When reading the story posted at NIMH, keep in mind the story tellers are MINING the original story. This involves thoroughly exploring the setting, characters, plot and complication as O’Brien intended. In essence, to mine is to delve deeper into the story to allow access to the real jewels hidden within each element. A great example of mining would be to conduct some research about the topic, characters or setting featured in the text. The research is intended to build on background knowledge and inform the reader further so they can make a better connection and have a clearer understanding of the original text. Research could involve factual reports, interviews, maps and diagrams which demonstrate deep knowledge and elaboration of a topic.
A quality narrative has so many layers to it and , like a good game of pass the parcel, a reader can receive a much anticipated bonus as each layer is revealed.
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