RfE Example

Focus: I've always wondered when I would get the boots.

Disturbance: I didn't expect my grandma to die though.

Dialogue: I always imagine her smiling face giving me those lovely purple boots.

Development: Oh well, I thought to myself, at least I've got them now.

Disturbance: I woke up slowly, and found I was alone.

Dialogue: “Where am I?” I asked myself. “In the land of a dead” a voice replied. I jumped, “who are you? I am not dead, am I?”. “I am Jack,” and out came a little boy, hiding from a nearby rock. He was tiny! Like knee-height. “Oh hello,”, I replied, “I'm Serah. So what's this about me being in the land of the dead?” “Argh!” Jack yelled, wide-eyed. His little beard frizzed up. “What?’

Development: He said nothing, just stared at my boots. His fingers came to point at the boots. “Oh my God …”

Disturbance: The little bells glowed dark blue colour but that wasn't all, they floated as if the wind was blowing them [in] a direction which they wouldn't stop facing.

Dialogue: “Oh my God,” I said again. “Quick!” shouted Jack. He was in a slight panic. “Follow me.”

Development: I eventually caught up to him. He had taken me to a house, old and tattered. I went inside.

Disturbance: Another little man stared at me.

Dialogue: “Where did you get those?” “My grandmother died, and they got passed to me,” I said.

Development: “I made those,” the man said. “Hear, listen closely. This is the land of a dead, right? And everyone here is dead.”

Disturbance: “Am I?” I was scared. What was I doing here?

Dialogue: “Hush! I made those boots and what they do is, the bells they point to what you want most. The brighter the colour, the closer you are.”

Development: I looked at the bells all pointing the same way, all glowing a light blue.

Disturbance “I must be close.”

Dialogue: “What do you want?”, he said excitedly. “I want … I want,”

Development: I hesitated but it all makes sense now.

Resolution: I was in the land of the dead because what I want is here, “I want my grandma back.”

Moral (implied): Cherished possessions of our loved ones have the power to forge a deeper connection with them. 

ChatGPT's analysis of emotions. Point here is not to "get it right" but to build awareness in students that stories have emotional progression. 

1. Focus

Text:
"I've always wondered when I would get the boots."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This opening sets up the protagonist’s curiosity and longing, which immediately creates a sense of anticipation for the reader. The reflective tone establishes the boots as a central, emotionally significant object, engaging the reader’s curiosity about their importance.

2. Disturbance

Text:
"I didn't expect my grandma to die though."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The death of the grandmother introduces a significant emotional conflict. For the reader, this abrupt shift from anticipation to loss creates a poignant moment, highlighting the deep connection between the boots and the grandmother’s memory.

3. Dialogue

Text:
"I always imagine her smiling face giving me these lovely purple boots. Oh well, I thought to myself."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This dialogue adds emotional depth, revealing the protagonist’s bittersweet reflection on their grandmother’s memory. The reader gains insight into how the boots symbolize the love and bond shared with the grandmother, deepening the story’s emotional resonance.

4. Development

Text:
"At least I've got them now."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This moment shows the protagonist moving forward despite their grief. For the reader, it reflects resilience and a sense of acceptance, subtly shifting the tone from loss to appreciation.

5. Disturbance

Text:
"I woke up slowly, and found I was alone."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This new disturbance introduces an eerie and mysterious tone. The reader feels the protagonist’s isolation and uncertainty, signaling a transition into the story’s supernatural elements.

6. Dialogue

Text:
"‘Where am I?’ I asked myself. ‘In the land of the dead,’ a voice replied. I jumped, ‘Who are you? I am not dead, am I?’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The dialogue between the protagonist and the unseen voice heightens the tension and intrigue. For the reader, it raises questions about the protagonist’s circumstances and their connection to the land of the dead, creating suspense.

7. Development

Text:
"He said nothing, just stared at my boots."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This moment shifts focus back to the boots, deepening their symbolic importance. The reader is drawn into the mystery of the boots’ role in the land of the dead and their connection to the protagonist’s journey.

8. Disturbance

Text:
"The little bells glowed dark blue colour but that wasn't all, they floated as if the wind was blowing them [in] a direction which they wouldn't stop facing."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The glowing bells create a mystical disturbance, heightening the story’s supernatural tension. For the reader, this moment introduces a sense of urgency and wonder, reinforcing the boots’ magical significance.

9. Dialogue

Text:
"‘Oh my God,’ I said again. ‘Quick!’ shouted Jack. He was in a slight panic. ‘Follow me.’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The dialogue conveys fear and urgency, driving the plot forward. The reader feels the heightened stakes as Jack’s panic adds to the mystery and tension surrounding the boots.

10. Development

Text:
"I eventually caught up to him. He had taken me to a house, old and tattered. I went inside."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The protagonist’s journey into the house marks a progression in the narrative. For the reader, the old and tattered house evokes unease, deepening the atmosphere of mystery and anticipation.

11. Disturbance

Text:
"Another little man stared at me."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The appearance of another character introduces a new disturbance, adding to the protagonist’s unease. For the reader, this moment suggests an escalation in the story’s tension as the focus shifts back to the boots.

12. Dialogue

Text:
"‘Where did you get those?’ ‘My grandmother died, and they got passed to me,’ I said."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This dialogue reveals the emotional backstory of the boots, connecting them to the grandmother’s memory. For the reader, this moment ties together the protagonist’s loss and the supernatural journey, emphasizing the boots’ symbolic weight.

13. Development

Text:
"‘I made those,’ the man said. ‘Hear, listen closely. This is the land of a dead, right? And everyone here is dead.’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This explanation deepens the narrative’s emotional and thematic stakes. For the reader, it clarifies the boots’ purpose while raising questions about the protagonist’s connection to the land of the dead.

14. Disturbance

Text:
"‘Am I?’ I was scared. What was I doing here?’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The protagonist’s fear and existential questioning create another emotional disturbance. For the reader, this moment highlights the protagonist’s vulnerability, deepening their emotional connection to the story.

15. Dialogue

Text:
"‘Hush! I made those boots and what they do is, the bells they point to what you want most. The brighter the colour, the closer you are.’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
This dialogue provides a crucial revelation about the boots’ power. For the reader, it shifts the focus to the protagonist’s ultimate desire, creating anticipation for the story’s resolution.

16. Development

Text:
"I looked at the bells all pointing the same way."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The protagonist’s realization moves the story toward its climax. For the reader, this moment builds anticipation as the bells signal the proximity of the protagonist’s goal.

17. Disturbance

Text:
"All glowing a light blue. ‘I must be close.’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The light blue glow introduces an emotional realization, creating a mix of hope and tension. For the reader, this moment reinforces the boots’ symbolic role and heightens the story’s emotional stakes.

18. Dialogue

Text:
"‘What do you want?’ he said excitedly. ‘I want … I want,’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The protagonist’s hesitation adds emotional weight, drawing the reader into the moment of revelation. The anticipation builds as the reader awaits the protagonist’s ultimate desire.

19. Development

Text:
"I hesitated but it all makes sense now."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The protagonist’s realization ties together the narrative’s emotional threads. For the reader, this moment signals the story’s emotional resolution.

20. Resolution

Text:
"I was in the land of the dead because what I want is here, ‘I want my grandma back.’"

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The resolution provides emotional closure as the protagonist expresses their deepest desire. For the reader, this moment is poignant and reflective, emphasizing the power of love and memory.

21. Moral

Text:
"Cherished possessions of our loved ones have the power to forge a deeper connection with them."

Reader-Centric Commentary:
The moral ties the narrative’s emotional journey to a universal reflection on grief and memory. For the reader, it adds a meaningful takeaway, encouraging them to consider their own connections to loved ones.