Nov. 21: "Nothing New Under the Sun"

In today's reading White tells us that there are no truely new and unique stories. There are only old stories told from a new perspective, your's as the writer. Although there really are now new stories each of us has a different and unique perspectve and that is what we need to focus on instead of trying to invent a totally new story.
In "For Further Reflection" White also reminds us that despite the fact that we see the world and have a unique perspective, we are enough a like to be able to communicate with others our perspective. It is this ability that allows us to tell old stories in new ways. Also when we depart from our perspective by reading the works of others it is their different perspective that we find entertaining. White tells us to "Think of it as seeing difference embedded in similarity (or vice versa).
The "Try This" assignment for today is:
1. Write a love story that follows, almost faithfully, one of the tried-and-true formulas, such as boy wins girl's affection; boy loses girl's affection to rival lover; boy wins girl's affection back after performing some heroic deed. Change jsut one of the elements of the formula. For example, instead of losing girl's affection to rival lover, make the loss of affection the result of some indiscreationk, such as the boy having said or done something stupid.
2. Write a humorous version of a serious classical story, or a serious version of a humorous classical story. Here are a few possibilities:
The Phantom of the Opera Don Quixote
Gone with the Wind How the Grinch Stole Christmas