Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of the narrative.
Part A
What is one theme in Joan Didion's "Goodbye to All That"?
Responses
There is frenetic beauty to city life that cannot be appreciated by those who have not grown up experiencing it.
There is frenetic beauty to city life that cannot be appreciated by those who have not grown up experiencing it.,
Youthful enthusiasm, optimism, and naïveté can lead a person to "fall in love" with a place.
Youthful enthusiasm, optimism, and naïveté can lead a person to "fall in love" with a place.,
Only the most sophisticated and intellectually curious people can ever truly understand New York City.
Only the most sophisticated and intellectually curious people can ever truly understand New York City.,
A person's love for an idealized place will dissipate as soon as he or she encounters it in reality.
A person's love for an idealized place will dissipate as soon as he or she encounters it in reality.,
Question 2
Part B
How does Didion develop the theme in Part A throughout her essay?
Responses
She writes of how all of her illusions about New York City were quickly shattered when she arrived and promptly fell ill.
She writes of how all of her illusions about New York City were quickly shattered when she arrived and promptly fell ill.,
She writes about the way people who were not born in New York City can never understand why others love it so much.
She writes about the way people who were not born in New York City can never understand why others love it so much.,
She describes how excited she was to live in New York when she first arrived and how happy she felt in the city as a young woman.
She describes how excited she was to live in New York when she first arrived and how happy she felt in the city as a young woman.
She describes in detail the various writers and thinkers she encounters and who appreciate the city unreservedly.
She describes in detail the various writers and thinkers she encounters and who appreciate the city unreservedly.,
