Assignment 6- fear

Fear Questions:
1. Do you like to be scared? Why or why not? In what settings are you okay with being frightened?
I like to be scared, but only when I know that I am not in actual danger. I really love scary stories, horror movies and haunted houses. On the other hand things like roller coasters, attackers, and things that put me in physical danger, I don't like. It is fun to be scared and explore the twisted paths that the human mind can take and the way the mind can play tricks on you, in safety!!

2. What scares you? Are there things you fear? Are there things in our world you consider horrific? These do not have to be about ghosts or monsters. (One of Stephen King's bestselling horror novels was about a dog.) Perhaps you are afraid to ski or afraid of snakes. Maybe you hate being alone in your house at night. Maybe you are afraid of big cities. Where do your fears come from? Are you more scared by blood and guts terror or by subtle the possibility of something horrible happening?
I don't get scared easily or by rare things like shark attacks. However, I fear things that would hurt me most in the long run and are more likely, such as losing a family member, getting in a car crash or contracting a terminal illness. I think the most horrific thing that can happen to anyone is the loss of a loved one. Whether they die or you lose who they were to drugs, etc. this is a heart breaking situation. Cruel and despicable things like rape, murder and torture are horrific, as well as war and how it tears people apart. As far as scary movies, the more creative the scarier. The gore doesn't need to be over the top as long as the idea is twisted. The character must be extraordinarly deranged, or maybe just really spooky, like a witch or a creature. A movie liek The Saw is frightening because it contains blood and gore, but the plot is creative in the way that the killer sets up his traps and victims. You are on the edge of your seat.

3. What, in your opinion, is a good definition for madness? What would a person have to do to be considered "mad" by you?
To be considered "mad" to me you would have to do something that seems inhuman and heartless. This means that any sane human would have the emotional capacity and moral compass to prevent them from carrying out such mad acts. Serial killers, rapists, terrorists... they are mad because they harm other people (and the victim's families) in ways not deserved. You are mad if you aren't guilt ridden or aware of the horrible things you are doing. When your thoughts and actions are possessed by things unthinkable to most humans, you are mad.

4. Poe writes about a man driven to madness. What drives people to madness today in your opinion? How does someone go from seemingly normal to insane (at least temporarily)?
I think that people go insane or mad when they themselves are hurting so badly it seems unbearable. This may be caused by the loss of a family member, anger at the world, a broken heart etc. The person is so misreable that this turns into bitterness, evil thoughts and eventually evil or mad actions carried out. It can be a single moment or event, or it can be a long time of misery and pain slowing evolving into madness. That is what happened to the man in the "Black Cat". He was so unhappy that overtime he became more short tempered, evil and eventually came to resent the thing he used to love most (his cat). People are driven to madness because feeling angry is less searing and not as hard to face as depression and misery.

ASSIGNMENT 5

1. Original opener- This has to be it. Rock bottom. I am hurting so bad and I hutr people so bad. I had an effect on my family that I could have never forseen. It would be nice to keep telling myself what all the counslelors (namely Carrie) and motivational speakers would repeat over and over, "This is not your fault. Addiction is a disease, like cancer, it is a disease." But it isn't. Drugs are not cancer. There is a big glaring difference. Drugs you choose, consciously. For whatever reason, I chose to do drugs. Reasons that seemed fine at the time, even logical, have since been lost in the mess that I have created.

2. Sweat beads were dripping down my face. My whole body was shaking uncontrollably. In an instant, I felt vomit fill my throat and I ran to the bathroom.

3. Wall to wall, stacks of clothing, paper, and boxes filled the tiny apartment. A family of mice nested in the corner. The stench of garbage filled the air. The resident of this filthy hole had been to distracted to tend to the place in a very long time.

4. I forced my self up from my solitary position on the couch when the doorbell rang. I was torn between locking my self in the closet and opening the door and embracing the person behind it. Butterflies filled my stomach and I took a step towards the door. The closet can wait, I wanted to see my dealer and I needed my drugs.

5. Sara had always been the odd one in the family. She was never quite as tall, or quite as thin. Her hair was a mousy brown, while her parents and siblings had sunny blonde hair. They were all beautiful, social and confident. Sara was none of these things.

Where are you going? Where have you been?

I found this story really interesting. I think that the author accomplished a strong impact in such a short story, through a more peaceful start and then a dramatic shift. The story begins and it seems to be a simple story about growing up, adolescence, crushes, summer etc. When Arnold comes into the picture the story takes a turn. the youthful nature of Connie no longer seems fun and desirable, but rather dangerous and life-threatening. I think that Connie should have picked up on the eminent danger that Arnold brings sooner, just by his age and the fact that he knows where she lives, where her family is etc. I think it would have been wise to make up an excuse to go inside soon (like "let me go get my purse") and call the cops. The story was somewhat of a cliffhanger but I am guessing that Arnold raped her, then probably killed her afterwards. Considering he threatened harm to her family if she did not come, he would not be above killing Connie. Connie draws the reader in because you are rooting for her safety and for her to escape the dangerous situation. Everyone can relate because everyone was once a unknowing youth. I think the author used really great imagery to paint the setting, set up the daily life that Connie led, etc. The dialogue really helped the reader to know Arnold and Connie better. I thought this story was, overall, an interesting read.

For a short story to be great I think...
1.The characters need to be developed so that the reader can connect with them, despite the length of the story
2.The setting needs to be established, for the same reason as above
3.There needs to be a point or message that comes across concisely
4.pulls the reader in right away, there isnt that much time to develop reader interest in a short story!
5.real-life connection
6.appeals to a broad audience.
7. central conflict
8."good" and "evil" forces/ elements
9. use dialogue!
10. have a climax point