Assignment+One+-+Fiction+Reading

Please answer each question with evidence from the text to support your assertions by clicking on the discussion tab on the upper right hand side of this page. Answers to each question should be at least one paragraph long.

"Pitch Memory” by Ethan Canin:



1. Discuss the family dynamic in terms of its passive-aggression. Find several examples where we see this in the story. 2. On page 104, Tessa says, “Think of it as pitch memory. You’ve heard all the notes before, so just try to remember them.” Beyond music, what are the further implications of this line in the story? What are the other “notes” the narrator has heard before? 3. Why do you think the mother steals? Be thoughtful here. 4. How does Canin help us feel sympathy for the mother in this story, despite her obvious flaws?

DO NOT comment on what you did or did not like about the story. However, please annotate specific spots on the PDF file where 1) you mark effective stylistic techniques; 2) annotate passages where you know you are in the presence of good writing; and 3) mark spots you may want to use as models for your own writing.