June 17,2019
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
I learned to read in the golden age of Dick, Jane, and Spot. See Jane run. Obviously, that didn’t teach me a love of language but it was a start.
By sixth grade I was reading a book a night. No, not 1000 page novels, but a lot of history and biographies written for my age level. Okay, I confess, I read above by age level by at least of couple of years.
In seventh grade (I think) I wrote a short paper about the Mafia. I don’t remember what the assignment was, but I got an A—and was invited to read the essay over the PA system to the seventh and eighth grades., a first for the school. But that wasn’t the event that showed me the power of words.
And it wasn’t when I won an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for my essay on Molly Pitcher in eighth grade. No, that event was ruined for me when they first announced a classmate with a similar name as the winner, and then discovered the mistake. To make it “fair”, I had to share the award with her and felt cheated.
No, I learned the power of words by failing a writing assignment. We were tasked with writing a short story- I forget how many words. Influenced by a book I’d read recently, I ended my story with the main character ready to throw himself from a cliff to evade capture by the enemy. My teacher thought I hadn’t finished the story, and gave me an F. I tried to explain to her the motivation behind the ending, but she wasn’t listening. or wasn’t satisfied, I’m not sure.
I don’t have a copy of that story anymore, but when I think back, I still think I was in the right. I’d explained the character’s motivation, I had put him in a situation with no way out, and I even had him looking skyward as if reaching out to his god. I thought the ending was clear without describing it in gory details.
And that’s when I learned the power of words. And the power of no words.
I’ve also learned how to take away the power. You see. I believe words only have the power you give them. Call me a nasty name? It may hurt momentarily, but it’s only words, after all. Sticks and stones …. I can even read bad reviews and decide if they are helpful or nonsense.
There is one word that is often misused but I hope never loses its power. It’s the word that represents the best of all of us, the hope for humanity. It’s a simple word, only four letters. You guessed it, the word is love.
Now, let’s head over and find out when everyone else discovered the power of words.
June 17,2019
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
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An open ending is a time-honored writing technique that famous novelists use. “Incident at Owl’s Creek Bridge” for example.
I know that now, but as an eighth grader I didn’t have enough experience to debate the issue with my teacher.
Yeah, the teacher — good example of what is wrong with the public education system. My daughter, who went to a non-profit Christian school for elementary and junior high, would run up against the non-thinking teacher in public high school and just end up so frustrated.
Except this was a private school. Just goes to show that there are good and bad teachers in both systems.
I think the way you wrote that story was brave. I always think it’s fun and awkward to come across stuff I wrote early on.
I remember feeling excited about trying a new way to finish a story. I wasn’t so excited about my grade!
Failure is often an efficient teacher. Great post.