MGP Genre Examplesfrom Lynn Nelson

Monologue and “Where I’m From”

“Too often in school, we study language and writing in isolation, apart from the people who speak and write and apart from what happens when people speak and write- apart from our being.”

Lynn Nelson, author of Writing and Being

Nelson introduces several unique genres, one of which you are required to use in your MGP:

Word Photos“I Remember”

Monologue“Where I’m From”

Brainstorm

Hearing the genre “monologue,” what do you think this genre will entail?

Hearing the genre “Where I’m From,” what do you think this genre will entail?

• Monologue

Monologue

Nelson describes that dialogue should “give the scene some sort of natural beginning, let[ting] the dialogue run its course, and then let[ting] it conclude in some natural way” (84).

For our purposes, the same thoughts should apply to monologue, which is a prolonged talk or speech from a single person. It can be delivered to another person or be delivered with no one around (typical to Shakespeare’s plays).

• Monologue Examples: Television and Movies

Monologue- The Twilight Zone

• The Twilight Zone opening- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlG28B-R8Y

Monologue- Rudy

• Rudy monologue by janitor-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27D4k3dCXPg

(start at :44, end at 1:44)

• Monologue Example: Icon Robin Williams

Monologue- Good Will Hunting

• Good Will Hunting monologue-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM-gZintWDc

(start at :14, end at 3:02)

Monologue- Good Will Hunting

• What kind of monologue could I create to emulate Williams’ performance in Good Will Hunting? What could the content be like?

• What would my prenote talk about if I cited Good Will Hunting’s clip as my source?

• “Where I’m From”

“Where I’m From”

• Nelson describes this piece as “weaving [memories] together in the form of a poem, a poem that doesn’t rhyme but [sings] and [flows] and [is] filled with bits and pieces of you. You can weave together images from all facets of your life; or you can focus just on images of place or images of family or images of struggle” (100).

• “Where I’m From” Example: Bio

“Where I’m From”: Bio

I could tell you I’m from Germany and Ireland- mmm bratwursts and potatoes. I could tell you I’m from coal dust and poverty, but I didn’t squat in that tent with thirteen children, though I see the wrinkled face that did.

“Where I’m From”: Bio

I could tell you I’m from coffee and cigarettes; inevitably soaked vapors consumed me at mamaw’s. Two years old, drinking coffee watered down with milk and sugar from a sippy-cup. “Honey, let that baby have a sip of coffee,” as she puffed her smoke away.

I could tell you I’m from laughter. Watered eyes, flushed faces, sitting with the humidity banging at the old resilient door chipping away while the stress of day’s work chipped its way off of us.

“Where I’m From”: Bio

I couldn’t tell you where I’m really from, actually. Maybe rainy walks on hot, damp pavement, or upset stomachs and worry. Maybe car rides for no reason, or food equaling comfort. Or maybe where I’m still going is where I’m meant to be from.

• “Where I’m From” Example: Icon Robin Williams

“Where I’m From”: Williams

Origins are meant to be left there. But upon certain occasions, the cobwebs are allowed to be wiped clean and the box of the past is allowed to be opened for a quick dance around the brain.

Where I am from is not from a constant humor; where I am from does not define who I am today.

“Where I’m From”: Williams

Mother constantly primped and posed, I saw little of her beauty, as it was reserved for the camera.

Father constantly with Ford, I saw his departures to the factory of metal and rubber.

Which led to being a studious student. Serious, even intense.

“Where I’m From”: Williams

When I knew I had an audience, though, my spark would fly and catch fire to all around me.

Except for the time my snowball landed on that cop car. Jeff and I waited for a call for weeks.

But with the exception of that exception, my hidden humor only catapulted me to where I am now.

“Where I’m From”: Williams

Where I am from does not define who I am today. It only lies in the form of a box, waiting to be opened for a quick dance around my memories.

“Where I’m From”: Williams

What do you think my prenote would sound like for Williams’ “Where I’m From” piece?

What do you think my postnote would sound like for Williams’ “Where I’m From” piece?

Cullota, Karen. “Robin Williams’ Childhood in Lake Forest Remembered.” Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune, 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-forest-lake

-bluff/ct-robin-williams-childhood-memories-met-20140813-story.html>.

Any questions?

Nelson Genre Assignment• We have now covered Lynn Nelson’s four

genres, one of which you must choose for your MGP.

• Pick one of his genres and begin working on researching your icon with the Nelson genre in mind.

• Your Nelson genre must be completed for workshop this Thursday and be completed as a final product (including pre and post note) for Friday; both will be for a grade!

Works Cited

• Nelson, Lynn. Writing and Being: Embracing Your Life through Creative Journaling. Novato: New World Library, 2004. Print.