NAME: MUSKAN FATIMA (REPEATER)

SEAT NO: EH2059044

COURSE: ENGLISH COMPULSORY
COURSE NO: 300.1

ASSIGNMENT

“My Greatest Ambition”

PERSONAL RESPONSE:
After reading the short “My Greatest Ambition” by Morris Lurie, I
feel that this story is totally based on discouragement, and somehow fate also play role in this
story. In this story, the author shares the idea of how he was distracted from his own desire to be
a comic-strip artist. If his parents support him, so maybe he achieved his goal in life. Also after
the rejection of his second comic strip from boy magazine, he should never give up. I think giving
up is not the better option. He should continue his efforts, maybe at one time, he will achieve his
ambition.
Q: Discuss how Morris Lurie uses humor to create an entertaining story in My Greatest
Ambition.
BRAINSTORMING:
 The title of the story is “My Greatest Ambition” but the ambition he talks about is comic
strip artist.
 At the start of the story, he said that I don’t want to become a dreamer, but in the end, he
becomes a dreamer.
 At the start, he wants to become a comic strip artist but in the end, he grew out of it.

FOCUSED FREEWRITING:
The author starts the story by stating a simple line: "my greatest
ambition was to be a comic strip artist, but I grew out of it", and then he starts his story instantly
by describing the reaction of the people around him when he had told them about his ambition.
The tone seems that the author is in hurry to deliver his story quickly. Curiously, the author did
not wait to describe his feelings when he let go of his ambition. Also, when the author describes
the reactions of the people around him, we feel mockery at the author. We too, sense mockery
directed by the author towards those who laugh at him, think of him as a foolish "dreamer". It’s
the same for the author. He describes his opposes as: “Dreamers! Idle speculators! A generation
of hopeless romantics!"
When the author states that he has completed his first comic strip, we are all a little shocked to
see that this dream, this desire is pursued purely because it pleases the author and makes him
gives a sense of satisfaction, happiness, and success. He is not doing this for fame or money but
to show himself in front of the world in his own way. These are the feelings that are felt in the
words of the author. We feel the innocence and childish joy that surrounds the author and makes
us smile with his words and mannerisms. The author speaks of the idea of "publishing" and we
feel excitement and impatience within the author when we read his tangled thoughts as to whether
or not he should be sent his comic for publication. The author introduces his father and mother.
We feel that the author's impatience towards them as the two parents are more worried about their
public image rather than it desires and hopes of their own son that is, the father wants his son to
do a job that he makes a lot of money and the mother wants her friends to be impressed with her
son as seen.
ASKING QUESTIONS:
Q1: Was the author or producer of the text male or female? Professional or amateur? A
native speaker of English or a non-native speaker?
A: The speaker of the text is a male, whose name is Morris Lurie. He was a professional writer
and also he was a native speaker of English.
Q2: How old was he when the text was produced?
A: Morris Lurie was born in 1938 and the text was produced in 1984. It means that he was 46
years old when the text was produced.
Q3: Who is supposed to be speaking the words of the text?
A: My Greatest Ambition is an autobiography written by Morris Lurie; therefore, the first-person
narrator speaking the words of the text.
Q4: How far could the text’s title be a key to its meaning?
A: Title “My Greatest Ambition” is the key to its text because in the whole text the author
describing his ambition and how he grew out of it.
Q5: Do any of the problems, dilemmas, or issues represented in the text resonate especially
with your own experience, as a member of a given social group or class?
A: In the story, we see that Nu's parents did not support him in achieving his ambitions, which is
one of the reasons why he is giving up his desires. This is a common issue in our social class. In
many families, parents do not help their child to achieve their goals, so they are not able to become
what they want.
CRITICAL THINKING:
“My Greatest Ambition" is a short story written by Morris Lurie in 1984. First
of all, the title is from a first-person perspective. This allows the reader to expect the story to be
narrated in the first person. Second, the title states the "greatest ambition", allowing readers to
feel that the narrator of the story is likely to be telling one of their greatest ambitions, whether it
was held in the past or is still pursuing. The story is about a thirteen-year-old boy whose greatest
ambition was being a comic-strip artist although, in the end, he grows out of it. The language
used is straightforward, and Lurie's writing style convinces readers that a 13-year-old boy is
narrating. ‘Twelve stations, eleven stations, ten. Nine to go, eight, seven. Or was it six?’ The
sentences used also vary in length to create a sense of conversation.
Nu wants to be a comic strip artist more than anything else. He confides in his friend Michael
Lazarus and not his parents. The parents are dysfunctional, trying to live their lives through their
son's. Like all adolescents, Nu is worried about what to wear to the interview than about his
comic. Where the comic is concerned, he is on surer ground. He knows its worth. The parents
and Nu are definitely not on the same wavelength. The father thinks only of the money the son
will earn and the mother basks in her son's fame.
THESIS STATEMENT:
Lurie uses techniques such as irony, imagery, dialogue, typical teenage exaggerated language,
and different point of view to make his story most enjoyable.
FIRST DRAFT:
My Greatest Ambition is a short story written by Morris Lurie in 1984. This
story was about a thirteen-year-old Australian boy who had the ambition to become a comic strip
artist, but after facing rejection from boy magazine and disappointments from his parents, he
gives up his ambition. In the story, Lurie uses skillful techniques to highlight the humor that
creates the story enjoyable and entertaining. Here Morris Lurie emphasizes the prejudice and
judgmental mentality of adults towards youth abilities.
At the opening of the story, Nu hilariously described his peers as “ There they sat, the astronomer,
the nuclear physicist, the business tycoon (on the stock exchange), two mathematicians, three
farmers, countess chemists, a handful of doctors all aged thirteen and all with their heads in the
clouds. Lurie distorted the language and the words and conveyed his views to readers in the most
interesting way. Dreamers! Idle speculators! A generation of hopeless romantics!” Here, Lurie
uses the exaggerated and overtly dramatic language of a typical thirteen-year-old who thinks he
knows everything. This idea is also very ironic because most social occupations, such as doctors
and chemists, are considered completely normal and trustworthy. The idea of becoming a comic
strip artist is considered pure fancy. Something unstable or not worthy of respect.
So, ironically, Lurie thought of children who aimed to pursue traditional and conservative
occupations as “idle dreams and hopeless romantics”. Morris Lurie also makes wonderful use of
imagery in this short story. An awful prospect!” his satirical descriptions of those who read stories
without any pictures formed ideal visual images in the minds of readers. Lurie also described the
burlesque costumes taken from the library and worn to the meeting and the struggle that led to
the final decision. The description of his ‘Good Suit’ which was slightly short for him at the
ankles and the corn yellow, silk tie which with the proper Windsor knot would prevent anyone to
look elsewhere. This provides a vivid visual.
Lurie also uses imagery when he described how Nu humorously imagined walking into the office
with a pipe in his mouth through a garden full of exotic plants, “our eyes met and I would smile,
or was that smile stretched across my face from the second I came in?” Gives another hilarious
example of imagery that is spread throughout the story. His father’s conversations and
descriptions perfectly demonstrated Lurie’s typical teenage exaggeration and used interesting
dialogues to highlight prominent issues in society.
The discourse with Nu’s father where the father is only interested in the money. This is one of
the perfect examples of how the author uses humor to emphasize social trouble. The awkward
behavior and the disappointment at Nu’s age gave hints about how any more of Nu’s comic strip
will be treated. Again, in “My Greatest Ambition” Morris Lurie uses great language and humor
to create an entertaining but indirectly instructing story.
PEER REVIEW:

 The thesis statement of the answer seems incomplete. In the thesis statement you write,
Lurie uses skillful techniques, but don’t mention what exactly skillful techniques he uses
in the text.
 The whole draft is written in the past tense. The draft must be written in the present tense.
 In the third last line of the second paragraph, you talk about professions that
mathematician, chemist, physician, are respectable professions as compare to comic strip
artist. I totally disagree with this statement because every profession has its importance
in its own way. Every profession deserves respect because every one of those professions
is contributing to society.
 In the concluding paragraph, you have to conclude everything which you write in your
answer but your last paragraph doesn’t look like your conclusion of the answer.

OUTLINING:
1st Paragraph:
 Morris Lurie short story “My Greatest Ambition”.
 Thirteen year old boy ambition comic strip artist.
 Skillful techniques highlight humor.
2nd Paragraph:
 Nu described his peer hilariously.
 Lurie uses dramatic language.
3rd Paragraph:
 Lurie makes wonderful imagery.
 Description of “good suit”.
4th Paragraph:
 Lurie gives examples of imagery.
 Highlight society’s prominent issue.
5th Paragraph:
 Nu’s father interested in money.
 Morris Lurie uses humor creating story interesting.
FINAL DRAFT:
“My Greatest Ambition” is about a young Australian boy of thirteen who has a dream of being a
comic book artist. He has to keep his desire a secret from his parents as they give little or no
support for such frivolous activities. However, the young Lurie follows his ambition and makes
his first comic strip and sends it to a dying magazine. Seeing his work the editors of this magazine
considers asking young Lurie to work for them as a full-time employee. Here Morris Lurie
highlights the prejudiced and judgmental mindsets of adults towards the capabilities of the youth.
Lurie skillfully uses humor to highlight some important issues in society. He twists the language
and the words to get his point across to the readers in the most entertaining fashion. Lurie uses
techniques such as irony, imagery, dialogue, typical teenage exaggerated language, and different
point of view to make his story most enjoyable. The language used is straightforward, and Lurie's
writing style convinces readers that a 13-year-old boy is narrating. ‘Twelve stations, eleven
stations, ten. Nine to go, eight, seven. Or was it six?’ The sentences used also vary in length to
create a sense of conversation.

At the opening of the story, Nu hilariously describes his peers as “ There they sat, the astronomer,
the nuclear physicist, the business tycoon (on the stock exchange), two mathematicians, three
farmers, countess chemists, a handful of doctors all aged thirteen and all with their heads in the
clouds. Dreamers! Idle speculators! A generation of hopeless romantics!” Here, Lurie uses the
exaggerated and overtly dramatic language of a typical thirteen-year-old who thinks he knows
everything. Morris Lurie also makes wonderful use of imagery in this short story. An awful
prospect!” His sarcastic description of people who read stories without any pictures forms ideal
visual imagery in the reader’s mind. Lurie also describes the comical clothes taking books out of
the library and wears to the meeting and the struggle which leads to the final decision. The
description of his ‘Good Suit’ which was slightly short for him at the ankles and the corn yellow,
silk tie which with the proper Windsor knot would prevent anyone to look elsewhere. This
provides a vivid visual. Lurie’s conversation with Ms. Gordon also provides wonderful auditoria
imagery.
He also uses imagery when he illustrates how Nu humoredly imagined himself walking into his
office through a garden of exotic plants with a pipe in his mouth. “Our eyes met and I would
smile, or was that smile stretched across my face from the second I came in?” Gives another
hilarious example of imagery that is spread throughout the story. The conversation and
description of his father is a perfect example of the way Lurie shows the typical teenage
exaggeration and uses amusing dialogue to highlight prominent problems in society. The
discourse with Nu’s father where the father is only interested in the money. Maybe I’ll decide not
to sell them. Which I will if the price isn’t right.” This is one of the perfect examples of how the
author uses humor to emphasize social trouble. The description of his clothes shows another
instance where teenagers exaggerate and hyperbole.
He also foreshadows the fate of the young Nu’s comic book artiste dream when he writes about
the reaction of the editor when he sees Lurie live for the first time. The awkward behavior and
the disappointment at Nu’s age gave hints about how any more of Nu’s comic strip will be treated.
As long they didn’t know the age of Lurie he was given the respect his work deserved. But as
soon as they discovered Lurie to be thirteen he was dismissed with a capacity of a child. The
author also shows how disappointed and humiliated Nu was being at being treated as inferior.
In this wonderful story issues such as parental negligence and the judgmental and narrow-
mindedness of a rigid society are shown. Problems all teenagers face such as lack of support and
teenage angst which is usually not considered as an issue and is stereotyped and dealt with and
an indifferent sigh “Teenager. They’ll grow out of it.” In this story, Lurie shows how this attitude
and narrow-mindedness can suppress natural talent and passion. Again, in “My Greatest
Ambition” Morris Lurie uses great language and humor to create an entertaining but indirectly
instructing story.