell that Dillard grew up with privileged because she was reprimanded very little for her actions. To contrast this Rodriguez told a all to familiar tale of skin color deciding the their threat level with the best example being the cops already pistols drawn when they ran when Dillard had an angry man tell them "you stupid kids".
ReplyDeleteThe two narratives built up to an impactful event mostly Always Running. Both stories were based on suspense, but Always running included another element which was the cultural element. A cultural element is always nonfiction and it makes the story more relatable to the lives of other people.
ReplyDeletei lost mine ;-;
ReplyDeleteIn both essays the children were getting in trouble. In "An American Childhood" by Annie Dillard, the narrative was mainly just focused on how the children felt at the moment rather than "Always Running" by Luis Rodriguez he comments on the past events and reflects on his actions as a more mature individual. I also noticed they both used strong diction to portray imagery and to try to create an empathetic relationship with the reader.The quote from "Always Running" portrayed really strong imagery "Wiping grass and dirt on my pants" showed the summer weather and summer nostalgic memories. I also liked the quote, although not as much, from An American Childhood where the author explains how they stood staggering and half blinded because it really captured the defeat of not getting away from the consequences of their naive actions.I liked the first one more because there was more of a surprise at the end, where they were only yelled at rather than the police arriving. Reading the pieces, I realized that in narratives there were carefully chosen adjectives to describe the situation as well as imagery to keep the audience engaged and wanting to read more and also lets the reader make assumptions and judgements according to the situation.
ReplyDeleteIn both narrative its talks about being chased by stranger. The tone of An American childhood started with having fun. The tone of always running is calm during the beginning. Both narrative have scared tone when they were chased. This sentence stand out "I looked up and across fence. A sigh above read NO ONE ALLOWED "
ReplyDeleteBoth narratives were descriptive and detailed that took the story forward. The first essay "American Childhood" was in a happy and playful setting where kids felt threatened but it wasn't serious or dangerous. Whereas, in "Always running" the words and the way the situation was described was serious. "American Childhood" conveyed excitment and silliness of kids whereas, "always running" portrayed deeper conflict and hint of discrimination. Both essays were similar in outline but ended differently.I personally enjoyed "Always Runner" because the climax was unexpected and it was interesting.
ReplyDelete"Always Running" was my favorite one because I could sort of relate because I come from a similar background and have actually experienced an event like that myself, of course not to the extend he went through. As where in "American Childhood" I found it intriguing. The difference between the both was the background of each character and how they were in the same situation but got treated differently. They both had suspense and kept you wanting to know what happens next. At the end of both stories each character feels different even though it was the same situation they went through. The girl felt happy and excited, even though she got in trouble she felt like nothing could stop her. Unlike her the boy felt scared and wished he wouldn't have done it.
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