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myNotes
21 Or take Henry James. He wants to different way. What readers learn,
write a story in which America (youth, finally, is that it’s not simple. We can’t
enthusiasm) comes into contact with assume that “summer” means X and
Europe (stuffy, dull, bound by rules and “fall” means Y. But writers know there’s a
traditions). So he comes up with a girl, set of patterns that can be used in
American, young, fresh, direct, open, different ways. Sometimes a writer uses
naive, and something of a flirt. And he the patterns straight, and winter means
comes up with a man, also American but what we expect it to mean—cold, death.
who’s lived for a long time in Europe. Sometimes a writer turns our
The man is slightly older, bored, worldly, expectations around, and summer isn’t
shut off to his emotions. She’s all spring warm and rich and happy; instead it’s
and sunshine; he’s all frosty stiffness. dusty and hot and miserable. The
Names, you ask? Daisy Miller and patterns are still the same, though, no
Frederick Winterbourne. Really, it’s just matter how the writer uses them. And
too perfect. Once you notice the names, they’ve been around for a very long time.
you pretty much know things will end 23 So when you open up a book, check
badly, since daisies can’t survive in the weather, and the calendar too. If it’s
winter. And end badly they do. raining or snowing, if it’s winter or
22 Every writer can use the seasons, and summer, if the characters are shivering
every writer does so in a slightly or sweating—it all matters.
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