AGENDA:
1. Ending of The Snow Child
2. Blog post: Discussion Guide we gave you on Wednesday
- What portions of Ivey's writing did you find most artful?
- How does each character see himself or herself before Faina's appearance? How do they see themselves differently after?
- How do the elements of magical realism function in the novel?
- Is Faina's story ultimately tragic? Why?
3. Work time to finish your story! We need a draft in by the end of class today!!
Nikki Ehmann
ReplyDelete1. Within the novel, the portions that I found most artful and resonating were the descriptions of Faina. As they the story progressed, they always seemed to evolve and change, while still maintaining a similar feel. Ivey described her very often, which made for a very clear picture in my head. Even as Faina aged and grew up, in both personality and physical features, she still had a stubborn demeanor and a wildness about her which captured the essence of the forest.
2. Faina’s presence inevitably touched the lives of every character in the book. While she helped Garret grow up, adversely she helped Jack and Mabel grow young again. Where each character was reserved and introverted before her arrival, she got them to open up with ease and instilled in them a new appreciation for the wilderness.
3. Magical realism acts as a catalyst throughout the novel. It helps the story to continue progressing, and keeps the reader interested because it creates mystery. It gave the author a great deal of freedom, as she could run with whatever she wanted without having to be restricted by logic.
4. I would say that Faina’s story was ultimately very tragic. She became torn between two worlds she could never equally be apart of, and inevitably had to choose one, although we don’t really know if it was a conscious decision or not.
The portion of Ivey's writing that I found most artful were the parts when Faina disappears. For example, the scene where Jack comes upon her cave and finds the doll inside, and the scene where Mabel goes out in search of Faina in that storm. I thought she did an excellent job of combing scenery description with the feelings of the person in that particular scene. The three main characters that were affected by Faina were Jack, Mabel, and Garrett. It's not really a fair comparison of how Garrett felt before and after Faina because before he was a teenager and after he was an adult, but I guess you could say that by marrying him and giving birth to his child Faina helped Garrett transition into a more mature state of adulthood. After interacting with Faina, Jack sees himself as a father and he's more conscious of what other members of his extended family need and want. Mabel finds herself changed because she's happier simply. Everything else stems from that. Her outlook changes from being vaguely suicidal to a happy, elderly grandmother who is able to handle all of the various hardships of homestead life. The elements of magic realism function in this novel principally through Faina. Her disappearances and later reappearances as well as her true nature are already very mysterious, and help develop the plot. She acts as a force of change upon the different protagonists in the story. Because of the mystery surrounding her, she becomes more of an entity at times than a character, which is the usefulness of magic realism. Faina's story is not tragic because she left behind many goods things and was happy (comparatively) before she died. She lived to adulthood. Considering the fact that most tragic stories end with the character being totally desolated or somehow destroyed, her death does not seems so terrible compared to what other "tragic" deaths have been in other stories and works of literature.
ReplyDelete1. I thought the most beautifully written portions of the novel were Ivey's descriptions of the scenery, and how the characters interact with their surroundings. For example, Ivey describes Mabel's trek back home from Garret and Faina's house "An owl swooped through the spruce boughs, a slow flying shadow, but she was not frightened. She felt old and strong, like the mountains and the river" (Ivey 367). The metaphor comparing the owl to a shadow paints a mystical picture in the reader's mind, and the simile comparing Mabel herself to the mountains and rivers illustrates the development of Mabel's character from a diffident housewife to a strong individual at one with nature.
ReplyDelete2. Before Faina's appearance, the characters each feel differently about themselves. Before Faina, Mabel and Jack feel lonely and distant from one another. After Faina appears, however, they reignite their love for one another and act like young lovers again. Garret too is changed by Faina's appearance. He used to be aloof and uninterested in girls and people his own age, but upon seeing Faina he falls in love with her. Faina too becomes more outgoing after meeting Garrett. Mabel observes their happiness, "The Cabin's lantern light spilled outside, and near the trees she could see Garrett and Faina tosing snow at the puppy and running as it chased after them," (308).
3. Magical realism plays an important role in the novel and seeps into all of the story lines. The plot is driven by the question of whether Faina is really a child of the snow. It is this major dramatic question that keeps the reader engaged in the story. Faina's mysterious disappearance at the end of the novel is also touched by magic realism. Mabel finds the remnants of Faina, "Faina's blue coat, embroidered with snowflakes. Her scar. Her mittens. Her moccasins." (375).
4. Faina's story is not tragic because she leaves this world to go reclaim her freedom, but while she was in the material world, she touched the lives of many. Though fleeting and mystical, Faina gained the love of many. It was tragic for the people she left behind, but all of them would rather have loved Faina and lost her than never have had an opportunity to love her at all.
Kayli Zeluff:
ReplyDelete1. I think the most artful parts of the story were the parts where Faina was described. The descriptions as a whole made it seem like you were looking at a picture rather than reading a book. I also thought that the way Ivey added the magical realism was extremely artful. She was able to make such a fantasy based folktale into a story that seemed like it could almost actually happen.
2. Before Faina, Mabel saw herself as alone. She had a husband who she hardly ever talked to and she was always trapped in the cabin by herself. She was constantly stuck with her own thoughts. Jack was the same way. Before Faina Jack was afraid to talk to his wife about their stillborn child, which was causing a lot of problems within their marriage. After Faina arrived both Jack and Mabel seemed to be completely different people. They were happy and their relationship became stronger both physically and emotionally.
3. The elements of magical realism functioned really well throughout the novel. Ivey used the techniques evenly and thoroughly in order to portray the events as real yet also very majestic and unlikely.
4. Faina's story over all isn't very tragic. Yes she is gone but I feel as though she was happy for most of her life. The only time that she seemed really unhappy was when she had to settle down with her family and was unable to disappear into the woods where she was the happiest. Her story was very well developed and so the readers could easily understand the things she was going through and could even become her for certain parts. I wouldn't classify her story as a tragedy.
1. The most artful portions of Ivey's writing is her use of imagery when Mabel was contemplating killing herself on the frozen river and throughout the book, and the way she developed characters; letting their actions and responses to events change, rather than just telling you that they changed somewhere along the way.
ReplyDelete2. Mabel and Jack are depressed because their own child died at birth, but once they meet Faina, they take her as their own child and are quite content and happy. Jack and Mabel are lonely and growing distant from each other before the arrival of the Snow Child, but she brings them back together and keeps them company.
3. Elements of magical realism such as authorial reticence function in the novel by adding suspense and forcing the reader to keep reading to figure out what's going on. By with-holding information, Ivey is able to add an abundant amount of suspense and hook the reader. She also uses sense of mystery expertly to entice the reader, as well as the characters. Faina's sense of mystery is particularly heightened, because she loves the wilderness and being out in the wild. There is also a large sense of mystery around Faina in the beginning of the novel, for instance, where did she come from and who is she.
4. Faina's story is undoubtedly tragic. For one, she dies or at least disappears at the end of the novel, but it's more than that. She was a girl that loved the woods and the wilderness of Alaska and she was taken in by Jack and Mabel, which was nice but she lost some of her wilder side. Then, she married Garett and had a baby with him so she was even more tied down and forced into a "woman's role." This is what makes Faina's story tragic, not so much her disappearance or her possible death, but rather the loss of her free, adventurous spirit.
1. The portions of writing I found most artful was the development of Faina. Faina was a character not seen very often and therefore her characterization was important. She was delicate, mischievous, and interesting. The way she was developed through her growth was artful to me.
ReplyDelete2. Mabel is a sad woman before Faina's appearance. She has lost her baby, and is still caught in that moment in her life. So sad, she even considers suicide at one point. However, once Faina appears, she begins to brighten up. The arrival of the snow child reminds her of what having a child would have been like and watching one grow up. Jack is frustrated at his new living situation and adapting to the new environment of the Alaskan wilderness. Faina provides insight for Jack on the wonders of the wilderness and makes him happier about living there. Both Mabel and Jack's mood are lifted with her arrival.
3. Magical realism is an element seen often in the novel. Largely seen is sense of mystery. According to sense of mystery, the reader must heighten their senses to realize all levels of reality and , most importantly mystery. Sense of mystery is relatable to Faina, and her unknown origins or her unknown past in general. She is new to characters such as Jack and Mabel. Authorial reticence is also seen due to the absence of explanation of fantastic events (Faina's appearance).
4. I feel Faina's story is not tragic. This is so because she found love throughout the story. She found love with Jack and Mabel, with Garett, and she may have found love when she disappeared. Perhaps she disappeared back into the wilderness, where she has been longing to go and ultimately would love being there. So yes, she did leave her "family" in Jack, Mabel, and Garett, but she went back to where she was most happy, in the wilderness. Being happy does not seem a tragedy so Faina's story seems to be anything but one.
1.) The portions of Ivey's writing I found most artful was, the way she described the setting and Jack and Mabel's relationship. When she was describing the setting I felt as if i was there in Alaska especially when Mable witness that snow storm in the first couple of chapters. Also Ivey describes her characters so vividly, especially Faina.
ReplyDelete2.) At first Jack doesn't believe his eyes when he notices Fania as first. He tries to lure Fania with gifts, but he then learns just to leave her alone and let her come around on her own. When Fania finally comes around and enters their cabin, Mable was startled when she saw her. Then Mable grew to love Fania later on in the story. Garette was just amazed when he finally saw Fania. He was stuck, when he witnessed her kill that swan. Also he was kind of jealous of her because she did a lot of things better than him, such as hunting. Esther finally realized Mable wasn't telling her a fable about Fania, and last but not least, George really didn't show a surprising reaction when he say Fania.
3.)The elements of magical realism function throughout the story. Ivey keep us guessing what happens next to Fania and the people around her. Ivey using that magical realism until the end of the book. It's a happy ending for Jack and Mable but not a perfect ending for everybody. Also Garette is still out there looking for the love of his life.
4.) No, Fania's story isn't tragic. Fania was able to leave her family happy, knowing she'll be able to stay with the wilderness. Garette is the only one who's hurting at the end. Personally, I like the way she ended the book. It was an open ending.
I found the Scenes that she described artful. She was very descriptive in her scenery. When she describe the view of the river it intensified my imagination and i could actually see it in my head. I liked how she had the characters lives change in six years. We see how the characters changed and grew all together. I think how she made the characters were very artful and i really like how she made Faina. She gave her human traits except for one and that was that she belong in the outside not the inside.
ReplyDeleteMabel and Jack think of themselves as old people that just aren't ever going to have kids. Mabel still blames herself for their child death. Mabel and jack relationship was rocky when they first moved to Alaska. They didnt want to be around anyone in the beginning of the book. Overtime their relationship changed when they came into contact with Faina. Faina changed their lives for the best and Mabel and Jack truly came to love her. This emptiness in their heart of not having a child was filled with the love for Faina. Jack in the beginning of the book treated Mabel like crap and mabel was kind of allowing him to do it. When they came to get involve with the Bensons that's when they started to change their ways around. The Benson were truly a help in Jack and Mabel lives. Jack and Mabel felt like they were parents when it came to Faina and they enjoyed being around her.
The elements of magical realism play a big part in this book because when Faina came around. After jack and Mabel made the snow child in the snow that night and the next day the child wasn't there. She gave Faina human traits and emotions.The tale was told in Alaska and came from a russian book and it had natural habitats within the scenery. Faina only came around when it was winter and she always came when it first snowed. Faina filled that void of not having a child for Jack and Mabel. She was an actual snow child and only belonged in the winter. When she was younger she was already hunting a 7 or 8 years old. Also, when Faina left all those times when she was younger it was hard on Mabel because she honestly didn't know where Faina was going. When faina first appeared it was kind of like where did she come from and Jack and Mabel snow child was missing so it was kind of weird.
No Faina's story is not really tragic. Her life kind of came together because of Mabel and Jack. Jack and Mabel treated her like she was their daughter. Everything worked out for the best when it came to the Mabel, Jack and Faina relationship together.
1) I like the way Ivey didn't include quotation marks when Faina talks and interacts with people. It gave the sense of whether or not she was real or all in Jack and Mabel's head. Also, how she describes Faina; she creates this sweet, breath taking, mystical image. Her actions and the way she interacts with people is so abnormal it makes it a bit hard to believe that it's possible for someone to live a life the ways she does.
ReplyDelete2) Jack see's himself as a coward almost. He's not only upset with himself, but blames himself for the loss of their, Mabel and Jack's, baby. He feels guilty for having moved Mabel to Alaska and wanting to make a change and starting fresh, but neither can take the step forward. Mabel, too, feels guilty for having lost her baby. As for moving to Alaska, Mabel was hoping it would help the intimacy and emotional problems between she and jack, but they can't seen to move forward. Thus causing her to contemplate suicide and the willingness of her own life. Both Mabel and Jack are poor, deeply depressed people before Faina comes along. After the discovery of Faina, Jack and Mabel's life is rejuvenated...literally. They find purpose and meaning in life again. "Having this child" is what brought them back together. They needed her just as much as she needed them. Everyone was effected for the better by the "discovery" of Faina.
3) As discussed in class, the elements of magical realism are brought up throughout the entire novel, the main theme being whether or not Faina was real. But, where it truly matters, to me, is at the end when Faina disappears. Ivey leaves the ending a bit open, we never truly know what exactly happened to her. All we know is that she left. For all we know, she could have melted, she could have never been real in the first place, she could come back, etc. The element of know know exactly what Faina was thinking and what happened to her is what ties in the magical realism.
4) No, Faina's story is not tragic what so ever. The story may not have ended the way we wanted it to but that doesn't make it a tragic ending. Everyone got what they wanted. Jack and Mabel got Faina, the child they've always wanted. Along with Jack, their surrogate son. Faina had Jack and Mabel, the parents she'd always wanted and needed. She'd finally belonged somewhere where she was wanted. Garett also had Jack and Mabel; he got the love and attention he longed for his whole life. Garett also got Faina, the new, mysterious, beautiful girl everyone's been talking about. He even got a son too. And Jack and Mabel got a grandchild. Everyone got what they wanted; the void of actually belonging somewhere and being loved was filled. Everyone was satisfied.
1)The portions of Ivey’s writing that I found most artful was the way that she described the scenery. For example, how much detail she put into the scene where Mabel was contemplating suicide. It seems as though she uses the surroundings to describe the characters feelings in this sense.
ReplyDelete2)Jack and Mabel felt distant and alone at first, but once Faina appears they seem to become young again and rediscover their love for one another.
3)The elements of magical realism keeps the readers interested because there are so many unanswered questions. The mystery keeps the readers enticed, helping them realize the different forms of reality throughout the book.
4)Faina’s story isn’t ultimately tragic. You can tell that when she leaves she is happy with what she has left behind, and she got her freedom.
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ReplyDelete1. I felt the whole novel was artful, the imagery, the multiple point of views, and all of the other stuff. I loved the way she made us stand on our toes while we read each chapter anticipating that our questions will be answered in the next chapter.
ReplyDelete2. In "The Snow Child" Ivey's use of characterization was beyond brilliant. She used multiple point of views to develop each character to show us how they were feeling. And I love how she incorporates the nightmares to show how fragile Mabel was even though she was farming and blossoming from her shell of depression, guilt, and doubt. Mabel use to be lonely and depressed and blamed herself about the still born, Joseph, beacause of the wayJack treated her. Jack use to be a insecure, and blamed Mabel for the stillborn before Faina was in the picture. But when Faina came into the picture Jack started to become a real man and became closer to Mabel. I guess before Faina, Garret was a naive young boy, but a hard working one. When Faina came in, he found himself in love with her. I guess George and Esther were static characters.
3.Authorial reticence and sense of mystery plays a big part in the novel because it makes the reader hungry for answers, turning page after page for a sense of fulfillment. I guess the real world setting element makes us actually believe that this actually happened. SIKE! And the fantastical elements in this novel made the imagery in my mind a hundred percent more clear and beautiful. I could picture the Alaskan Scenery as if I was watching a Alaska T.V special on the discovery channel. Dont feel like explaining metafiction but yeah Snegúrochka +"The Snow Child" = METAFICTION.
4. I felt that Faina's story wasn't a tragic ending at all but more of a subtle ending. Ultimately Mabel and Jack got what they wanted, a child, well basically Garrett and a grand baby at that. I felt that Faina disappearing was a good way to end things because now she is free from the burden of being tamed.