Introducing the Story Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose Reading Skills: Determining an Author's Purpose And of Clay.

Introducing the Story

Literary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction

Literary Focus: Theme and Purpose

Reading Skills: Determining an Author's Purpose

And of Clay Are We Createdby Isabel Allende

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And of Clay Are We Createdby Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende’s story is based on a real-life tragedy: a volcanic eruption and mudslides that destroyed whole towns in Colombia in 1985.

• The main character, Rolf, is a reporter who arrives to cover the disaster for the TV news.

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• The narrator, Rolf’s girlfriend, tells us how Rolf abandons his role as a reporter to help and comfort a trapped girl named Azucena.

And of Clay Are We CreatedIntroducing the Story

The story you are about to read and the newspaper article that follows are two versions of the same event written in different genres:

• fiction (story) • nonfiction (newspaper)

And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction

• fiction—character, setting, and theme

Allende creates a realistic and moving story by combing elements of

• nonfiction—facts about real events

And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction

Rescue workers were unable to free thirteen-year-old Omaira Sanchez, who was trapped in the mudflow from the Nevado del Ruiz eruption.

As you read the two accounts, think about how they differ and how they are alike.

• Compare and contrast

events

people

setting

style

tone

details

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And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Fact Versus Fiction

Theme is the central idea or insight about life in a work of literature. Writers use theme to

• convey an important message

• reveal their purpose for writing

And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Theme and Purpose

To determine the theme of a work, consider how

• the struggles of the main character may reflect a larger, more universal problem or situation

• the main character changes

• the conflict is resolved

And of Clay Are We CreatedLiterary Focus: Theme and Purpose

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The main purposes of writing are

Although a writer may have several purposes for writing, one purpose usually becomes the focus.

newspaper editorial

about upcomingpolitical election

to inform to persuade to entertain

persuades readers to vote for a particular candidate

entertains readers with humor

informs readers about the issues

And of Clay Are We CreatedReading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose

As you read the story, consider Allende’s purpose for writing a fictional story about a real event.

• Ask yourself

WHY…

was this subject important to her?

WHAT…

does she want us to think about it?

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And of Clay Are We CreatedReading Skills: Determining an Author’s Purpose