IOC Outline: Boys and Girls

`IOC Outline:

Boys and girls:

A: Context of passage:

This particular instance of the story occurs immediately after the narrator allows one of the horses to runaway from their barn, this passage occurs towards the end of the story. Alice Munro’s Boys and Girls is a story revolving around the coming of age theme, and highlights through the use of symbols as well as literary devices the impact of gender roles imposed on society. The title of the story is significant in that it highlights the main idea of the story. 

Setting is vital in allowing the reader to understand the strictness of gender norms at that particular time, and thus allows the reader to create an emotional connection with the unnamed protagonist.

B: Overview

The passage occurs towards the end of the story, it captures the commotion associated immediately after Flora had been let free to run away from the barn, it further mentions the killing of Flora by the men.

C: Narrator

The story is being told from the perspective of the narrator, allowing the reader to gain an emotional connection with the protagonist. Tone of the passage indicated that the reader is reflective, as throughout the passage the protagonist questions her actions, this is further exacerbated as the protagonist states “ I supposed Laird would tell. I wondered what would happen to me. I had never disobeyed my father before, and I could not understand why I had done it.”

D: Structure

The pace of the passage is rather fast, yet it keeps up with the rest of the story. The passage is aimed at the protagonist reflecting her actions. Generally follows a chronological order.

E: Main Idea

The main idea of this passage is to essentially allow the reader to draw parallels between both the protagonist and Flora. Furthermore, the purpose of this passage could be to portray the gender roles imposed on women at that particular time, and that the protagonist has grown up to accept this and realise that is how it will be. Highlights the coming of age experience, essentially that is the main aim of the story. 

F: Commentary Structure

Commentary will be presented sequentially. 

G: Body sequential:

• Immediate opening is fast-paced, this is to imply the reflective nature of the protagonist. Further used to imply the worry experienced by the protagonist. 
• Flora’s actions can be a symbol used to represent the protagonist. Once she escapes from the barn, she is free. Similarly, the protagonist wants to escape from being held by gender norms.
• The passage highlights the coming of age theme.
• Flora’s killing is symbolic of the fact that the protagonist’s freedom will be short lived. Gender roles will always be apart of her life.