Editor’s 6 Core Questions

The Revenant (Michael Punke)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

analyzed by Tanya Lovetti 1. What is the genre? Global—Action, Duel > Revenge Secondary—Morality > Redemption > Reform 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Hero, Victim, Villain must be clearly defined. The protagonist must be a hero: Hugh Glass is clearly the hero of this story. He is also… Read more »

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Butcher’s Crossing (John Williams)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

analyzed by Steven Bradley 1. What is the genre? Global—Western > Transition Secondary—Worldview > Maturation 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions The hash, hostile wide-open landscape is a ‘character”. The environment is the main villain given the perspective from which the story is told, though it could also be… Read more »

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A Man Called Ove (Frederik Backman)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

analyzed by Kim Kessler 1. What is the genre? Global—Morality>Testing>Triumph Secondary—Love > Marriage 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Despicable protagonist begins at his/her worst: Ove is a self-centered grump, even before he loses his job. Without Sonja in his life, his anger at all the injustice he’s had… Read more »

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Casino Royale (Ian Flemming)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

analyzed by Allison Fairhurst 1. What is the genre? Global—Crime > Espionage Secondary—Love > Obsession 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions A MacGuffin: The Villain Le Chiffre wants to win a large sum of money at Baccarat to get out of financial ruin thus preserving his own life.  Investigative… Read more »

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Ethan Frome (Edith Wharton)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

analyzed by Leslie Watts 1. What is the genre? Global—Society > Domestic Secondary—Status > Pathetic 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions One Central Character with offshoot characters that embody a multitude of the main character’s personality traits: Ethan Frome is a poor farmer in rural Massachusetts who is stuck… Read more »

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Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

analyzed by Renee Decker 1. What is the genre? Global—Performance > Profession Secondary—Worldview > Maturation 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Strong Mentor Figure. Graff is the strong mentor figure for Ender.  Although he constantly pushes Ender to the end of the line, for the sake of humanity, he… Read more »

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