"Popular Mechanics" writing assignment

First, read the story "Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver. Then, complete this writing assignment on your blog.

Start by thinking more deeply about the characters in this story. Choose one (either the man or the woman) that you would like to analyze. Use your imagination and create details to flesh out the character. On your blog, develop a character description.

1. What is his or her name?
2. What does he or she do for a living?
3. What is his or her height/weight/hair color and style/body type?
4. What type of clothes does he or she usually wear?
5. Best qualities?
6. Worst qualities?
7. How does he or she come across? Easygoing? Short-tempered? Etc.
8. Weaknesses?
9. What or who does he or she hate?
10. What or who does he or she love?

Then spend some time rewriting the incident in the story from your character’s first person point of view. Your story should start when the man is leaving the bedroom and end when the baby gets ripped in two. You need to do it in the head of one of these characters.

Try to make your character sympathetic without making us think that their actions are okay.