Clue 2

The Word is God, and God is Life. John was a Prophet, not God. God became man in the form of Jesus. Jesus came to earth, but the people He created did not recognise Him. He gave the opportunity to all who beleived in Him to be born again, as a son of God.

esus. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

This introduction specifically pertains to the existance of God in relation to the world, and to Jesus. It describes Jesus' relation to the people, and what He might do for the world.

1) Label all parts of a plot graph

The ‘plot’ is the sequence of events that make up a story. The ‘Plot Structure’ is the key components that the plot is made up of. It is like the building block, the stronghold that the plot of a story usually follows and is based upon. Plot structure is made up of 5 key components; introduction (exposition), rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (dénouement). The exposition or the introduction is made up of the background information that is needed to understand the story, such as an introduction to characters, setting, time etc. The rising action is what happens leading up to the climax. The climax is generally the most important part; the turning point in the story. It is defined by a big decision made by one of the main characters. This is where all the exposition and rising action reach a peak in the story. The falling action is the events that occur after the climax, usually starting to tie off ends and start to finish the story off. The resolution or denouement is the conclusion to the story. It ties off all the loose ends and generally releases any dramatic tension gained in the story.

2) Why do stories need to be structured? What does this reveal about our need, as humans, to construct understanding?

Stories need to be structured for many different reasons. Most basically, if all stories are organized in a similar manner, then it enhances our capacity to take knowledge, and more importantly understanding away from what we hear or read. On a deeper level, we are creatures of routine, needing structure and repetition in our lives. Our brains have learnt to process information in certain forms, and a consistent structure helps to ensure our ability to comprehend. Since humans have a natural curiosity, a need for inquiry, it makes sense that we have specific ways that we want to enquire, and gain information. If this specific way happens to be structure, then so be it. Because we inquire, we construct methods that help us to do this, in other words, we construct understanding. Stories are obviously one of our sources of knowledge and experience, so we have put in place devices, such as structure so that we can understand them. It is really an ingenious way to build on our understanding and knowledge.

3) After you looked at the plot graph and structure of “Marigolds”, what new things did you see in the story that you didn’t see before?

After looking at the plot structure of “Marigolds”, I was able to distinguish which parts of the story had not made as much sense to me before. Confusing details became clear because I understood the purpose of details in context. In particular, I was confused about where the introduction of the story fit in the plot structure. I had read books and stories that used this kind of reminiscing at the start before, but I wasn’t sure whether it had a specific place in the story. After studying the plot structure, it became clear to me that this story in itself was part of the introduction. It was little details that helped enhance the story. If this ‘introduction’ had not been in place, the reader would have had trouble figuring out the setting, characters and most importantly, the fact that someone older was telling a story from their childhood. It was a creative way to help enhance the understanding of the moral or meaning that the reader was to take away from the story. In the resolution, as well, the author begins to reflect as well, which was a creative way to start tying off the ends of the story.

4) What is the theme of Marigolds and how does the structure of the story make that theme evident?

The theme of “Marigolds” has to do with ‘growing up’, and the loss of innocence that is experienced in this procedure. The structure of the story makes this theme truly evident, as the exposition and resolution of the story both clearly state this theme. Without knowledge of plot structure, a reader may discount the validity of the statements that are presented by the author. This story, “Marigolds” is told in such a way that it is read, or understood as a story with a message or moral, in this case, a theme. The plot of this story is, in some cases, jumbled up and confusing to the reader, but when plot structure is understood, it becomes easy to recognize that, in addition to telling her story, the author is also reflecting on the events that took place in her childhood. She is commentating, throughout the story, about what she learned as a child in this time of her life. She also makes additions to the story about what she has learned or realized, concerning the events of the story that applied to the experience she had. It was some of these details that made up an important part of the plot structure of the story. Some of these details also enhanced understanding of the story. In this way, I think that it is safe to say that understanding of the plot structure of a story is very helpful in enhancing understanding in this story, and many others.