Assignment for Mon, 8/6: Setting and Theme

Sorry for posting this later than I had promised.  I've been in planes and airports with dodgy internet service all day long. 

This past week, we talked about the elements of setting and theme in the stories "Harrison Bergeron," "To Build a Fire," and "The Things They Carried."

For your writing activity, I would like you to write a story, vignette, sketch, passage, fragment--whatever you want to call it--that focuses on one or both of these elements.  Think about how the fanciful story of "Harrison Bergeron" served as a cautionary tale, almost a fable, to warn us (in a comic way) against the deadly combination of idealism and unfettered governmental power.  Think not only about the icy desolation portrayed in "To Build a Fire," but also its themes concerning prideful overconfidence, self-reliance, underestimating the forces of nature, and ambition.  Consider "The Things They Carried" for its strong themes of disaffection, emotional burdens, the brutal irony and ironic brutality of war; but also for its masterful use of setting: the descriptions of the things that the soldiers carried can be considered part of the setting of the story.  They are also a device used effectively to get at some of the complex themes explored.  If you're feeling ambitious, you might try employing a device or "motif" of your own to hint at the themes or main ideas of your piece.

Happy writing, and have a great weekend!