‘A Private Experience” a short story written by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is an impactful story that brings attention to ethnic and religious conflict. To show my learning and understanding of the short story, I made a mind map with symbols that represent the main ideas of the story. The main idea of the story is how two different characters how are a contrast to each other can form a bond. At first, the main character Chika fell for the single story of the women and the stereotypes, but as she got to form a bond with the women, she was able to learn that at the end of the day, humans are all the same. For the plot, I used the symbol of Chika and the women holding hands. I used this symbol specifically because it represents how although the two came from very different backgrounds and lifestyles, they were able to put their differences aside and form a connection. For setting, I used the symbol of the abandoned store that Chika and the women hid in during the riot. The setting of the story was crucial to the story because it sets the mood of an intense, and warm feeling of the human bond. The abandoned store is important as well to the story because that is where the majority of the story takes place and where the two characters start to form a bond and get to grow as human beings. I chose the quote where the woman helps Chika escape from the riot and gets into the abandoned store because this clearly shows the personality of the woman. This shows how she is caring for Chika, a stranger she had just met. For the conflict, I used multiple symbols that show the conflict of religion shown in the story. In the story, the conflict was between two religions. The conflict is important to understand the story because although the two characters were from two different religions, they were able to respect one another and form a bond. I think the author Ms. Adichie was trying to tell us the reader that it is important to respect other people’s cultures, religions, and backgrounds. For critical lens. I used the symbol of the author, Ms. Adichie, reading the story. I used this symbol because to analyze this story, I would use biographical lens. The reason I would use biographical lens is that Ms. Adichie is an author who is very passionate about bringing attention to ethnic and religious conflict. I believe that she wrote this story inspired by her life experience in Nigeria, where she was raised. I used the quote from her ted talk, where she explains why believing in single stories can be misleading. For symbols, I used the symbol of the Hausa Muslim women’s scarf. This was a huge symbol to further understand the message of the story. This scarf symbolized the bond between the two characters. It showed how the woman was caring towards Chika who was a complete stranger to her and how she was concerned for the safety of Chika. When Chika left the store and came back, Chika’s leg was injured, and the women did not hesitate to help. In the end of the story, when Chika asked to keep the scarf, although the two characters knew they will not see each other anymore, they formed a bond that will forever be close to their hearts. For the point of view, I used the symbol of a brain. This represents how the story is told in third person limited omniscient. In the story, we were able to understand the thought process of Chika but other characters. The way the point of view is written is effective because by writing it in third person limited omniscient, we are able to see how Chika grows as a person. At the start, Chika was judgmental and felt superior to the women, but as she gets to know the women, she becomes more and more connected to her, creating a friendly bond. For the theme, I used the symbol of people holding their fists up, representing equality. The theme of the story is an ethnic and religious conflict. Despite your culture, religion, or ethnicity, humans are all the same and will always find a bond with one another. This is shown when the two-character formed their bond. Regardless of their religion, race, or wealth, the two characters were able to form a connection.