Choices

                                                                Literary Blog Entry 6

       Choice is what drives us and brings us closer to outcomes in life, whether they be good or bad.  In Latin American Literature, choice is portrayed through realism and magical realism. In “Central Park,” by Octavio Paz, warns people not to venture there at night. “there is a wind there that scatters the reflections of Alice, dismembered in the pond Don’t Cross Central Park at Night.” Paz uses realism to deter people from going to Central Park at night. In “Walking Around, by Pablo Neruda,” some elements of magical realism are used to describe a man who is tired of having to live his life. He feels worn out from pursuing dreams society places on people. “I do not want to go on being a root in the dark, hesitating stretched out, shivering with dreams.” In “Death Constant Beyond Love,” by Garcia-Marquez magical realism is used in the life of a senator who is facing death and chooses to escape with Laura Farina, instead of his family.

     Students can read “And of Clay We are Created,” by Isabelle Allende, and learn our perspective can change because of our choice. Students could compare this story about a mudslide with other similar disasters in the world.  Students could also write about the significance of how putting away technology causes us to look deeper.

    In The Pursuit of Happyness, students could learn about Chris Gardner, who chose to never give up, despite all the difficult challenges he faced. Students could write about obstacles they may face and how to overcome.

 

                         

Works Cited

Allende, I. (2014). And of Clay We are Created. Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Central Park Tours NYC. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.centralparktoursnyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/central-park-at-night.jpg

Garcia-Marquez, G. (2014). Death Constant Beyond Love. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Faculty Focus. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/benefits-giving-students-choice-learn/

Isabelle Allende. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.isabelallende.com/

IMDb. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454921/

Neruda, P. (2014). Walking Around. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Paz, O. (2014). Central Park. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Poeticous. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.poeticous.com/octavio-paz?locale=es