Chapter 25:
X-raying Charles Dickens and Donna Tartt: Echo of Text
X-raying Charles Dickens and Donna Tartt: Echo of Text
Donna Tartt: Clark explains that intertextuality is an important term for writers to understand. Having knowledge of other texts helps writers create works that are more informed. This is sometimes mistakenly considered plagiarism.
Art Echo: Multiple excerpts from Tartt's work The Goldfinch. Tartt has an affinity for Charles Dickens, and this is explored throughout the end of the last chapter of the text.
1. As you think about your story, what other stories are you reminded of?
2. Are there useful elements you can draw—without plagiarism—from these influential texts?
3. How much of such influence will you want to share with the reader, and with what degree of transparency?
4. What elements of influence can you take advantage of? Tone, language, setting, theme, details?
5. Do you want your echoes to be loud or soft? If your readers do not recognize your echo, is your literal meaning and the context sufficient to make the passage clear and comprehensible?
The Art of X-Ray Reading: How the Secrets of 25 Great Works of Literature Will Improve Your Writing p.269This chapter is rather short compared to the rest of the chapters included in this book. However, the writing lessons that coincide with this chapter are a worthwhile example of creativity from "Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing." These prompts seem to be shorter in length, but more weighty in meaning and potential delivery of what the student could produce. Using creativity, "...taking risks, ...using methods that are new," is important for any writer to practice with.