Character Development, Setting & Irony in "Hunters in the Snow"

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Watson 1 Anita Watson English 1302-503 Essay 1 February 12, 2012 Character Development, Setting, and Irony in Hunters in the Snow In the story “Hunters in the Snow”, by Tobias Wolff, the writer tells of three men: Kenny, Frank, and Tub who go on a hunting trip. In the beginning of the story, Wolff does not give much background information on the men, we have to rely on their actions to develop and reveal their true character. As the story unfolds, we learn more about each character and the secrets each one holds. The author develops characterization through direct quotation and their interactions. The writer also uses the cold, unforgiving setting to reveal the true animal characteristics of the men. Wolff appeared to put the men in a situation where the main goal was to kill something. Irony is used by the author to give the story more depth. Wolff uses elements of fiction to support the theme of the story. The characters seemed to be in a Darwinian power struggle. The first character, Tub, is the protagonist in the story. The author begins the story by having the reader feel sorry for Tub. Wolff used symbolism in the story, with the name “Tub”, this reveals that he is rather “tubby”. The author further emphasizes this when he describes Tub as “like a beach ball with a hat on,”(153). This seems to set the relationship between Tub and Kenny, the antagonist of the story. Tub appears to be the butt of Kenny and Frank’s jokes. From the beginning in the truck, after Tub is almost run over by Kenny, the men Watson 2 treat Tub like an outsider. They share inside jokes about Frank and his babysitter girlfriend. They further emphasize the dynamic of their curious friendship when they refuse to help Tub cross the fences, they make fun of him, and then they try to drive off and leave him behind. Throughout the story, Tub

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