Online Writing Assignment on The Metamorphosis

In the short story The Metamorphosis Gregor and Grete are brother and sister. While Gregor worked to support himself and his family his sister Grete stays home. In the story you can tell that Gregor truly cares for his younger sister Grete. If Gregor did not care for Grete he simply would have not went out of his way to support his family. In the beginning of the story Gregor is the main one taking care of the family financially. However, after the incident of Gregor turning into an insect he was not able to work his job as a salesman. That’s where the positions reversed in the story; Grete took it upon herself to take care of her brother and also have a job to pick up where Gregor left off. Everyday Grete brings Gregor his food and cleans up after him. Time goes on and Gregor is seen as an annoyance to Grete and the family, and they start to believe that their life would be much better without him. Grete gets to where her responsibilities to Gregor are slacking. The relationship between Gregor and Grete is important to the story line and theme of the story. Franz Kafka does a great job on how the characters attitude shifts while maintain focus on the main problem. In the story Gregor stays the same despite the fact of his transformation. However, Grete and the mother and father’s attitude changes greatly over the course of the story.

The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket Questions

1. Who might the narrator of this story be? What clues are provided in the story?

 I believe that the narrator of this story is just simply another kid watching on the playground. It reveals the deeper meaning of the story.

 2. What might the grasshopper and the bell cricket each come to symbolize in the story?

The grasshopper represents that one person that people believe is something special when it comes to a relationship. But in the end turns out to be just wasted time. While the bell cricket is maybe that one person you passed up but is truly your perfect person.

3. Might the final three paragraphs of this story come close to stating its theme(s)? How would you state the theme(s)?

It comes close to stating the theme by providing the deeper meaning of what the story really meant. The theme of this story is that it takes time to find that one person. You may go through a lot of grasshoppers before you find your bell cricket.

Love Medicine Questions

• How, if at all, do you think Lipsha changes over the course of the story? What might he learn by the end? What might the story show us through him?

 

I don’t believe that Lipsha changes at all during the course of the story. He learns that love medicine isn’t needed.

 

• What different meanings does the phrase Love Medicine take on over the course of the story? How might you use the phrase to state the story’s theme?

 

In the story Love Medicine means the same throughout the story, it does not really change. It shows us that there is no such thing as “love medicine” that some medicine cannot fix a love between two people. I believe the general idea that is conveyed in this story is that “love medicine” or the touch of Lipsha is just something spiritual.

 

• Lipsha tells the stories of Lulu’s “tweety bird” that disappeared up her dress and of Wristwatch, whose broken watch started keeping time after its owner dropped dead. He then says, “Not to get off the subject or nothing” (par.65). Are these stories off the subject? How do they arouse expectations? How do they function in the plot? What do they tell you of Lipsha’s character? Of the nature of the people on the reservation? Are they related to the theme? If so, how?

 

Yes, these subjects are most certainly off subject. I personally don’t believe that they arouse expectations. Because it has nothing to do really with the meaning and plot of the story. Yes it is interesting part of the story but it is not important to the story line. It shows that Lipsha’s character by showing how he views and thinks of things.

Questions of “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”

• The subtitle of this story is “A Tale for Children.” Why and how does this seem like an apt description? An image inapt or ironic one?

Well the story is about an angel protecting a child, which is making the subtitle appropriate. The story is not really what I would picture a child reading making it ironic that it’s considered and tale for children.

 

• How do the various characters interpret the winged man? How do they arrive at their interpretations? What might their interpretations reveal about them? About people and/or the process of interpretation in general?

People see the winged man as different things throughout the story. Some see him as an annoyance while others would say that he is something special. Some believe that he is in fact and angel while others are in disbelief.  The way the people reacted to the angel reveals a lot about their personality.

 

• Why do so many people at first come to see the winged man and later stop doing so? Why is Elisenda so relieved when he finally flies away? What insights into human behavior might be revealed here?

I believe the reason so many people came out to see the winged man was because they were in disbelief and has never seen such a creature before. She was relieved when the angel flies away because the angel was an annoyance.  It just simply reveals how some peoples personality truly is.

The Birth-Mark questions

What difference would it make if the mark on Georgiana’s cheek were shaped like a fish, a heart, or an irregular oval? Why (and when) does the mark appear redder or more visible or fainter? If the birthmark is explicitly a “symbol of imperfection” (par.9), what kinds of imperfections does it represent?

If her birthmark would have been any other shape than it was it wouldn’t have made her husband as obsessed as he was with it. When she seemed angrier, or embarrassed it appeared to be redder, other than her as calm.  It was just a simple imperfection, but to her husband it represented something deeper such as sin because of the fact it is thought of as a fairies hand print.

 

• Alymer says to his wife, “Even Pygmalion, when his sculptured woman assumed life, left not greater ecstasy than mine will be” (par.19). How does this literary allusion to the myth of Pygmalion enhance the meaning of “The Birth-Mark”? Is this allusion ironic, given what happens to Alymer’s project to make his wife perfect?

Well she is being compared to an artist who fell in love with the statue he made of a beautiful woman. Well apparently her husband did not truly love her or he would have accepted her for her minor blemish. However, he sought the need to correct this in attempt of correction he actually killed her.

 

1. Look closely at the setting of the story, from the laboratory to the boudoir. Note that similes, metaphors, and other figures of speech that help characterize these places. How do these different patterns of imagery contribute to the symbolism of the story? To an allegorical reading of the story?

 

The figurative of speech helps sets the setting by characterizing the places at which the events occur.  In his lab it is more dark and gloomy while in his wife’s boudoir it more light and airy, therefore setting a mood to the setting using figurative language throughout the short story.

The Lady and the Dog questions

• When Gurov and Anna take their first walk together, they discuss “the strange light of the sea: the water was of a soft warm lilac hue, and there was a golden streak from the moon upon it.” Why do you think Chekhov waits until this moment to provide descriptive details of the story’s setting in Yalta?

I believe that the reason Chekhov waited to give details on the setting was that it was to build suspense. Reason I say this is because to me in this point in the story it’s very romantic. And with Chekhov describing such details add more effect to it, as in setting the mood of the surroundings.

 

• How do the weather and season described in each section relate to the action in that section?

In every section the weather can be described as reflecting the mood or tone of the story.

 

• What is Gurov’s attitude toward his affair with Anna at the outset? What is Anna’s attitude? What are some indications that both Gurov and Anna are unprepared for the relationship that develops between them?

At the beginning of the story I believe that Gurov’s attitude towards Anna was that he just seen her as another one of his affairs. That he had no intentions of actually being in love with her. Although, Anna’s attitude was more deceived, or as she said she deceived herself more than her husband. Some of the indications that they both shared was when they separated at the train station from each other. It seemed as if neither had any clue what was in store later on in life. Reason I say this is because they both leave so nonchalant about things.

Barn Burning Questions

• At one point in “Barn Burning,” Sarty thinks that “maybe” his father “couldn’t help but be” what he is. What about Abner Scopes? What desires, motivates, values, and views- especially of justice- seem to drive and explain him? What does the story imply about how and why he has become the man he is? What might be admirable, as well as abhorrent, about him? How does the narrative point of view shape your understanding of, and attitude toward, Abner?

 

Abner Snopes is often described as a serial arsonist. Abner starts the fires when he believes that he is treated unfairly. They story implies that Abner was in war, due to the reason he acts the way he does.  I honestly find nothing admirable about Abner; although, others might think otherwise. I believe the way he acts and treats other people shapes many people’s understanding of the story.

 

• How is Sarty characterized? How is this characterization affected by the multiple flashforwards in the story and by the way Sarty’s thoughts are presented? Does Sarty change over the course of the story? How and why does he change or not change?

 

Sarty is characterized as the protagonist and victim in the story. Sarty is always concerned with what he dad is going to do next.  Yes, Sarty changes over the course of the story. Where he stands up to his father and ends up telling on him for his obsession.

 

• What do each of the minor characters contribute to the story, especially Sarty’s mother, sisters, and older brother?

 

Sarty’s mother is often sad, emotional, and caring. She attempts to control her husband’s acts, but is beaten down for it. The sisters does not contribute much to the story, but are described as large and lethargic. Often being the lazy ones of the family. As of Sarty’s brother, he is often silent and described like his father.

Questions about Character

• Who is the protagonist, or might there be more than one? Why and how so? Which other characters, if any, are main or major characters? Which are minor characters?

The protagonist is the main character in a work of literature, often portrayed as the “good guy”. I do believe that there may be more than one protagonist in a work of literature. Minor characters are those that fill out the rest of the story

• What are the protagonist’s most distinctive traits, and what is most distinctive about his or her outlook and values? What motivates that character? Where is it about the character that creates internal and/or external conflicts?

Since the protagonist being the main character in a work of literature, I believe their most distinctive trait has to be their voice. They contribute to the mood and style of the work.  I believe that what drives them is their motivation, whether it is a happy ending in a story or anything else. Internal conflict results from a conflict within the protagonist where an external may involve the antagonist.

• Which textual details and moments reveal most about this character? Which are most surprising or might complicate your interpretation of this character? How is your view of the character affected by what you don’t know about him or her?

Any actions or words said by the character reveal anything about themselves. Certain views or actions, or simply words not said complicate how a person interprets the character. Personally when not aware of certain traits about a character it leaves me blinded.

• What are the roles of other characters? Which, if any, functions as an antagonist? Which, if any, serves as a foil? Why and how so? How would the story as a whole (not just its action or plot) be different if any of these characters disappeared? What points might the author be raising or illustrating through each character?

The roles of the characters are like the minor characters, they fill out the story. Usually the character that is against the protagonist is the one that function as an antagonist. Foil is a character that helps by way of contrast to reveal the unique qualities of another (especially main) character.  If any of the characters disappeared the story would not be what it is, no matter if they were minor or major characters. The author uses the characters to tell the story and to get their point out.

• Which of the characters, or which aspects of the characters, does the text encourage is to sympathize with or to admire? To view negatively? Why and how so?

The characters that the text encourages us to admire and even emulate the hero and heroine.

• Does your view of any character change over the course of the story, or do any of the characters themselves change because of the events in the story? If so, when, how, and why?

Yes, there has been a time when my view of the character has changed, and I also believe that the characters can change due to the event. However, everyone is entitled to their opinion upon that.

• Does characterization tend to be indirect or direct in the story? What kinds of information do and don’t we get about the characters, and how does the story tend to give us that information?

I believe that characterization can be both indirect and direct within text.  The reader often retrieves a lot of information about the characters. It is often given at the beginning of the story in most cases, if not over the course of the text.

Questions about Narration and Point of View

Questions about Narration and Point of View

1. Does the narrator speak in the first, second, or third person?

The point of view varies according to the narrator’s position in the story and the grammatical person the narrative voice assumes.

1. In the story narrated in the past or present tense? Does the verb tense affect your reading of it in any way?

The verb tense used has an effect on the narration of a story. However, the present tense is also frequently used, it can lend an impression of immediacy, of frequent repetition, or of a dreamlike or magical state that isn’t subject to the passage of time.

1. Does the narrator use a distinctive vocabulary, style, and tone, or is the language more standard and neutral?

Yes, the narrator often uses distinctive vocabulary in his or her work or literature, often to express emotion and feelings throughout their work.

1. Is the narrator indentified as a character, and if so, how much does he or she participate in the action?

Not in all works of literature the narrator is revealed, nor are they identified as a main character. When the narrator is involved in the story they are often a main character and play important roles.

1. Does the narrator ever seem to speak to the reader directly (addressing “you”) or explicitly state opinions or values?

Yes, I believe that there are many times where the narrator is “speaking” to the audience or to the readers.

1. Do you know what every character is thinking, or only some characters, or none?

Sometimes you know what the character is thinking, and you know exactly what they intend to do next. However, that’s not every case, sometimes you have no clue what the characters are thinking.

1. Does the narrative voices or focus shift during the story or remain consistent?

I believe that the focus shifts during a story, its changes due to the angle that the author wishes to present to the reader.

1. Do the narrator, the characters, and the reader all perceive matters in the same way, or are there differences in levels of understanding?

No, absolutely not, everyone does not share the same opinion. Some opinions may be similar but no opinion is exactly the same, there will always be differences.

The Jewlery

The Jewelry

1. What parts of “The Jewelry” correspond to the five traditional phases of plot :

• Exposition: When M. Lantin and his wife come into story.
• Rising action: M. Lantin falling deeply in love with his wife, then her sudden death.
• Turning point or climax: When he discovers his fortune that he didn’t know he had.
• Falling action: When he quits his job and starts a new life.
• Conclusion: When he re-marries, and his life was miserable.

1. Once the secret of Madame Lantin’s jewelry is revealed, what details from earlier in the story take on a different significance?

                After Madame Lantin’s death the fact that her mother basically put her out there in society for all of these men. Making it look like prostitution. Also, how she flaunted her “false” jewelry, and her going to the theatre by herself.

1. How and why might the story’s end-especially its last paragraph-defy expectations? How does it once again change your interpretation of earlier events and of Lantin’s first marriage?

                Well I didn’t expect that her jewelry to be actually real, I just seen it as her thinking it made up for the less material things that she claimed she didn’t have. Or in other words made her feel better not being a wealthy. Latin wasn’t going to depart with her jewels until he learned the value of it all. Which made him greedy, and then he choose to make profit from all her jewels. Clearly the only reason he moved on so quickly into a new marriage was that now he had money, I guess it made him happy.