Text King, Thomas. The Truth about Stories: A Native Narrative. 3rd ed.

, University
of Minnesota Press, 2008.

Quote
Less than 4-5 “So what makes my mother's sacrifice special? What makes my father's
sentences. desertion unusual? Absolutely nothing.
Copy quote and
Matter of fact, the only people who have any interest in either of these stories
include citation in are my brother and me. I tell the stories not to play on your sympathies but to
MLA style: suggest how stories can control our lives, for there is a part of me that has never
been able to move past these stories, a part of me that will be chained to these
Eg. (King 23) stories as long as I live.” (King 8-9)

Reactions /
Commentary This quotation stood out to me because of the bluntness King uses to make his
In less than 200 point, yet accuracy in describing how our personal stories affect us and the
words, write a meaning that they have. Although the stories that he previously referenced (of
response to your
chosen quote.
his father and his mother) were sad, compared to other struggles going on
around the world, it seems like a pity party, but that’s exactly what he doesn't
1) What stands out want you to think. King’s main point is not to torment us with the fact that
and why? our personal stories will never have the same effects on others as it does on us
2) What questions nor to force us to sympathize with him, instead, it is to emphasize the impact
does this passage
produce for you?
that our stories have on ourselves and the permanent connection that we will
3) What connections have. A question that arises after reading this quote is: How do our different,
do you make? personal, life stories influence the way that we tell stories? Some connections I
can make are the heavy connections to personal stories. I believe I often find
myself “romanticizing my own life” and dramatizing my experiences. But in
reality, to any other person, I am a normal kid. However, despite being such an
insignificance in the span of the world, I will never forget the life I've lived.
Concept This passage connects to perspective. I believe that this entire chapter has a
Connection heavy connection to perspective because of the many ways it shows how
In 2-4 sentences, make perspective can change storytelling, myth and other writing.
a connection to a core
concept

Lingering How do our different, personal, life stories influence the way that we tell stories?
Questions
Record 1-2 unresolved
questions you have