Personal Essay. A personal essay is a short nonfiction work on a single topic related to the life of the writer. A personal essay is written from the author’s point of view using the pronouns I and me. As you read, pay attention to the details the author shares that give the reader a more intimate look at the people involved in the story. Briefly note one or two details that help give a personal feeling to the essay.
Climax. The climax is the point of highest interest and suspense in a literary work. As you read, look for the point in the story that signals the coming of the climax in the essay. Then find the highest point of suspense. At what point do you know the climax is over and that all has been resolved? To help keep track of the progression of events, you may want to use a sequence chart like the one to the right. Write in the events that Reeve discusses in the order she presents them. Then go back and identify the climax of the essay. Looking at the boxes in front of the climax, can you find hints that the climax is about to come?
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• “Flying” is an essay written by Reeve Lindbergh, the youngest daughter of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh.
• History Connection. After Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful airplane flight in 1903, developments in aviation occurred at a rapid pace. By World War I (1914–1918), airplanes were used for transport, attack, and other military purposes. Pilots were making longer and longer flights, and larger airplanes were built to carry more passengers and cargo. By World War II, airplanes and pilots were highly specialized, and aviation technology began to take the shape it continues to build on today.
Write about a time when you learned something that surprised you about yourself or someone else.
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