- Conferences – if you’ve signed up to meet with me on Monday, December 12th, I encourage you to send me whatever material you have created for your final essay in advance of our meeting. This could be an outline, a draft, or a piece of a draft. If you send it to me by Monday morning, I will be able to read it before our conference.
- Essays – Your essays are due by Wednesday, December 14th. Please share your essay with me ([email protected]) as a Google Doc or email it as an attachment to [email protected].
- Final Exam – Your final exam will be posted here on the blog at 9 am on Monday, December 19th. The exam will be due by 5 pm on Tuesday, December 20th.
- Reading – For our last text of the semester, please read Junot Diaz’s short story “Drown”. Respond to two of the questions below. As always, feel free to post your ideas as a response to one of your classmates’ comments. Please post your responses by Friday, December 16th.
–Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
–Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
–What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
–How might you connect the narrator’s relationship with his mother to other issues or themes in the story?
–What do you make of the anecdote the narrator recalls about a teacher comparing his students to space shuttles?
–What, if anything, does this story “get right” about the experience of young adulthood?
What do you think the central problem or conflict of this story is?
The problem of the story is Yunior figuring out his adulthood. He struggles to find his own identity and is trapped by his surroundings. Not being able to grow out of them he almost seems trapped in the life he lives currently. Only living in the past and not being able to move foward
Explain the meaning of the story title drown?
The title drown represents Yuniors capability of not being able to escape his life. The water holding him down and stopping him from getting any air is simply a metaphor for him being held down by all his financial problems. He is a drug dealer and mostly relies on his mother to help him out. He struggles with his income and the title drown simply just represents his life.
–What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The conflict in Drown by Junot Dias is the struggles of the narrator to find his identity because of how he sticks to his mother. In addition, the jealousy that he has with his friend and the conflict between his father and him.
–How might you connect the narrator’s relationship with his mother to other issues or themes in the story?
The way that I will connect the relationship between the narrator and his mother is that there is enough relationship between them, and there wasn’t communication between them.
–What, if anything, does this story “get right” about the experience of young adulthood?
When reading “drown” by Junot Diaz, I noticed that this short story was able to sound very relatable. What I would say that Junot Diaz “got right” about how young adulthood is like, would be how he writes/makes the narrator describe it as being confused and feeling stuck. Like you can’t run from where you are. I also got the idea of feeling like you don’t know what to do with your future. Constantly feeling this fear or confusion etc.
–Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
The voice in this short story is those that transport you into “feeling” the story, those that make you connect. To me it straight up sounded like what a young adult would sound/think like. In the books description before the short story even started it said that Junot Diaz “was one of the most distinctive literary voices of any Latino writing today”, that he has a unique way of incorporating Hispanic slang in his work to have an impressive effect on the readers.
Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
The narrator has a very distinct and casual tone in his voice. This is because he incorporates slang and spanish in the text which makes the audience feel like the narrator is talking specifically to us. Also, by the narrator adding spanish in different sentences throughout the text, we get to learn more about his culture. He also references various places in New Jersey and therefore we can get a sense that that is the only place he is familiar with and one of the reasons he feels stuck in this moment of his life.
What, if anything, does this story “get right” about the experience of young adulthood?
I think that this story gets right the feeling of jumping into the beginning stages of adulthood. A lot of us don’t know what we truly want to do and have to conform to choosing the easiest path in our lives. Furthermore, the narrator struggles with his identity and that’s an issue many of us face. Going through that can feel very scary so like the narrator our solution is to lock those thoughts away and never speak of them again. Lastly, I think it’s common to grow apart with people you have known your entire life.
Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
The narrator’s use of language makes the reader feel as if the narrator was a real person because of how natural it sounds. Since the narrator is a young adult the use of slang makes the reader connect to the narrator. In addition the informal tone by the narrator also gives it the natural sound.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The central conflict in the story is the narrator’s adjustment into entering his young adulthood. He is too focused on his past that he can’t find the time to plan out his future and be the person that he wants to be. His past is holding him back and “drowning” him which makes him have a hard time transition into his young adulthood.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
I think the central problem in this story is Yunior’s struggle to fully transition into his young adulthood. Throughout the story, he would think about the past and readers can see that he is unhappy with the path that he chose. His adult life didn’t look like the typical one, like his childhood friend Beto’s.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
I believe the story’s title, “Drown”, explains Yunior’s feelings throughout the story. There’s the incident where, when they were younger, Beto drowned Yunior because he didn’t like it when Yunior was smarter than him. I think now since Beto is in the position of knowing more, as he went away for college, while Yunior stayed home, Yunior wishes he could drown Beto in a metaphoric sense. But I think the title also means that Yunior wishes he was just submerged in the calm of the water so that he wouldn’t have to face the regrets of his reality.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
The story’s title, “Drown” gives us context that something goes downhill or there are problems. Throughout the story this is seen in both sense with his parents and with his best friend. With his parents both are separated and the father is in Florida making his mother think that they could go back together meanwhile the mother always feels unwell after they talk and Yunior notices it. Also with Beto, after what Beto did to Yunior, Yunior hasn’t been able to talk or see Beto because he has been traumatized and has “drowned” in his emotions not knowing how to explain to other what happened or how he feels, keeping it all to himself which in the long run will affect him.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The conflict of this story is that because of Yuniors family problems he isn’t able to communicate what he feels to his mother because the mother is already dealing with a lot of problems such as bills and being the only parent for Yunior. Also Yunior doesnt want to be a burden and decides to hide everything what happened that summer before Beto went off to college.
Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
The narrator speaks in a really informal and casual way. He uses slang, curses, and once in a while speaks in his own language. He spoke without a filter, in any way he felt comfortable telling the story. He doesn’t use quotes for the dialogue, and he also switches to the Spanish language, he shows that it doesn’t matter to him if the reader understands, since it doesn’t matter to him how others feel as long as he is comfortable with it.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
I think the title of the story goes to show how lost the narrator feels in such a big place, and as a result he felt suffocated by his surroundings. Everything around him feels slow but also at times feels rushed, thinking about college, and when being asked if he wants a “real career”. Everything seems unclear to him and a blur, like what it is like to be underwater.
What do you make of the anecdote the narrator recalls about a teacher comparing his students to space shuttles?
The teacher’s anecdote, I believe, is very significant as it emphasizes one of the many internal conflicts the narrator experiences throughout his adolescence. During this time in his life where he is transitioning into adulthood, Yunior is faced with the reality that time is passing and he has remained stagnant. This fear and uncertainty about his future seems to be causing much confusion and anxiety within Yunior. This idea presented by the teacher suggests that there are some who will be left behind while the others take off with their goals and aspirations. Yunior struggles with which version of these shuttles he will become.
What, if anything, does this story “get right” about the experience of young adulthood?
The primary idea that this story gets right about the experience of young adulthood is the general confusion that one experiences. The struggles of trying to find one’s identity and the formation of one’s future are all at play here. This may be showcased in Yunior’s reluctance to speak to his childhood best friend after returning from college. Yunior seems conflicted with the fact that he has not determined where he wants to go in life, yet understanding that it is time for hi to move on from the neighborhood he has been in his entire life.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
The title represents Yunior’s downfall and him not being able to prosper into the person he needs to become in his adulthood. He dwells too much on the past and what he has done already, which does nothing but keep him back, “drowning” himself.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
This question goes hand in hand with the title question. The conflict is, the problems the narrator faces adjusting to try to get a successful future. The financial problems he faces, being stuck on what has happened in his past, and him trying to keep everything to himself just simply does not allow him to blossom into the person he wants to become.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The central “problem” of this story is Yunior’s struggle to come to terms with his identity and his place in the world. Yunior is a young man of Dominican descent who grows up in a poor neighborhood in New Jersey. Throughout the story, he struggles with feelings of alienation and isolation, as he tries to find his place in a society that often treats him with hatred and dismisses his cultural background. One of the main conflicts in the story is Yunior’s relationship with his brother Rafa, who is a charismatic and successful member of the community. Yunior often feels overshadowed by Rafa and resentful of his success, and this tension between the two brothers is a major source of conflict in the story.
How might you connect the narrator’s relationship with his mother to other issues or themes in the story?
One theme that is connected to the narrator’s relationship with his mother is the theme of cultural identity and the difficulties of growing up as an immigrant in a society that often treats people of color with contempt and disrespect. The narrator’s mother is a strong and proud woman who holds on to her cultural traditions and values despite the challenges she faces, and this helps the narrator to develop a sense of pride in his own cultural background.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title ‘Drown’.
The title ‘Drown’ perfectly represent the dilemma in narrator’s situation where he is unable to ‘breath’ like he is feeling that he is underwater and being held in that situation related to his sexuality and burdened by societal pressure and unable to confront his fear.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story?
The major conflict in this story is between the narrator and usual social and economic norms in society which are affecting the narrator’s ability to communicate with his surrounding about his queerness and lost love.
Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
In “Drown,” the voice of the narrator is rough, honest, and personal. The narrator talks in the first person and talks about his experiences and observations in a straightforward, honest way. He doesn’t try to sugarcoat or romanticize the hard times he and his family went through. The narrator’s voice gives the impression that he is being honest and real, and that he has a deep emotional connection to the stories he tells. It also shows how funny he is, how strong he is, and how much he loves his family and community. Overall, the narrator’s voice in “Drown” is a powerful and evocative portrait of a young man coming of age in a difficult and often hostile world.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The story’s major issue is the protagonist’s struggle for identity and purpose. He seeks a feeling of connection and purpose but faces hurdles and limitations. He’s divided between family loyalty and pursuing his aspirations, and he’s dealing with previous traumas and social pressures. Throughout the story, the protagonist navigates complicated and contradictory emotions to reach peace and contentment.
–What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The central problem of the story is the fact that the narrator is having a really tough time finding himself. He feels constant pressure and is unable to figure out what is best for him.
–Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
The title, “Drown”, represents the feelings of being unable to catch a break that the pressure of life gives the narrator. The amount of pressure that he faces and the way he experiences life gives this sense of being underwater, unable to catch just one breath of air.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”
– The title represents the narrators view on life, and where he belongs. He thinks he can’t go anywhere and that he’s bound to the town that he currently lives in. It’s like he is drowning in his emotions and possibly his economic status because of the life he lives and his job.
What, if anything, does this story “get right” about the experience of young adulthood?
– This story gets relationships at young adulthood right. You may know people for years and be close with them but sometimes there are fallouts in friendships. Another thing this story “gets right” is not knowing who you are or what you want to do with your life as you’re entering adulthood. There is a lot of unknown things that many young adults are still trying to figure as they enter a new stage in their lives.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
The title “Drown ” means what Yunior felt during the story, he was submerged in fear and fustration because of the life he was living. He was a drug dealer who helped his mom with money, but he knew that was wrong so he was trying to escape from that life but his past kept stopping him.
What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The main conflict of the story is the hard transition that the main character has throughout his adulthood. His life gets complicated because he doesn’t know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. Yunior wants to experience a different life from what his childhood was about but his past is holding him from having a better life because he keeps comparing the past with the present.
Q1: What, if anything, does this story “get right” about the experience of young adulthood?
A1: This story seems to understand the “not knowing what you want to do” aspect of adulthood, looking at the quote “A few of you are going to make it. Those are the orbiters. But the majority of you are just going to burn out. Going nowhere”. I myself am still new to the adult world, and since the beginning I still feel like I have no clue what I’m doing, so I can understand Yunior’s confusion with what he wants to do with his life. There also may be a bit of pressure on him for not knowing what he wants to do since at his age, usually, people are asked what they’re going to do, whether it’s going to college or into the working industry, maybe both.
Q2: Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
A2: The voice of the narrator shows that he likes to keep the language casual, no big or fancy words really used as there was plenty of Spanglish and English slang going on. The narrator also seems to explain as truthfully as he can about his past and the emotions going through his mind, even if they aren’t in the most positive light.
1. Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”
The significance of the story’s title, “Drown,” is that it alludes to the three major themes that run through it: belonging, identification, and the battle to discover one’s place in the world. The word “drown” alludes to how these concepts are overpowering and overwhelming and how they can swallow and overwhelm a person.
2. What do you think the central “problem” or conflict of this story is?
The struggle of the main character, Yunior, to define his position in the world and his own identity serves as the primary issue or point of contention in “Drown.” A young Dominican guy named Yunior is battling to overcome obstacles in his life, such as those relating to his family, his cultural identity, and his experiences with loss and poverty.
Explain the meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”.
The meaning of the story’s title, “Drown”, can reference the main character, Junior. Migrating from the Dominican Republic to the United States can make it seem like you’re stuck and can never escape if you’re having a hard time adapting to a lifestyle you’re not used to at all. He struggles trying to fit in and understanding who he truly is.
Describe the voice of our narrator. What does his language use tell us about him?
I believe the best way to describe Yunior’s voice is raw. Despite him using colorful language and slang, it doesn’t take away his message but only adds to really comprehend his struggles