Are you confused? Pay attention! Watch out for confuity- confusing and ambiguity!
Explanation of Technique:
S.E. Hinton does this by using something confusing or controversial to make the reader pay close attention, making them think hard. She then hides something close into the story.
What makes this technique so genius:
This technique is so genius because it is the most efficient way to hide something into the story for the reader to figure out. The best part is that there is no right answer. The author doesn’t force someone to believe what they believe. All of this is up to the reader. They can take different things out of the text.
How can we borrow S.E. Hinton’s writerly technique?
1) Put in a controversial and/or confusing part
2) Create a key idea
3) Carefully hide it into the writing
4) It’s up to the reader to find it
5) This can be used to change the reader’s idea of the main character
6) Watch as the reader is astounded and give yourself a pat on the back. Well done.
Quote analyzed:
“I caught one quick look at his face; it was red-marked and sweat-streaked, but he grinned at me. He wasn’t scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes. He was having the time of his life.” (92)
Thoughts on the quote
How was he having the time of his life when he was burning in a fire? That’s the confusing part. In this quote, while Johnny is saving the children’s life, it hit me. Johnny was having the time of his life because he was saving these kids’ lives. His parents that don’t care for him threw him into the metaphorical fire and left him to care for himself. If he was dying, they would barely care. Instead of him being in the fire, the children are in the fire, and he’s saving them. It also has to do with that he killed a Soc named Bob. He saved 5 kids. That has to make up for that. There are so many reasons that this is such an important quote in such a small space. She puts so much information into one quote, and can also be thought of in different ways.
Explanation of Technique:
S.E. Hinton does this by using something confusing or controversial to make the reader pay close attention, making them think hard. She then hides something close into the story.
What makes this technique so genius:
This technique is so genius because it is the most efficient way to hide something into the story for the reader to figure out. The best part is that there is no right answer. The author doesn’t force someone to believe what they believe. All of this is up to the reader. They can take different things out of the text.
How can we borrow S.E. Hinton’s writerly technique?
1) Put in a controversial and/or confusing part
2) Create a key idea
3) Carefully hide it into the writing
4) It’s up to the reader to find it
5) This can be used to change the reader’s idea of the main character
6) Watch as the reader is astounded and give yourself a pat on the back. Well done.
Quote analyzed:
“I caught one quick look at his face; it was red-marked and sweat-streaked, but he grinned at me. He wasn’t scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes. He was having the time of his life.” (92)
Thoughts on the quote
How was he having the time of his life when he was burning in a fire? That’s the confusing part. In this quote, while Johnny is saving the children’s life, it hit me. Johnny was having the time of his life because he was saving these kids’ lives. His parents that don’t care for him threw him into the metaphorical fire and left him to care for himself. If he was dying, they would barely care. Instead of him being in the fire, the children are in the fire, and he’s saving them. It also has to do with that he killed a Soc named Bob. He saved 5 kids. That has to make up for that. There are so many reasons that this is such an important quote in such a small space. She puts so much information into one quote, and can also be thought of in different ways.
Thanks to Alex Cohen for helping me out on the video!
S.E. Hinton leaves us confused. There's no right answer, so there's some gray area. Not just black and white.