Alligator River
After reading this story to the students, I asked them to rank the six characters (Abigail, Greg, Ivan, Joseph, Leon, Ron) in order from the worst person to the best person, and tell me why.There lived a woman named Abigail who was in love with a man named Greg. Greg lived on the shore of a river. Abigail lived on the opposite shore of the same river. The river that separated the two lovers was full of dangerous alligators. Abigail wanted to cross the river to be with Greg. Unfortunately, the bridge had been washed out by a heavy flood the previous week. So she went to ask Joseph, a riverboat captain, to take her across. He said he would do it if she would consent to go to bed with him prior to the trip. She promptly refused and went to her close friend named Ivan to explain her problem. Ivan did not want to help Abigail at all because he was very busy. Abigail felt her only alternative was to accept Joseph's offer. Joseph kept his promise to Abigail and delivered her into the arms of Greg.
When Abigail told Greg about what she did with Joseph in order to cross the river, Greg became very angry and left Abigail. Heartsick, Abigail turned to Leon with her tale of woe. Leon, feeling bad for Abigail, found Greg and beat him up. Abigail was very happy to see Greg getting his due. Many people heard Abigail laughing at Greg.
Everyone heard about what Abigail did and nobody would marry her. Finally, Ron, an ugly butcher, offered to marry her. He told Abigail that he did not love her, but he needed help in his butcher shop. Abigail married Ron.
I am curious to see how the rankings of the characters by American students compares to those of the Chinese students. If I can get at least seven different responses from you, I'll crunch the numbers and tell you the average Chinese ranking of all my classes. If I don't, then I'll assume you aren't interested and bag it.
Aren't you as curious as I am?
9 Comments:
From worst to best:
6. Joseph
5. Ron
4. Ivan
3. Greg
2. Leon
1. Abigail
First off, I would never allow myself to be beaten up by a guy named Leon. I'd totally bust out some Taekwon Do moves on him.
Here's my Best to Worst
1. Leon
2. Abigail
3. Ivan
4. Greg
5. Joseph
6. Ron
I didn't think about the names. Greg, the names (Greg or Leon) didn't influence your decision, did they?
1. Joseph
2. Abigail
3. Leon
4. Ivan
5. Ron
6. Greg
Will you three see if you can't get a few more responses? Thanks!
Worst to Best:
1. Abigail
2. Joseph
3. Ron
4. Leon
5. Ivan
6. Greg
I chose Abigail to be the worst because of her jumping from man to man. She shouldn't have slept with Joseph just to get to Greg. Eventually they would have gotten together.
Joseph should not have forced Abigail to sleep with him just so she could get to Greg. That's very shallow.
Ron wasn't such a great guy because he basically married a woman because he needed her in his shop. Rude.
As for Leon, violence isn't an answer. There wasn't any real need for him to go and beat up Greg because he didn't seem to even know him. And what did he get out of it? Nothing.
Ivan was cool because he didn't do anything. No forcing into a horrible situation or beating anyone up.
Greg just did what was right by leaving the woman who supposedly loved him but who still slept with another guy. He had every right.
There you go Mr. Ross!
-Ashly E.
From worst to best:
1. Abigail
2. Joseph
3. Leon
4. Ivan
5. Ron
6. Greg
Because Abigail sacrificed the intimacy of the relationship that her and Greg shared for lack of patience she is the worst in the story. Not only that, she mocked Greg once he got beat up (and even advocated for his getting beat up) because he would not take her back after she had defiled their relationship. Though she may have thought it was the only way to see Greg, she should not have used sex to get what she wanted. That not only defiles her relationship with Greg, but the idea of sex being at all intimate. Shame on Abigail.
Joseph is secondly worst because he understood that Abigail loved Greg, but took advantage of her longing to see Greg and essentially created the path of ruin for Abigail’s and Greg’s relationship. Joseph is secondly worst because he is a dirty scoundrel that should have known that Abigail and Greg loved each other and should not have been selfish enough to allow Abigail to make that choice. But he is second to Abigail because she did in fact make that choice.
Leon is third because it was not his affair to interfere with. Plus he should not have resorted to violence and could have been sensitive to what Greg had to deal with. Leon should have not hurt Greg or became involved.
Ivan is fourthly worst because, if he was Abigail’s friend, he should have taken the time to try and help her with her dilemma. Instead he was too busy and because he would not help her, he influence Abigail’s decision to resort to sleeping with Joseph in order to see Greg.
Ron is fifthly worst because at least he spared Abigail the embarrassment of being an old maid. Maybe he didn’t love her, but perhaps a friendship could develop over time. Plus now Abigail can work in a meat market. I really think Ron was trying to do her a favor.
Greg is the best because Greg stood up for his convictions of not taking his partner back once she had defiled their relationship. Plus he didn’t beat up anybody. It is understandable to Abigail loved Greg, but what she was wrong. Maybe Greg was a little unforgiving, but under the circumstances, it is understandable.
There’s the novel of justification I offer for these characters. I’m so fickle though when it comes to these things that I had better post it now before I change my mind and start sympathizing with Abigail.
-Sarah
Im still pretty curious
Alright Greg...just for you. Give me the weekend to get it all put together.
Sara and Ashly: Thanks! The explanations are great. It is good to see the reasoning behind your selections.
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