Patrick lived in Emoryville, but every Saturday morning he rode two city buses to his uncle’s bookstore in Northview where he worked. He didn’t mind the commute because he loved his job. He loved spending time with his uncle, but he also loved going to work because he had become friends with Andrew, one of his co-workers. The boys would talk about everything from baseball scores to movies to favorite pizza toppings.
So this Saturday, when Patrick got to work, he and Andrew got to talking as they always did.
“Hey, Pat,” Andrew said casually.
“Hey,” said Patrick. “Did you have a good week?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Great week. My basketball team made it into the semifinals. The game is tonight. We’re playing Emoryville, our nemesis.”
Before Patrick could say another word, Andrew continued. “I don’t like Emoryville. I don’t think I could ever be friends with someone from that town. Our schools are such rivals.”
Patrick was speechless.
“Where are you from, Pat? I can’t believe I’ve never asked you that before!”
Patrick fumbled over his words. “Not too far from here,” he said before he quickly changed the subject to the new shipment of graphic novels.
Write a paragraph explaining the structure of the story and how the structure contributes to the meaning of the story.
The story "Patrick's Commute" follows a linear chronological structure from the beginning of Patrick's Saturday morning commute to his uncle's bookstore to his conversation with Andrew about the upcoming basketball game. The abrupt shift in tone and tension in the conversation highlights the theme of prejudice and rivalry between towns. The structure also emphasizes Patrick's discomfort with revealing his hometown and how he chooses to divert the conversation to a different topic. This reveals the underlying tension and division between towns and how even seemingly small matters, like high school sports rivalries, can affect people's relationships and perceptions of others. Overall, the structure of the story reinforces the theme of prejudice and the importance of recognizing and overcoming personal biases.
The structure of the story is a chronological sequence of events. It starts by introducing the main character, Patrick, and his routine of riding buses to his uncle's bookstore in Northview. It then focuses on Patrick's love for his job and his friendship with Andrew, a co-worker. The story takes a twist when Andrew expresses his dislike for Emoryville, revealing that the two towns are rivals. This revelation creates tension and conflict within the story. The structure contributes to the meaning of the story by highlighting the importance of friendship and how external factors like rivalry can challenge relationships. It also explores the idea of judging others based on their association with a particular place, showcasing the potential for prejudice and the need for open-mindedness.
The structure of the story is linear with a clear beginning, middle, and end. It starts by introducing the main character, Patrick, and his routine of taking two city buses from Emoryville to his uncle's bookstore in Northview. The story then leads to a conversation between Patrick and his co-worker, Andrew, where Andrew expresses his dislike for Emoryville due to the rivalry between their schools. The story ends with Patrick avoiding the question about his hometown and quickly changing the subject.
This structure contributes to the meaning of the story by highlighting the theme of friendship and the challenges that can arise from preconceived notions and biases. The contrast between Patrick and Andrew's interactions at work where they talk about various topics and their exchange about hometown rivalry demonstrates the impact of assumptions. Patrick's avoidance of the question about his hometown suggests the potential fear or discomfort in revealing his true identity and the potential consequences of being judged based on where he is from. The structure also emphasizes the importance of acceptance and the limitations that biases can place on forming meaningful connections with others.