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Summary:
A girl named Connie is a teenage girl who think she is on top of world. Like most teenagers these days are, she thinks she is practically an adult now, and she can do and knows everything. Society views people like Connie poorly. They don’t appreciate people that are full of themselves and think too largely of them. In society today, there are a lot of bad people that can and will take advantage of that. So when Connie goes to a local diner with her friends, she will eventually come to realize that she was there at the wrong time. For there is a mysterious man that has seen her and is committed to making Connie his own,” He wagged a finger and laughed and said, "Gonna get you, baby," and Connie turned away again without Eddie noticing anything” (Oates). Yes, this antagonist is pretty sick and twisted. Connie doesn’t quite get the hint of his intentions, and moves on with her night. Well she ends up paying the price when the next day her family goes to a barbecue, and she decides to stay behind. She finishes getting ready, and sees that same guy from the previous night pull up her driveway. When she goes down to meet him, he ends up trying to convince her to come outside. She refuses in a calm matter still being her stuck up full of herself girl. Only when she tries to call the police does she realize that she has no way out. She breaks down in a full on panic attack. And now suddenly she no longer thinks she is on top of the world. Her attitude suddenly changes because of this man. This man influences her so much that she just breaks down and does everything that he says. He pressures her into everything and she collapses and follows. As you can tell, this story does not have a happy ending and the people in this story are pretty sick and insane. Another story we read was call Fat Girl. This story has a lot in common with the story I read. For example, in the story the main character is a girl named Louis who is overweight. Society tends to view being overweight, or fat for a lack of a better word, as a bad characteristic. Just like how society views being vain and prideful as a bad characteristic. Not only this, but both girls have a bad characteristic that ends up biting them in the butt. Louis is overweight and therefore her mother dislikes her, and this hurts Louis. In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Connie is very vain and therefore, the man, Arnold, takes advantage of this and causes Connie harm.
How Is my Story Contemporary Fiction?
As you may know, there are many characteristics and "hints" that can define whether or not a story is contemporary Fiction or not. One is that the characters' conflicts. You can see this in Where are you going, where have you been because the girl, Connie, is being attacked by a mysterious man. This may not happen in the same way that it has in the past, but sadly, it still happens a lot today and is still a huge problem in society. In Fat Girl, the main character, Louis, is influenced by her mother that her body is bad, and therefore, causing Louis to believe that and her self-esteem to be lowered," Oh give her a potato, he would say to Louise's mother. She's a growing girl. Her mother's voice then became tense: If she has a potato she shouldn't have dessert. She should have both, her father would say, and he would reach over and touch Louise's cheek or hand or arm." (Dubus 1).
This also happens in life today. Whether a girl has a bigger body or not, the words that people say to someone effects them in a large way, or a small way. Especially if it's family saying those comments to you. Whether they are good or bad. Not only that, but the characters are not perfect. For example, Connie is a self absorbed, wild teenage girl. Society views this as a bad thing because girls like this can easily get taken advantage of. Louis doesn't have a perfect, thin body. Society views this as a bad, disgusting characteristic to have. It's disappointing to know, but it is very much true.
Literary Terms!
Static Character: A static character is a character that does not change throughout the entire story. A very good example of this definition is Arnold Friend. Throughout the entire story, he is cocky, clever, and deceiving. From when he first lays eyes onto her to when Connie walks out of the house, he has the same personality. When you first see him, you would think that he is a friendly (hence his last name), and flirty. At first, Connie is intrigued by this, but soon comes to realize the monster Arnold truly is. Even while he is luring Connie out of her home he keeps a calm, and cocky attitude. Calmly telling her where her family is and what he will do if she makes the wrong move.
Dynamic Character: Unlike a static character, a dynamic character is a character that does change throughout the story. The character that fits this definition very well is Connie herself. At the beginning of the story, she is on top of the world! She thinks that nothing can knock her down! Although as soon as something bad happens, she becomes a weeping, and panicked mess.
3rd Person Limited: This term is a point of view. Specifically, this is when the narrator, the "person" telling the story, doesn't know all the thoughts or feelings of all the characters. In this story the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of Connie. The author never explains, or tells how Arnold or any of the other characters feel, just how they act.
Climax: The climax of the story is the "peak" or turning point of the story. You can mostly tell the climax is happening when the emotions and actions are the most intense. In this story, it is when Connie first realizes that she is totally trapped, and has no where to go or to run. Her emotions are intense, and her actions start to get shaky and panicked," She thought, I'm not going to see my mother again. She thought, I'm not going to sleep in my bed again. Her bright green blouse was all wet" (Oates 11).
Mood: The mood of the story is how the reader feels when reading the story. I would hope that when you read this story you feel scared, disturbed, and maybe even depressed. Kidnapping is a very heavy and sensitive topic that you must approach with caution. It is a very real and terrifying issue today. Just the thoughts and emotions that go through Connie when this is happening to her should be enough to make you realize how truly terrifying this experience can be. Just her knowing that everything she has come to know and love is now being torn away from her in a heartbeat. That is a VERY rough thing to have to go through and face.