MAKING CONNECTIONS: ACTING FEARLESSLY
At the beginning of the essay, Dillard tells about being taught by the neighborhood boys the joy of playing football, particularly the “all or nothing” of flinging yourself “fearlessly” (par. 1).
With other students in your class, discuss an occasion when you had an op- portunity to fling yourself fearlessly into an activity that posed some challenge or risk or required special effort. For example, like Dillard, you may have been challenged by your team members at a football game or by a group of volunteers helping during a natural disaster. Or you may have felt pressured by friends to do something that went against your better judgment, was illegal, or was dangerous.
26 CHAPTER 2: REMEMBERING AN EVENT
For more on specific narra- tive action, see Chapter 14.
Take turns briefly telling what happened. Then, together, consider the fol- lowing questions as you discuss what now seems significant about this particular experience:
What made you embrace the challenge or resist it? What do you think your choice tells about you at the time of the event?
Dillard uses the value term courage to describe the fearless behavior she learned playing football. What value term would you use to you describe your experience? For example, were you being selfless or self-serving; responsible or irresponsible; a follower, leader, or self-reliant individual ?
Your instructor may assign these activities in class or as homework, for you to do by yourself or with classmates.