While there's nothing to talk about until something happens -- someone speaks, an apple falls from the sky -- we're frozen with wonder. Or indecision. Or that vacancy when you're not sure if the medicine is working or you've just briefly lost consciousness. Or when you should get up from the chair but it seems like the chair is the perfect shape perfectly primed to keep you happy and where else would you go anywhere anyway?
This is what happens while we're waiting for the action.
There can be beautiful descriptive text about The Nature. It's lovely, it's fresh, it's wild. When we're lucky, it's ripe with metaphor and foreshadowing we can come back to later when we have to write that paper and include key evidence from multiple literary elements. Just saying: If you have to do this kind of assignment, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is probably a pretty solid choice. It's a super short book, actually. Perfect for high school sophomores early in the year. You can do it! But all that nature up front gets buzzed over. Why bother? It's all there for a purpose, people! There's so much going on, but as you explain it, you get a lot more zoned out stares than thoughtful pondering. Choices. Engage or not?
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