Hunnii
01-10-2008, 07:40 PM
I'll get right to the point: I have to write a short story (10-20 pages, but I will obviously write only 10 ;)) this weekend, which includes the themes and aspects discussed in Jane Eyre & Great Expectations.
I've read both novels and I enjoyed them very much, though I prefer Bronte's J.E. over Dickens' G.E. My short story is to portray not only similar themes and symbols to those in J.E. & G.E., but also a representation of Victorian life at the time. Therefore, I have conducted some research on the Victorian era from www.victorianweb.org, and I have found a immense amount of information. I have also created some notes on both novels and even the authors, Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens.
My problem is, that for the last week, I have wasted all my time thinking about a good plot line for my story, yet I feel that my mind is deceiving me for I have barely come up with anything.
This is what I have thus far:
An orphaned girl lives with distant family members who mistreat it. Already, I'll be covering the topics of childhood, orphans, and child abuse. I intend to write this story in first person (similarly to J.E. & G.E.); I believe that this narration will truly be the best in portraying the physical, social and psychological problems and growth of this orphaned girl. I would also like to tie in the topic/theme of social classes and show this throughout the story in many ways. One of them will be that the girl (main character) will somehow come to learn of her past: her parents (which till this moment, I don't know if I should have them be alive or dead). When she becomes a woman (perhaps between 18-20), she will somehow discover that her mother was a poor servant and that her father was the master of the house in which her mother worked. Now, I'm not sure if her birth will be due to some misjustice inferred by the master of the house (i.e.:rape) or if the mother and father somehow fell in love, in which the mother, in both cases, had to give her child up. I would also like the girl (which thus far, seems to be unnamed, and perhaps I should leave her as that in order to show womens' inferiority and then, perhaps, when she gains her independence, we will hear her name :)).
Anywho, yes, I would like to portray her growth in all aspects, how her ideas regarding social classes and wealth and positions change (very similar to Pip's growth) yet I would also like her to experience true love, perhaps even marry the man of her dreams (similar to Jane Eyre?).
At the moment, I am simply uncapable of putting all my ideas together. in order. I am so lost and stressed out at the moment of homework and projects and exams; i's simply overwhelming. I truly appreciate anyone's help in aiding me to construct a relevant, sensible and precise plot line. I have given you a giste of my ideas and I welcome all other ideas and help! I truly hope, that within the next 2 days, I will have been able to construct a good, well-thought out plot line with your help. Ironically, I always stumble on the first step of every assignment, but afterwards, things simply begin to flow to me. Oh, I believe I forgot to mention that I will also have to analyze my short story and describe its similarities to J.E. & G.E. So much work, so little time!
Here is a more detailed summarization of the task at hand.
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31144
I've read both novels and I enjoyed them very much, though I prefer Bronte's J.E. over Dickens' G.E. My short story is to portray not only similar themes and symbols to those in J.E. & G.E., but also a representation of Victorian life at the time. Therefore, I have conducted some research on the Victorian era from www.victorianweb.org, and I have found a immense amount of information. I have also created some notes on both novels and even the authors, Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens.
My problem is, that for the last week, I have wasted all my time thinking about a good plot line for my story, yet I feel that my mind is deceiving me for I have barely come up with anything.
This is what I have thus far:
An orphaned girl lives with distant family members who mistreat it. Already, I'll be covering the topics of childhood, orphans, and child abuse. I intend to write this story in first person (similarly to J.E. & G.E.); I believe that this narration will truly be the best in portraying the physical, social and psychological problems and growth of this orphaned girl. I would also like to tie in the topic/theme of social classes and show this throughout the story in many ways. One of them will be that the girl (main character) will somehow come to learn of her past: her parents (which till this moment, I don't know if I should have them be alive or dead). When she becomes a woman (perhaps between 18-20), she will somehow discover that her mother was a poor servant and that her father was the master of the house in which her mother worked. Now, I'm not sure if her birth will be due to some misjustice inferred by the master of the house (i.e.:rape) or if the mother and father somehow fell in love, in which the mother, in both cases, had to give her child up. I would also like the girl (which thus far, seems to be unnamed, and perhaps I should leave her as that in order to show womens' inferiority and then, perhaps, when she gains her independence, we will hear her name :)).
Anywho, yes, I would like to portray her growth in all aspects, how her ideas regarding social classes and wealth and positions change (very similar to Pip's growth) yet I would also like her to experience true love, perhaps even marry the man of her dreams (similar to Jane Eyre?).
At the moment, I am simply uncapable of putting all my ideas together. in order. I am so lost and stressed out at the moment of homework and projects and exams; i's simply overwhelming. I truly appreciate anyone's help in aiding me to construct a relevant, sensible and precise plot line. I have given you a giste of my ideas and I welcome all other ideas and help! I truly hope, that within the next 2 days, I will have been able to construct a good, well-thought out plot line with your help. Ironically, I always stumble on the first step of every assignment, but afterwards, things simply begin to flow to me. Oh, I believe I forgot to mention that I will also have to analyze my short story and describe its similarities to J.E. & G.E. So much work, so little time!
Here is a more detailed summarization of the task at hand.
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31144