HEROISM Snow Falling on Cedars

“He got up and walked and came out of the woods and into the Imadas’ fields. The way was clear…finally he was on the Imadas’ porch and then in the Imadas’ living room…and he reached into his pocket and unfolded the notes…and Ishmael explained…why he had come…to speak to her after all these years.” (p.389)

TASK

How can positive psychology be used to interpret life matters to build capable, self aware adolescents and young adults?

Use Snow Falling on Cedars and the characters within, to

1. Illustrate how a character can be judged as heroic through their ability to endue or act on conscience.

2. Comment on one minor and one major character.

WHAT IS POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY?

Developed by American psychologist Martin Seligman

Primary aim:seeks to understand positive emotions such as joy, optimism and contentment. 

interested in the conditions that allow  individuals, groups and organisations to flourish. 

CHARACTERS TO CHOOSE FROM

Major characters

(endurance)

Ishmael

Kabuo

Fujiko

Hatsue

Minor characters

(endurance)

Nels

Carl Jnr

CHARACTERS TO CHOOSE FROM

Major characters

(conscience)

Ishmael

Arthur

Nels

Minor characters

(conscience)

Carl Snr

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

Through a spoken presentation at a festival about positive psychology, you are trying to show how the characters you created in your novel Snow Falling on Cedars do the following:

Accept one’s situation and endureDevelop resilience by being truthful to their inner philosophies and not succumb to despair

Act on conscience

HEROISM CAN BE DEFINED AS:

The state or quality of being a hero

Intrepidity, valor, prowess, gallantry, bravery, courage, daring, fortitude

Heroic conduct; courageous action

You are answering the question of how characters’ experiences, circumstances, values, actions and interactions enable them to demonstrate heroism.

WHAT DEFINES A HERO?

Courage

Self-sacrifice

Protector

Defender

An ordinary person faced with extraordinary circumstances

Maintain their values in the face of adversity, even if it has dire consequences for their own life

DEFINITIONS Endurance (the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina)

Resiliance (ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like)

Conscience (the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action)

These experiences illustrate that characters react differently depending on their values, actions, interactions

WHAT ARE VALUES? These are your emotional rules that you follow when

making decisions in life (in professional environments they are called “ethics”)

Think about your own values for a moment: Truth…peace…gratitude…selflessness???

Values are developed in childhood and can be influenced by adult role models, your peers, your religious beliefs, your environment

The dictate your behaviour and can create inner conflict

EXAMPLES FROM THE NOVEL

A character who demonstrates endurance/resilience (Ishmael, Fujiko, Kabuo, Hatsue)

A character who acts on conscience (Nels, Arthur, Ishmael)

HOW TO LINK TO POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Guterson’s construction of characters’ distinct experiences, circumstances, values, actions and interactions, points to how people can be trapped, silent and suffering, but, in some cases, undertake a transformation or restoration, therefore being judged as heroic.