Cowboys Dont Cry Flashback Define flashback Sends the

“Cowboy’s Don’t Cry” Flashback

Define flashback: Sends the reader back in time to an event the writer feels is important for understanding of the present. “In some ways that night is clearer in my mind than yesterday… It was late at night and raining. We were somewhere in Montana. ” (p. 2)

Flashback Summary • Shane knows his dad has been drinking when he picks him up from school. • His nervousness of his dad’s drinking and driving remind him of four years ago. • His dad (Josh) had just won at another rodeo which put him in place to win the North American title again. • It was raining. Josh had his arm around his wife and Shane was squished in the middle. Shane remembers this as being the last time he felt secure.

Flashback Summary Continued • Shane and his family are in an accident with a logging truck. • Shane thinks he is dead, then realizes he is in the hospital. • Shane wants to yell for his parents. • Hearing the Dr. was going to stitch his hand calmed Shane as he knew his mother would be proud of him for not making a fuss – “Cowboys don’t cry” she always told him.

Flashback Summary Continued • Shane waited for his Mom to come, but when the door opened it was his dad. He had been hurt too. • When his dad came close to him, he knew something was really wrong. • Josh tells Shane that his mother is dead. Shane thinks his dad is going to hold him. Shane wished his dad would cry as that would mean he could cry too. Instead his dad left.

Flashback Summary Continued • Shane doubts his mother’s words “Cowboys don’t cry. ” He feels that maybe cowboys need to cry as much as anyone else. • Shane felt that he had lost his mom and that he was losing his dad too. He felt his dad had run away from him, but later realizes his dad ran from and is still running from that night. • Shane feels that since that night he has been waiting for his dad – “I’ve never stopped waiting. ” (p. 6)

Flashback Continued • Shane’s dad (Josh) has a drinking problem. • They continued to follow the rodeo circuit. • Shane stopped being proud of his dad and questions his love for his dad. • Josh’s drinking interfered so much with his rodeo riding that he was asked one day to be the clown. • Shane realizes even at a young age that this is not a way of life.

Flashback Continued • Josh receives a letter from a lawyer stating Shane has inherited his Grandpa’s farm in Alberta. • Shane is happy to have a place to call home he is unsure of his dad’s feelings, which makes Shane feel guilty. • Shane is brought back to the present when his father swerves the truck to miss a pothole.

Point of View • What is point of view? - the position of the narrator in relation to the story from which events and attitudes are shown • From whose point of view is the flashback told? - Shane’s

Assignment • Rewrite the flashback (pg. 2 to pg. 7) in chapter one from the perspective of Josh Morgan. • Your answer must be in paragraph form.

Evaluation • 20 marks – Student has identified and clearly made reference to a minimum of 18 key points from the flashback. Student has added and made corrections to their work so that all 22 points are included in their notes. • 15 marks – Student has identified and clearly made reference to 14 – 17 points from the flashback. Student has added and made corrections to their work so that all 22 points are included in their notes. • 12 marks – Student has identified and clearly made reference to 12 key points from the flashback. Student has added and made corrections to their work so that all 22 points are included in their notes.

Evaluation Continued • 9 – Student has identified less than 12 key points from the flash back. Student has made most corrections to their work. • 5 – Student has identified less than 8 key points from the flashback and has made little attempt to correct their notes.