I have zoomed through two short novels so far this quarter and I’ve enjoyed both very much. I have read Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway, and have now finished Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. Stylistically, the differences in Hemingway’s simple, yet effective descriptions of the sea and events contrasted strongly with Wharton’s more sophisticated and more complex sentences. However, both styles of writing served the purpose of the authors to create captivating and moving stories. I do feel that Hemingway’s simple vocabulary and direct narration would make his writing more accessible to a greater number of people at all age levels, as opposed to Ethan Frome, which would likely appeal to those who could read through a more diverse, complex vocabulary and narrative style.
Delia S. Lainez Professor Moran English 101-094 October, 26, 2011 Different perspectives of a child-father relationship How to contrast two things that seem very similar? It is hard to try to contrast two short stories that seem to have the same message. However, their content and every little detail might give us two different perspectives of a child-father relationship. Ernest Hemingway’s “A day’s wait” and Scott Fitzgerald’s “Outside the Cabinet-Maker’s” challenge a writer when it comes to say the differences and similarities between them. The sense a reader get from reading their stories allows them to experience their mysterious styles.
Specific topics of interest include the point of view of the narrator, how this influences the way we perceive the stories, and why the authors chose these ways of telling their stories. A good way to begin is by considering the general effects of the point of view of the narration on literature. Ignoring the very rare second person point of view, novels are either first or third person. First person viewpoints tell the story as the lead character sees it. This may introduce a question of reliability, since their perception of reality may be tainted or their knowledge may be limited.
Junot Diaz’s “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, Halfie” uses the second person point of view to tell an odd little story. This point of view enhances a story that is at its core a strange tale. I think it is the second person point of view that makes this story interesting and gives it value as a literary work. For me, the second person point of view is as if we are listening to the narrators own thoughts. Because he is thinking to himself the story seems disjointed leaving the reader with a lot of unanswered questions that only to which only the narrator knows the answers.
The Tell-Tale Heart Assignment: We notice that some details in Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” make a literal reading of the story rather difficult. Advance and defend a figurative reading of the story consistent with the story’s details. Poe seems to focus on creating mood throughout his story. Many symbols in this story are interpreted in several different ways depending on the reader. These symbols throughout the story include the old mans eye, the heartbeat and the contradiction between love and hate in which I will be talking about in this paper.
A Dangerous Symbol In his extremely short story, “The Paring Knife,” Michael Oppenheimer utilizes symbolism masterfully. In literature, authors typically use objects with which the readers are familiar in order to assist in plot development or to convey a key theme. They accomplish this by arranging the language so that the focus is continually shifted to the object throughout the selection. The reader is able to grasp new meaning because of either universal familiarity with the object or an immediate understanding of what the object represents within the context of the story. If an object is viewed by most or all readers in the same manner, the author is making use of conventional symbolism.
Firstly, because it IS the last story, it is one that is more likely to be overlooked by some of you in your study of the stories. Secondly, it is a short story worth reading and considering in the general context of our work on identity and belonging. The simplicity of plot, the power of the language, the questions it raises about our struggle as human beings to survive in hostile environments against overwhelming odds and the unusual setting of the story have- for me anyway- elevated this story as one of the best in the anthology. In my speech I will be discussing four main aspects – plot, style, setting and theme. Firstly, let me give you a brief overview of the story which is set in the freezing wilderness of north Canada.
Symbolism is a huge part of how authors communicate with readers throughout a novel. In both works the authors, Albert Camus and Franz Kafka both use two devices to portray the theme of isolation, which is so strong in these novels. Both devices are used purposely to single handedly point out what the author is hoping to show the reader. Though their goals are similar, these devices are used in different ways, because if they weren't, well, the authors wouldn't have their well known distinct ways of writing. One of the many similarities that Albert Camus and Franz Kafka show in their novels are the protagonists (In "The Stranger" who is Mersault and "The Metamorphosis" who is Gregor).
Hemingway is one of my favorite authors because I feel as if he captures the essence of reality that people can relate to as well as portray a more fictitious setting that most people usually don’t come across. *Although these short stories all have different multiple themes within themselves, you can tie them all together to the inner struggles and conflicts that the characters face throughout the story. First, in the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, a setting is described at a train station that is indicative of how the relationship between the protagonists are at a crossroads. This setting is so meaningful because of the fact that on one side of the station it seems to be dry and barren symbolizing emptiness, loneliness and death, while the other side is full of light and hills that emphasize life and fertility. We can see throughout the story that the girl is torn between the choices she has to make and constantly looks over at the two landscapes in between the station.
To Become the Hunted or the Hunter In Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game,” the short story in which it describes literary and commercial themes and leans more towards literary than commercial. When reading the short story the story is strongly influenced by literary themes by stating that it shows the realism of the scenario and by the bringing the reader into the story with the details used. The first statement I will talk about is why a reader may argue that it could be commercial rather than literary only because of a couple situations throughout the story in which it may persuade the reader but overall the story is literary. The reasons why one should assume this to be literary is because of how Rainsford had been washed upon the island and has to use his world traveling hunting skills to survive and find other people. The last reason in which the reader would counter any argument and still state the short story is literary is because the feel that this story relates to the subject of addiction in todays society of someone using drugs that help them and over abusing it to the extreme to where in the end kills them without trying to seek help