AKS 21: Summer Reading Short Responses
Directions: Answer the following short response prompts in exactly four sentences.
NOTE: Copying from the internet or from another student is plagiarism… you will get a zero.
Your responses must meet these requirements:
Your responses must be exactly four grammatically-correct, complete sentences.
Topic Sentence:
Your first sentence must clearly and correctly address the prompt.
Your first sentence must include the author’s name & title of the text.
Do not use a quote in your first sentence
Textual Evidence:
Your second sentence must support your first sentence with textual evidence.
Your second sentence must include a lead-in, direct quote, and MLA citation.
Analysis:
Your third and fourth sentences should examine the author’s literary choices and/or explain the significance of your textual evidence.
Your responses must be written in third person
Summer Reading Novel
Author
The Chaser
John Collier
If you completed the Alternate Summer Reading Assignment yesterday, focus your short responses on John Collier’s short story, “The Chaser”.
Choose two of the following prompts as you want and address them in the boxes below:
In exactly four sentences, analyze how the author uses characterization.
In exactly four sentences, analyze how the author develops the novel’s setting.
In exactly four sentences, explain a theme from your summer reading novel.
In exactly four sentences, explain how an item, object, action, or character in your summer reading novel is a symbol for an abstract concept, idea, or experience.
The Chaser, written by John Collier, is a short story that showcases the author's skill in characterization. One example of this is the portrayal of the main character, a young man named Alan Austen, who is initially depicted as naïve and desperate for love. Collier uses descriptive language to show how Alan's appearance and behavior change drastically over the course of the story, as he becomes more obsessed with his desire to possess the love of Diana. This transformation in his character highlights the theme of the dark side of love and the lengths people will go to in order to obtain it.
Another element that Collier effectively develops in "The Chaser" is the setting of the story. The majority of the narrative takes place in a small, cluttered room filled with books and potions belonging to the old man who sells love potions. Collier uses vivid descriptions to create an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue, with the room being described as "dimly lit" and "littered with strange objects." This setting helps to enhance the overall tone of the story and adds to the sense of unease and uncertainty felt by the protagonist and the readers alike.
The theme of obsession and its consequences is prevalent throughout "The Chaser." The story explores the idea that pursuing love at any cost can lead to negative and even dangerous outcomes. This theme is evident in the actions of Alan, who becomes so fixated on obtaining Diana's love that he is willing to resort to using a love potion, despite the warnings from the old man about its long-term effects. Collier's portrayal of this theme serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming consumed by one's desires and the potential negative consequences that can result.
In "The Chaser," the love potion sold by the old man is a symbol for the allure and illusion of love itself. The potion represents the idea that love can be bought and controlled, promising to make the recipient completely infatuated with the person they desire. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the actions of the characters, including Alan's desperation and Diana's eventual coldness towards him, are not based on genuine love but rather on the artificial influence of the potion. This symbolizes the idea that true love cannot be manufactured or manipulated, and that attempting to do so only leads to disillusionment and disappointment.