SIGNPOST 3 Memory Moment Definition A recollection by

SIGNPOST #3 Memory Moment

Definition: A recollection by a character that interrupts the forward progress of the story. § The ongoing flow of the narrative is interrupted by a memory that comes to the character, often taking several paragraphs to recount before we are returned to events of the present moment.

Example from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=6 GPS 8 Xe 8 w. IU § Every time Harry goes into the Pensive, he witnesses either his, or another character’s memory § This is the perfect example of a memory moment

The Question That Follows… ■ Every time you find a Memory Moment while reading, ask yourself: – Why might this memory be important? ■ This will help you learn more about the characters and/or theme

Example from The Outsiders “I don’t like to talk about it either – Johnny getting beat up, I mean. But I started in, talking a little faster than I usually do because I don’t like to think about it either. It was almost four months ago. I had walked down to the DX station to get a bottle of pop and to see Steve and Soda, because they’ll always buy me a couple of bottles and let me help work on the cars. […] It was a warmish spring day with the sun shining bright, but it was getting chilly and dark by the time we started for home. […] Steve noticed [Johnny’s bluejeans jacket – the only jacket he had] lying on the ground. […] Suddenly he stopped and examined it more carefully. There was a stain the colour of rust across the collar. There were some more stains on the grass. I think we all heard the low moan and saw the dark motionless hump on the other side of the lot at the same time. Soda reached him first. Johnny was lying face down on the ground. Soda turned him over gently, and I nearly got sick. Someone had beaten him badly. […] I had nearly forgotten that Cherry was listening to me. But when I came back to reality and looked at her, I was startled to find her white as a sheet. ” (p. 31 -34) ■ Why might this memory be important?

Worksheet Question “See, Dad thinks the first disaster was his fault. It was his gun. Dad owned an old hunting rifle that had belonged to my grandpa Kaspar Larsen, who died before I was born. […] [Dad] was very careful with the gun. It was locked away in a special cabinet. He followed all the safety instructions. But Jesse must’ve figured out where he kept the key. And on June 1 st, Jesse got the key and opened the cabinet and took out the rifle before the rest of us woke up. He also knew where Dad kept the bullets. He loaded the rifle – we found out later he’d visited a website to learn how – and placed it in his gym bag. He left while we were still sleeping. We found a note on the kitchen table: Gone to school early. I’m sorry. Love you. Jesse. […] When he got to school, he carried the gym bag with him to his first class. […] Just before second period, Jesse saw Scott Marlin at his locker. He put the bag on the floor and took out the rifle ‘Hey, Scott, ’ he said. If Scott had known what was coming, he might have chosen his words more carefully for once in his life. But he didn’t. ‘Did I say you could speak to me, Ballsack? ’” (p. 41 -42) § Why might this memory be important?