Consider the following questions:
- How does the point-of-view limit or expand the potential for character and plot development?
- How does the setting limit or expand character and plot development?
- How did the point-of-view give you insight into Romero's situation/character?
- How did the setting help you to understand Romero's character?
Reply before class on October 8th.
Reply to classmate: Find a classmate whose response lacks details that you find important or information that you found was necessary in determining the different styles of the author. Ask your classmate a question that will provoke a detailed response.
Reply due by 5pm on October 10th.
Extra credit: Again, you can get up to five points of extra credit by responding to more than one blog (one point each) and/or answering the question posed by one of your classmates to clarify your style/tone analysis.
In the short story “Romero’s Shirt” the point-of-view is limited to the main characters perspective. By limiting the perspective to a single person the reader gains insights from a single source and must determent the characters credibility. This story has a lot of detail, but it was written in a very dry way. The author is short and to the point with the descriptions which mimic the dry landscape. By naming a specific town El Paso, Texas the reader could be limited of his or her own knowledge and recollection of the place. In this story the setting adds to why Romero has the work ethic and beliefs that he does. I lived in El Paso for 3 years and could identify with the setting and character, but feel like my perspective is bias.
ReplyDeleteThe point of view is 3rd person but through the eyes and life of Romero. It limits the plot development because you only capture an image of Romero and not of his family or the old man. Gilb gives a slight portrayal but not a full depiction of what the family members really think and feel of Romero. The setting in El Paso, Texas plays a large role in expanding plot development because it adds to the humble lifestyle that Romero tries to live. He lives in a location of humble means and working hard just to get by. It is a slower pace of life and close to the border of his home country. This location gives Romero his reason for living and embracing simplicity.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the setting also limits the plot development because El Paso is such a unique town that it limits what one can do there?
DeleteIn “Romero’s Shirt” the point of view is from one person talking about how Romero views the world. This limits the potential for character and plot development because it is only one point of view, and one person’s thoughts. By not being Romero himself telling the story it expands the development of the plot and character because another person is going to say things that you may not say or describe about yourself. The setting limits character and plot development because the whole story occurs at a house in a specific town, El Paso, which is a town that has its own unique characteristics and surroundings. The point-of–view really goes into detail about Romero’s personality and surroundings that have helped shape him. It tells us things about Romero such as his like of simplicity, and that he struggles between that like for simplicity and wanting more for himself and his family. The setting helped me understand why Romero was the way he was in terms of looking across the street into Mexico and realizing he was better off than those just across the border.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said the point of view helps expanding the plot and character. Would your impression of Romero change if this story was told from Romero himself?
DeleteWith the setting of the story taking place in El Paso, Texas, I think that this expanded the character’s development; like Sarah expressed in class, it could allow Romero to reflect on his life back when he lived in Mexico. The setting and exposition in the prose complemented Romero’s appreciation for the simplicity in his life. Evidently, the descriptions in the story were suggestive of the basic characteristics of his house, life, and family. There were no extravagant objects in the story that would sacrifice the simplicity in the context.The third person point-of-view, I feel, is expanding the character development. From this narration, the plot flows very well. And this narration also allows the reader to empathize with Romero. Whereas if the story had been written from first person, it would make the story appear as though the character was fishing for pity. Gilb gave me insight on Romero’s character from the usage of exposition. My understanding of Romero not only came from my empathy towards him, but primarily from the gradual exposition that was indicated in the story.
ReplyDelete“Romero’s Shirt” is told in a third person view but with more of a personal tone to it. It explores Romero’s feelings and his thought process without it focusing too much on himself. The story helps us sympathize with the reader knowing that it is told by someone else as a story instead of by the protagonist. It helps us to relate to Romero and his feelings. But the point of view does not go into what Romero is really thinking or feeling, just the top layer. The setting, which is in El Paso, Texas, is right across from the border of Mexico. The setting fits the story because not only is Romero able to keep an eye on his past he is also able to separate himself from his past and is able go on with his future. At the end of the story the reader sees why Romero is such a hard worker and why he wants to provide for his family.
ReplyDeleteI think that the story does go deeper than the top layer of what Romero is feeling, especially after he realizes his shirt is gone. Do you think there was more going on inside his head than what the story reveals?
DeleteI don't know. It is hard to tell since the story isn't as deep as some other stories or poems we have read. I can see what you are saying though. The thought process that Romero goes through after he realizes his shirt is gone does go deeper than the rest of the story.
Delete“Romero’s Shirt” is told from a third person perspective by a semi-omniscient neutral narrator. This perspective limits the plot of the story to Romero. We cannot see the conflicts of other characters, allowing for a simple story. However, by limiting the plot, the author expands the character of Romero. From third person semi-omniscient, the thoughts and actions of the story are focused on Romeo and how other characters interact with him. From third person, it’s revealed that Romero is hard working (he’ll perform any task), appreciative of his family, and magnanimous (his prized shirt was stolen, and he let it go by nightfall).
ReplyDeleteRomero’s story takes place in his house in El Paso, Texas. The setting here allows for both a simple plot and a fleshed-out character. By limiting the setting to a poor rural neighborhood, we see clearly how his world functions: he goes from day to day performing any work he can, with no complications. By focusing on Romero’s town, we see how Romero acts and what causes him to act that way. This setting reveals to us that Romero is a poorer man, but is appreciative of his blessings and only wishes to be content.
The point of view is not as open to opportunity, but that's what makes this character more relatable. He lives a simple hard working life that keeps a constant for his resolution. His point of view did however make the character more human. The setting only gave more imagery to see where exactly he's living, the conditions, and here and there background information to help understand where Romero is coming from.
ReplyDelete“Romero’s Shirt” is told from the perspective of a neutral omniscient narrator. The narrator writes the story as a guest in Romero’s mind, and so is limited to Romero’s perspective. This gives the reader insight into how Romero views his life in general and the specific circumstance of the story, but limits how we see him, because we only see what he thinks of himself, not what his family or friends think of him. On the other hand, this perspective expands the story because we know Romero’s thoughts after his shirt is stolen. If it were from the perspective of an outsider, we would not know much more than that he was upset. The setting of El Paso, a town only two miles from the border, is significant because it keeps Romero tied to his heritage, even when his friends have moved elsewhere and been more successful. His location gives the reader an idea of his quality of life so they can fully appreciate the fact that he is content with his lot.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think the story would've been told if it was the old man that the story focuses on and not Romero? I like how you pointed out that Romero is tied to his heritage and that that is why he doesn't move away.
Delete“Romero’s shirt” is told in third person, but mostly focused on the main character, Romero. Since this story is told from third person, the details and emotions are able to expand more through Romero’s mind rather than Romero explaining the story himself and lacking details. We’re able to understand him as a person rather than just a character. This let’s readers have a stronger understanding of the main character and the setting. This short story is placed in El Paso, Texas, leading to the atmosphere and the home Romero and his family live. El Paso is not a high rich town, but a one where it’s a middle class surrounding adding to Romero’s character. The house his family resides in is a small, simple, and far from being a fancy mansion, but Romero is a character who appreciates the small thing and life, rather than material. He enjoys his small simple life.
ReplyDeleteThe point of view in "Romero's Shirt" was limited because it was told through the eyes of one character. We collected all of our information and insight about the other characters from Romero and then had to decide for our self if we agreed or disagreed with the way he portrayed the other characters. The fact that the story was told only by Romero also made the plot development narrow because we were only hearing his thoughts. The setting expanded the plot development because being specific to El Paso, TX helped the readers to narrow their thoughts specific to that city. If the author wouldn't have put a specific town into the reading we might have a different understanding as the story as a whole. The setting also helped us understand Romero's character by narrowing our view to El Paso and better putting into perspective the way of life their and his situation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the story is told by Romero himself, but by a narrator who sees things from Romero's point of view and can expand on it as Romero himself would not be able to. I agree with your thoughts about the setting though; the story would not have the same impact if Romero's circumstance were different.
DeleteRomero's Shirt is told from the "bound" third person. I say "bound" because the narrative is strictly from Romero's perspective and within his own head. This is significant because there are no outside biases to affect the reader, they must decide their own thoughts based upon the thoughts of Romero. Wes readers are placed at an advantageous position within Romero's head he can see his thoughts. Because of this we see the way he views the world and the events of the story: his skepticism of the old man, his "panic" at the missing shirt, his admiration for his family. The anecdote is set in the town of El Paso, Texas. Just a few miles from the border with Mexico, the place where Romero grew up. The juxtaposition of these two locations present an odd kind of contrasting perspective for Romero and the readers, he can look at the place he came from, and easily compare with how far he has come, and his is proud his accomplishments. Additionally, by naming the town, Gilb give the read a sense of tangibility. As if to say The events of the story are rooted in reality and something akin to this could happen.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though you are describing first person. I understand the base of what you are trying to describe, however, we know that the prose was written from a limited omniscient narrative, which does restrict the narrator to a single perspective, and allow us to view the situation through the author's eyes. Hence, my understanding of what you are describing. Nevertheless, If the perspective of Romero was (to quote what you said) "within his own head," then that would apply the description of first person, rather than third. Limited omniscience gives us the same description of how the character may view something, but through the exposition explained by the narrator, instead of the author. Perhaps you could explain your thoughts in a different manner, in case I have misunderstood you? If the author decided to use flashbacks instead of exposition, how do you think that would have affected the story? Do you think that maybe the author used exposition because flashbacks would have taken up too much of the context? Moreover, what do you think the benefit of exposition was in this piece?
DeleteBeing the novel is told only in a third person view it allows us to get a lot of insight on the characters emotions. But on the flip side, it does not allow for much character development because it is all in third person. The setting tells us a lot of details on the character's background because if you look up the area you can see how hard it was for him. Also the setting could expand to his development as a character by letting him grow in his surroundings.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that third-person narrative doesn't allow for much character development, but I don't think that it gives us much insight on the characters emotions. It does give us some insight on Romero's emotions but he is the only one that we get emotional details from. Do you think that third person gave us the emotions of the man asking for work?
DeleteThe third-person point-of-view helps create a character in a situation that a reader can feel empathy for and let the reader inside the character’s mind. Consider these sentences rewritten with ‘I’” I felt so good, felt such relief, I napped on the couch. When I woke up I immediately remembered my shirt, that it was already gone before the old man had even arrived.” Granted it may not be written in first person like that, but it does make Romero sound almost conceded and speeds the pace of the story. As Ms. Taylor said, had Romero been a rich Caucasian, the story would not have gone anywhere and there would be no conflict. Likewise, the setting serves the purpose of adding atmosphere to the story. Had the story been set in a place like the Broadmoor area, where items are left on lawns for long periods of time, Romero would not worry about his shirt being taken, again leaving us with no conflict. Romero is in a place physically where he didn’t have much, but didn’t live in poverty either. Being in El Paso, he is reminded of where he is from and what his parents went through. Through this we learn that Romero is appreciative of the few things he has, especially his family.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do think that a general P.O.V. is important, I believe that the type of P.O.V. is equally important. For example, the narrator here would probably best be described as a third person limited narrator. The limited quality of the narration is equally as important as the third person perspective; if we had an omniscient narrator, the story would be less focused on Romero, but if we were to have an objective narrator, we wouldn’t be able to understand why Romero doesn’t hold a grudge.
DeleteRomero's Shirt is written in third person point of view but through Romero's eyes and head. The narrator is able to expand on Romero's life in a way that he wouldn't be able to through his own words. The fact that Romero is so concerned about his shirt shows us that he appreciates everything he has and values what his family has worked for. The fact that the author specifically put this story in El Paso, TX contributed to the plot because it is a small town that is composed of a mostly Mexican culture that have immigrated from Mexico just south of the El Paso border so it gives you a sense of how Romero's family could possibly live and work.
ReplyDelete