Category: Grade 11

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A Private Experience Mind Map

A Private Experience by Chimamanda Ndichie is a short story about the differences that can be put aside in order for the unity of cultures. The mind map I created represents the eight main elements and literary devices used in the story: plot, setting, flash forward, point of view, characterization, symbolism, literary criticism lens, and theme. Each of these elements provides key information towards the story, and enhances the readers experience. Not only that, but they also support and strengthen the theme of the story. Plot, setting, and flash forward are the key information providers in the story. The story could not take place without the plot, and Chika would never have been lead to the small store by the woman if she had known the setting of the town around her. Furthermore, important details such as how the riot started and the death of Chika’s sister, are found out due to the flash forward device. Each picture I chose for these elements represent the most important parts of each: the riot, the small store, and the future. Further, the quotes support each picture and analysis. I used the same general idea for each of the other elements as well. Point of view, characterization, symbolism, and literary criticism lens are all elements that create reader interest and strengthen the idea of the theme. Chimamanda used each to help contrast the two characters in the story. A Private Experience is told in the point of view of Chika, without the ability to see the woman’s thoughts. Characterization is therefore heavily relied upon by dialogue and Chika’s observations. This is how the reader sees that Chika grows in the story due to her change in attitude towards the woman. At first, as my quotes suggest, she is very sceptical of the woman’s knowledge so she regards her as an unequal. This is further shown by symbolism as my quote shows that Chika believes her necklace isn’t worth as much, just because it may not be that expensive in its monetary value. Chika’s view of the woman starts to change as the story goes on. This is where characterization is used to show how dynamic Chika becomes in the story. I used the picture of a girl to show how much of the theme relies on Chika’s characterization. Her surprise of the woman’s knowledge begins to change her thoughts towards her. By the end of the story, she realizes that the woman isn’t at all what she first thought. This is where symbolism is used once again to show that Chika changed; when she asks for the woman’s scarf at the end of the story as a reminder of her experiences and the woman that saved her from the riot. Lastly among these devices, is the literary criticism lens that I used to analyze the story. I used a psychological lens because of the irony of the Muslim helping the Christian, from the conflict of Muslims’ rioting against Christian’s. It brings the reader a sense that one shouldn’t judge a person because of what their culture believes, rather to judge by how they act for themselves. For this picture, I chose a head with an eye where the brain is because it represents the psychological idea in this story; that a lot of people judge others with their previous experiences, while they should instead just see them for who they are. This brings me to my last point, and last device: theme. The theme of this story is that cultures can live in harmony when their differences are put aside. I selected each element of the story for its use in strengthening the idea of the theme. Each component adds its own part to getting the reader to understand the message behind the story. I chose a picture of four different arms from four different cultures linked together to enhance the theme’s meaning. Furthermore, my quote represents that, despite Chika and the woman’s differences and the events going on around them, they worked together to keep each other safe and healthy. I believe my mind map shows my understanding of this story because of the way I was able to tie each element to one another. Furthermore, my ability to identify the overall use of these elements that Chimamanda Ndichie used to display the message that she wanted to send with this story.