Throughout the semester we have studied closely many different forms of narrative, looking closely at how they represent a narrative structure no matter what medium the narrative is presented in. We have looked at television (reality tv, sports, etc.), comics, music, "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, and upon discussing these different forms of narrative, I realized one narrative that is never mentioned but is probably the greatest form of narrative of all. Life

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While we read the "choose your own adventure" books in class, I couldn't help but think that the books are very similar to life itself. Though a much more toned-down version of life, the books teach people to make decisions without help from anyone else. The books that we have been reading, usually less than one hundred pages, are written for a young audience. Though the children reading these books may not realize it, they are learning from these "choose your own adventure" books how to choose their own life. It is a tool to teach kids to pick between right and wrong, good and bad, and what is most important to them. If money is what they seek, then the child will pick the route most likely to lead them to it. If what they seek is friendship, then they will choose the path in the book most likely to introduce them to new characters and friends in the book. Life decisions are obviously much harder than picking which page to turn to next in a book, but since young kids do not have many difficult life decisions to face in their childhood, these books are a way of strengthening them mentally for when those occasions arise.

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