The Courtship of Miles Standish:: With Suggestions for Study and NotesLongfellow, Henry Wadsworth
History
The Courtship of Miles Standish:: With Suggestions for Study and Notes
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Massachusetts -- History -- New Plymouth, 1620-1691 -- Poetry; Standish, Myles, 1584?-1656 -- Poetry
At this point the action begins. It seizes upon the attention of the
reader by causing him to project his thoughts forward in anticipation
of the action completed, the solution of the problem. As he follows the
story his interest in the struggle is heightened by finding obstacles
that challenge the very best powers of the hero and the heroine, and
test to the utmost their strength and courage. These obstacles give
rise to situations fraught with special points of interest, rousing
curiosity or giving glimpses of character or the secret workings of
the soul which the composure of ordinary life does not afford. In the
course of the story there are subtle touches or character hints which
endear the hero to the reader. At this stage it is something more than
a struggle waged between comparatively unknown forces--a strong human
interest is added, so that the reader conceives strong wishes and
consummations of his own with reference to the outcome.
In a story there are several positions that determine the plot and mark
the stages of the progress. These form the basis of its structure;
and in the study of the plot they are very serviceable as points of
departure. Thus we may recognize the point where we have sufficient
introductory data to state the problem, or in other words, to formulate
the issue. At what point do we feel prompted to wish for any certain
kind of result to the struggle? What is the nature of the obstacles
that aggravate and complicate the struggle? Do they rise subjectively
out of the hero’s character, or are they brought in through the
counterplay of other characters? At what point and through what
occurrences does the story seem to point to a definite outcome? Through
what means is the reader again led to entertain doubts and misgivings?
In what way is the main problem solved? Is the struggle ended so that
we feel that everything involved in the issue is fully terminated?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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