#136, Flashback
flashback n. a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story
A flashback provides an author the opportunity to describe events from the past that might otherwise be difficult to include. They also help the reader understand characters with greater depth. In the novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom enriches Eddie's character by providing frequent glimpses into Eddie's past birthdays. In each of these flashbacks, we learn something new about Eddie (e.g., on Eddie's eighth birthday, he attends the Blue Man's funeral unaware that he was partially responsible for his death). These brief scenes show that Eddie is a troubled, complex man who is not what he first appears.
To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Write a flashback in the style of Mitch Albom. This response has two parts. The first part is a creative piece in any style of your choice. The second part starts, Today is [Character's] Birthday. The flashback describes an event from the past that reveals information about the character from the first part. See pages 23 to 25 in the novel for an example. Responses should be 100 words or more.
This is a creative writing assignment.
Comment on a peer's response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher