The Piece of String Short Story Project

The Piece of String by Guy de Maupassant Short Story Project.

Group Memebers submit your part below for rewiew, and feel free to edit other people's part.

If you lost the story I printed for you, go here: String\Story

You must register and log in to edit any pages.

Presentation on 2/7/06- Paragrahs are now PAST DUE! Please submit them now, so Plaz can print out the worksheet/visual!

See http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elements.htm for lit. elements you should include in your writting

Background

We are doing a 20 min presentation. First, we will have a 5 min. reenactment of the story written by Plaz and preformed by all of you. Each section/person then has 3 minutes to tell about their section and how it relates to the Necklase Story. Please also sprinkle in Literary Elements that are present in your section of the story.

Reenactment (Plaz)

Here is my rough draft --Plaz 14:16, 27 February 2006 (EST) I updated it with what we talked about today and while we praticed the play. --Plaz 13:59, 1 March 2006 (EST)

Characters

• Maitre Hauchecome of Breaute - Plaz
• Malandain (also) tavern guest - DJ
• shopper (as) town crier - Dijana I.
• shopper (as) mayor - Dan W.
• shopper (as) Marius Paumelle (the person who finds the wallet) -Emma
• Shopper (as) Matrie Houlbreque (person who lost wallet) (also) tavern guest) - Chelsea

Props

• wallet with ID card - Check --Plaz 12:32, 5 March 2006 (EST)
• piece of string - Check --Plaz 12:32, 5 March 2006 (EST)
• 3 desks aranged as table - We will get it from school --Plaz 12:32, 5 March 2006 (EST)
• chair (couch?) for mayor - We will get it from school --Plaz 12:32, 5 March 2006 (EST)
• something to drum - We will get it from school --Plaz 12:32, 5 March 2006 (EST)
• headgear and bonnets for the women (costume) (just kidding, no costumes)

Outline

(everyone wondering around the room miming shopping and doing business; Houlbreque drops wallet, [not near Malandain's store] Paumelle comes around and picks it up looking at it, and squinting at the ID card, then puts it in his pocket;

Hauchecome steps out and argues w/ Maitre Malandain, harness maker, silently for a bit, then bends over slowly and picks up the string, puts in his pocket and hobbles back into crowd

Everyone continues mimming doing business afor a few seconds then

Hauchcome enters Jourdain’s tavern (host never shown) with 2 tavern guests. They sit down and start to mime eating, and mime conversing

Drum beating heard and town crier talks (for the first time in the play, someone talks)

"Be it known to the inhabitants of Goderville and in general to all persons present at the market that there has been lost this morning on the Beuzeville road, between nine and ten o'clock, a black leather pocketbook containing five hundred francs and business papers. You are requested to return it to the mayor's office at once or to Maitre Fortune Houlbreque, of Manneville. There will be twenty francs reward."

3 people in tavern start talking about accusation (out loud this time) and wither Fortune will get his wallet back

Town crier returns: "Is Maitre Hauchecorne, of Breaute, here?"

Maitre Hauchecorne answered: "Here I am, here I am."

And he and the crier walk to the Mayor’s office

The mayor was waiting for him, seated in achair. He was the notary of the place, a tall, grave man of pompous speech.

"Maitre Hauchecorne," said he, "this morning on the Beuzeville road, you were seen to pick up the pocketbook lost by Maitre Houlbreque, of Manneville."

The countryman looked at the mayor in amazement frightened already at this suspicion which rested on him, he knew not why.

"I--I picked up that pocketbook?"

"Yes, YOU."

"I swear I don't even know anything about it."

"You were seen."

"I was seen--I? Who saw me?"

"M. Malandain, the harness-maker."

Then the old man remembered, understood, and, reddening with anger, said: "Ah! he saw me, did he, the rascal? He saw me picking up this string here, M'sieu le Maire." And fumbling at the bottom of his pocket, he pulled out of it the little end of string.

But the mayor incredulously shook his head: "You will not make me believe, Maitre Hauchecorne, that M. Malandain, who is a man whose word can be relied on, has mistaken this string for a pocketbook."

The peasant, furious, raised his hand and spat on the ground beside him as if to attest his good faith, repeating: "For all that, it is God's truth, M'sieu le Maire. There! On my soul's salvation, I repeat it."

The mayor continued: "After you picked up the object in question, you even looked about for some time in the mud to see if a piece of money had not dropped out of it."

The good man was choking with indignation and fear. "How can they tell--how can they tell such lies as that to slander an honest man! How can they? Search me!"

Plaz turns his pockets inside out

mayor: “Ok. Leave, I see we are getting nowhere. I will investigate and see you tmo.”

Two tavern patrons: “Did you hear, Hauchecomb stole the wallet”… (and continue ab-libbing)

Then Marius Paumelle walks to the mayor and hands in the wallet

Patrons continue talking "Hauchecomb stole the wallet”… (and ab-libbing)

Hauchcombe walks to them and tries to explain that is wasn’t him who stole it

Patrons continue and other townspeople join in "Hauchecomb stole the wallet”…

Hauchecomb goes to each one and tries to convince his innocence

Hauchecomb gives up, lies down and dies

Comments

Feel free to leave me comments below the by putting : before your comment and --~~~~ after it. Thanks Plaz --Plaz 21:07, 27 February 2006 (EST)

Sounds really good! I can't wait to see this! --Soze512 15:30, 2 March 2006 (EST)

Point of View (Dan W.)

When you read a story, you must realize that the point of view that the story is written in can help you learn more about the story. It can also create more excitement, and create more mystery while you read. Both “The Necklace”, and “The Piece of String” stories, are written in a Third Person Limited perspective. This means that the narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of one of the characters. This is a major factor in determining how the stories make you feel about themselves, and how interesting the stories are. In a third-person view story, the reader can see the story itself from different points of view, and not just one. He or she can learn more, and know more than the individual characters themselves. In a first-person view story, the reader sees from the point of view of the narrator, so he/she may see more dialog including feels, thoughts, and ideas. In a third-person view, the reader will see more facts, such as what all of the other characters do. However, they will not see as many of the inner-feelings or thoughts of the characters, unless it is third-person omniscient. In addition, a third-person view is often more easy to figure out if it is a mystery, or similar plot structure, because the reader learns more facts from concrete reading, then having to think about whats going on in a story. In a first-person view, it is harder to figure out, generally, the plot details and story, because the reader only gains the facts of what the narrator knows. The reader must then think abstractly and ponder the possible outcomes. They can never be as sure because they may be missing outside information. Finally, third-person story can be written in different ways, but may not be as exciting as a first-person viewpoint. This is specifically because the reader may gain more information, and know about things before they happen, which can make the story seem less climactic. In a first-person view, the reader doesn’t expect certain things to happen until they actually do, making the story more interesting, and thrilling. However a third-person limited point of view, covers both bases and provides the best of both worlds. The thoughts and feelings of one of the characters are made known, letting the reader build a relationship with one of the characters. Also the benefits of third-person are also evident, letting the reader know what is going on in the rest of the story. We think that is why the author chooses to use a third-person limited viewpoint for this story. It is the best of both worlds.

Setting (Emma M.)

The setting in the short story called "The Piece Of String" is a small town with a country flavor. It has long roads and a public square. The setting in this short story is much different then in "The Necklace." "The Necklace" mostly took place inside homes and buildings such as the protagonist's flat, then her home it the attic, the friend's house, and the Minestry ball. In the short story, "The Piece Of String," the story mostly took place outside in a town called, Goderville. The characters in this story went many places in Goderville. They went to the Mayor's Office and to the public square, and many other places like the Maitre Jourdain's tavern. The setting in this story and in "The Necklace" is very different. One is more urban and the other is more rural. However, both stories are set in the past. "The Piece Of String" is much different then "The Necklace."

Theme (DJ)

In the story "The Piece of String" there are a lot of things you can say for what the theme is. The one that fits it the best would have to be you never can be innocent once accused, you will always be thought of as guilty. When Maitre Hauchecome is accused of stealing the wallet because he was seen picking up the string everyone thought that he was a theft. After being accused a theft no one ever looked at him the same even after the wallet was returned by another man. This theme relates to the theme of "The Necklace" because they both have to do with trust in people. "The Necklace’s" theme is don’t hide things from your friends it’ll all just come out worse. In both stories the theme has to do with trusting people.

Original Brainstorming

• your name means a lot and is priceless
• accusing someone is powerful; don't do that to pay off a grudge
• you never can be innocent once accused, you will always be thought of as guilty

Well done! I like where this is going!--Soze512 15:33, 2 March 2006 (EST)

Plot (Chelsea M.)

Maitre Hauchecome of Breaute is an unfortunate fellow, his poverty raking in most of his worries. When walking into town one day he comes upon a piece of string. He ganders at why the piece of string is on the ground, what is its purpose? He picks it up and continues on. Then he noticed a man in the doorway of a house. The man was Maitre Malandain the harness maker, and Mauchecomes only enemy. Next we find ourselves in the town dining hall, Hauchecome is called into the Mayors office for inquiry. Early there was an announcement made for the loss of a black wallet containing 500 francs and bussiness papers. Of course these two events are closey tied for poor Hauchecome is accused of stealing the wallet. He pleads and argues for his innocence for someone must have seen him pick something up, and it was only a piece of string! That person happened to be Maitre Maladain, the evil man turing Hauchecome in for a crime he had not commited. Hauchecome is determined, and travels to the outskirts of town to retrace his steps in search of the wallet. To his pleasure he discovers the news of the wallet being returned. He returns back to town to celebrate and divulge his innocence only to find that still no one believes his guilt has been obvsolved. Later on Hauchecome dies "guilty" still beseeching his innocence to anyone who will listen. The plot of the Piece of String and the plot of the Necklace are closely related

Literary Elements (Plaz and everyone)

See http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elements.htm for elements you should include in your writting

Sorry, I made a mistake. I confused Literary Elements with FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE. We won't do a special section on this. Integrate other Literary Elements into your presentation. --Plaz 12:34, 5 March 2006 (EST)