Read over the short-story, LIES (pages 75-78 of the Bulk Pack Materials), by Ethan Canin. Two questions college students might initially think about are why is story called LIES and why did the author write it in the first place.
DISCUSSION QUESTION SEVEN (PLEASE RESPOND):
Please try to answer both of these questions by locating CENTERS OF MEANING in the text. Definitely describe any CENTERS OF MEANING that you find, and explain why these "spots in the text" qualify as CENTERS OF MEANING!
Remember four ways to locate CENTERS OF MEANING:
1. Notice any changes in the form (size, shape, or appearance) of the text.
2. Notice the use of any purposeful literary elements or techniques.
3. Spot any allusions (references to any other works of literature or ideas from other people).
4. Focus hard on any exciting and pronounced dialogue.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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A major center of meaning, in the short-story, LIES, occurs on the second-column of the first page (Canin 75). The italicized words, “Able’s, where the service is friendly and the popcorn is fresh”, jump out and represent a change in form. Noticing changes in form are one of the four ways college students identify centers of meaning in college texts! In the story, LIES, the italicized phrase sound like a commercial or a slogan for a movie theatre. Ethan Canin put these words in italics on purpose, because he wanted readers to notice something about their meaning. Mainly, like commercials, life often presents people with a feel good-version of events. Everybody tells each other that school, work, and love are awesome, and will always turn-out for the best, but life does not work that way. In the story, the narrator, a teenage male, later remarks both how his father worked every single day of his life and how his boss’s job running the movie theatre was somewhat depressing (Canin 77). The italicized phrase on page 75 almost functions as a clue to the narrator’s true feelings. A job at a movie-theatre may sound fun, but it is really miserable. The italicized phrase is like a random purple brick in a wall full of red-bricks (lesson from class). It jumps out and lets the reader know to pay attention to this aspect of the story. For these reasons, the phrase, “Able’s, where the service is friendly and the popcorn is fresh”, represents the first center of meaning in the short-story!
I agree with schuman 100% on this one. In the short story the words that are italicized are sort of a clue to the reader that there is a significant importance of why it was placed there. As schuman said the itilicized words placed in the text were purposely done and they represent centers of meaninig. An example would be ofcource italicizing words and or using capitols to set a focus to the reader. They mean more than how silly they look such as one big word mixed into a paragraph of small sentences.
I agree with both mr.schuman and t-asia because the words that are often in italics are the words that are important to the story or to just the sentence because it stands out more and brings the attention to the reader. The reader also may think what is the importance of the word an makes the reader want to read more and find out more about that word and its meaning being in italics. The italics also have a great deal of meaning,its word may just be the center of the whole story at times.
The most important center of meaning in the short story, LIES, happens to be the bold face writing in the second paragraph of the second page.(Canin 75). The bold faced writing reads "The first time I met Katy" and subsequently "was at the theater."Noticing changes in form are one of the four ways college students identify centers of meaning in college texts!(Schuman) Just from reading this alone, the reader would know that this must be important. And continuing along within the story, Katy would then become part of the story's main focus. Throughout the rest of the short story, Katy is written a mere 29 times, thats how important she must be. Thus, the short story LIES was written to rationalize the general statements and comments people make such as you can grow up to be whatever you want to me and makes it rational and realistic by mainly stating it might be true for some people but and for others, it may not be.
I agree with Mr. Schuman because the words that are italicized can be the most important word(s) in a story. The italicized words can either give a positive or negative affect in a story. No matter what you have to pay attention to the bolded, capitalized, or italicized words because it shows sudden changed, something like a purple brick in the middle of a red wall.
I agree with Schumans responce as do i agree with Tee and the others who seem to have agreed (all posts above me). As in a short story can be a little tedius to discover the true meaning/important points in the story, as there is very few things to look over. Im not saying it is difficult it just can be tedius. for when you italicize a word, you scream "hey look at me! im important!" it stands out. its like having a dozen oranges and oone apple, you know that, that apple must be important/unique as there is only one. When something is italicized, it isnt meant just to look pretty, as schuman said, it has a deeper meaning. Using TEE's example of comparing italicizing and capitals is the perfect example i am trying to get at. when writers use these literary tools they show that these words are the center of the sentence, maybe even the whole paragraph, it creates an easier leeway for the reader to clearly see the important parts of the short story.
I completely agree with Schuan. The italicized words are the words that should be most paid attention to when reading any short story or piece of writing. As well as bold or capitalized letters re the most important and the words with the most meaning. The short story LIES by Ethan Canin is called LIES because the shor story is about characters lying to themselves as well as others. For example, in the short story the protagonist explains how his mother lies to him when he was young. Ethan Canin wrote this short story to make a point or make his opinion get across to others on how individuals lie to themselves as well as others.
i definitely agree. Italicized words are a key of importance in a story, and should be heavily paid attention to. just as bold, or underline words, italized words stand out from regular printed words and anything in terms of reading that stands out more than others, should be payed attention to extra carefully. one italized statement or word could be the whole major center of meaning without you even knowing it.
BY Jerel seetram
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I first like to say that I really dislike this story. I belive the center of meaning is when Jack gets with Katy. I belive that Jack is a really boring person. I think that until he met katy he really doesn't have a life. Katy takes Jack to all sorts of places and makes his like more interesting.
Sorry its so short but this story is horrible.
The most important center of meaning is the word font, because when a word changes it size in indicate the meaning of it. In the short story I have notices word changing into italics, and bold. When the word are like this the author is trying to prove something or trying to prove a point. On page (Canin 75) the second column and on page (Canin 76) the fist column the word size changes. I believe the author this to demonstrate some sort of clue to the readers to figure out. For some reason I was unable to identify the others center of meaning I'm not sure author include it in the story.
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