The Censors

Luisa Valenzuela)

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The story 'The Censors' has been suggested for the students of degree classes for detailed study. 

After reading the story by themselves they have to analyze it with the objective of appreciating the events, character building and theme.

Following is a plan for one hour face-to-face teaching for writing a letter to the author appreciating her for the creation of a typical short story.

  

(Take this as the second or third hour of teaching the lesson)

Teacher asks the students;

            If you read the story, can’t you write the summary?

When they get ready to write the summary of the story, teacher asks;

            Who are the major characters and minor characters in the story?

            Yes, Juan and Mariana are the major characters.

            Yes, Juan’s mother and Lola, Juan’s co-worker are other characters.

            Can you write the major events of the story?

            If you know the story, you can write the events.

They make an attempt to write the events in a sequence.

After the presentation of two or three students teacher shows her own list of events.

·       Juan gets the address of his girlfriend ·       He writes a letter to her which bears certain very important decisions ·    He has a concern whether the letter may reach the destination after  the examination in the Censorship Wing ·       He thinks to overcome the problem ·    He tries for the job of a censor in the Censorship Wing of the post office ·       Juan gets the job and now he is a censor in the office ·       Mother has anxiety about her son, he ignores it ·    He works enthusiastically and gets promotion due to his loyalty and patriotism ·       One day his own letter passes through his hand ·       After reading the letter he puts it into the collection of offensive letters ·       He was blind with work holism, that invited his peril ·       Juan was executed.

Pointing to the sequence of events teacher says;                                            (20 mts)

            Look, a well-knit story.

            The writer is skillful in the craft of writing of this short story.

            The events and characters have been coined, wisely.

            Don’t you feel to congratulate Luisa Valenzuela, the writer?

            Shall we share our appreciation through a letter to her?

They plan their letter of appreciation.

            What are the aspects of the story be appreciated?

Teacher writes a concept-map through an interaction with them.

Following is a possible plan for the letter of appreciation.

·       A fool-proof building up of the characters and events.

·       The roles of all the characters are clear.

·       Point of view of the story and its advantages (third-person point of  view)

      Thus the writer could define every nuance from that viewpoint.

·       The story is with tons of conflicts;

    Conflict within the characters, the conflict between the characters and conflict between a character and the environment etc.

·       The story has a clear climax (Juan who was obsessed with censorship censors his own letter)

·  The story has an interesting denouncement (Initially Juan was against  censorship, but he died of the same reason)

·       The story is rich with messages or morals to the readers;

a)               You are your own enemy; an enemy is within you.

b)               Your goal may change if you have too many priorities

c)               Be alert in life, even a shortfall be fatal

·       Apart from the ordinary themes of the environment or human relationship, the writer takes a rare or unique theme for the story; the censorship.

                                                                                                                   

           There are other reasons also to congratulate Luisa Valenzuela.

Teacher adds two more reasons to congratulate the writer;                     (10 mts)

·       There are ironies in the story, means, there are certain satirical moments in the story;

a)    Juan was determined to find out his letter, but he became workaholic

b)    Juan’s intention was to censor his own letter, but later he likes the job

c)     He is examining others’ letters, but one day he opens his own letter

·       The story has twists, that give dramatic moments

a)    Juan gets the address of her girlfriend

b)    Juan gets appointment in the  censorship office itself

c)     His own letter passes through his hands                              (10 mts)

Teacher concludes the discussion;

Anyhow, we feel to congratulate Luisa Valenzuela a hundred times for writing such a beautiful story with all techniques of writing a short story.

Now write the letter congratulating her.

Ok, how will you salute her?

Yes, Luisa Valenzuela, Dear Luisa Valenzuela, or Ms Valenzuela,

That depends…

How many paragraphs will you write?

Five or six?

Anyhow, write one aspect in one paragraph.

What are the aspects?

a)    Events and characters

b)    Conflicts

c)     Climax

d)    Denouncement

e)    Ironies

f)      Any other

How will you close the letter?

Take your time, do it as a homework.

Sent the letter to Luisa Valenzuela.

Use Facebook, email or blog.                                                  (20 mts)