Answers to: "Lydia's Story"

1)      I think that Jan Brideau’s main point is that “keeping your head” in emergency situations is key to whether you survive or not.  In the second-to-last paragraph of the story it says, “As Lydia was telling us her story, I heard strength and resolve in her voice.  She was proud that she had “kept her head,” which had saved her life.” 

 

2)      The point of view in this story is “third person.” The impact that this point of view has on me is that I can “see” the water rising.  I can “feel” Lydia’s terror. My point is that I think that this point of view allows me to experience the events of the story as if I am there watching it happen.

 

3)      Jan Brideau had many different methods of making the story come alive.  For example: in the beginning of the story, we are introduced to the VFW hall. “…we were struck by the chemical odor of a cleaning solution so strong that it seemed toxic.”  With this analogy, we can imagine how uncomfortable it must be for those who live in the hall. A different example is:  “The table was bulky and heavy; normally, it took three men to move it.” This sentence gave background on the table so that we may feel Lydia’s astonishment and shock as the table started to float.

 

4)      The first publication of “Lydia’s Story” was in a journal called Health Affairs. My guess is that the audience of this story is made up of people who is watching their health, is currently suffering from an illness, or people who just wants to know more about the world around them.  Words like: “homeless,” “hurricane,” “destroyed,” “drown,” and “terrified” set a tone full of danger and fear which can help readers sympathize with the survivors.  On the other hand, words like: “proud,” “survived,” “new journey,” “determination,” and “hope”  encourages a tone that can uplift readers and give them confidence that, they too, can endure their struggles.