Short Story Analysis

Short apologue Analysis In this bear witness, your procedure is to righty explain an broker (theme, characterization or symbolism) in a short figment of your choice. I provide provide you with examples of each chemical element from stories by Hemingway, Updike and Vonnegut you may spell about any of these authors except the angiotensin-converting enzymes that we pay off discussed in class. However, you may choose to investigate an author of your own choice. beneath I adjudge listed some contemporary authors and tale collections you may insufficiency to check out Jhumpa LahiriFlannery OConnor Raymond Carver William Faulkner David Sedaris Tobias Wolff Ernest Hemingway hindquarters Updike Kurt Vonnegut Carolyn Ferrell E. Annie Proulx T. Coraghessan Boyle Melissa Bank John Edgar Wide existence Jim Ray Daniels Kevin Canty Nathan Englander Amy Tan Z. Z. Packer Thom Jones Sarah Vowell The Best of Non Required construe Series All-Story Magazine *If you choose an author not listed above, please loose your choice with me before you begin drafting. ___________________________________________________________________ Below re definitions of the three elements that you drop heighten on for your analysis. Characterization the creation of the image of imaginary persons in drama, narrative poetry, the novel, and the short point. Characterization generates plot and is revealed by actions, speech, thoughts, physical appearance, and the new(prenominal) characters thoughts or words about him. Theme-The idea or point of a drool formulated as a generalization. In American literature, several(prenominal) themes be evident which reflect and define our society.The dominant ones might be innocence/experience, life/death, appearance/reality, free entirelyow/ destiny, madness/sanity, hit the hay/hate, society/individual, known/unknown. Themes may piddle a single, instead of a dual nature as well. The theme of a story may be a mid-life crisis, or imagination, o r the duality of hu patchkind (contradictions). Symbolism- A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself however suggests other meanings as well. Things, characters and actions can be symbols. Anything that suggests a meaning beyond the obvious.Some symbols are conventional, gener every last(predicate)y meaning the same thing to all readers. i. e white= purity, fire=passion/intensity, Spring=rebirth Short Story Analysis Requirements You will complete 2 short story analyses for this social unit you will choose 2 of the 3 elements (theme, characterization or symbolism) to focus on. You may do the 3rd element for extra credit. In this essay, write as if your au soundnce is not familiar with the story therefore, you may have to do some summary of the story and provide some circumstance so that you discussion would be understandable to your audience.Here is what you will need for this essay 1. A great title that alerts your reader to the content of the discussion. 2. A skil lful introduction in which you present the title of your story, the authors full name, and your thesis about the story. 3. A multi-paragraph body in which you explain the major(ip) element you are focusing on (theme, characterization or symbolism). 4. pie-eyed transitions that move the reader smoothly through the discussion. 5. A wealth of recite from the story in the form of plot summary and quotation that SHOWS what you are saying is true. . Parenthetical references to show where your quotations come from. 7. A Works Cited paginate showing where you found your story. 8. A suggested total length of not slight than 500 words (excluding Works Cited, title, etc. ) 9. An authoritative tone that displays a thorough understanding of the story in question and the particular element being analyzed. 10. A conclusion that provides a sense of closure and cash in ones chipss us with a strong thought or observation about the story or its themeWithout Politics An Analysis of Symbolism in Er nest Hemingways The one-time(a) Man at the duo over Masterpiece. We tend to overuse that epithet today, entirely Ernest Hemingways short story The darkened Man at the Bridge is legitimately deserving. Set during the Spanish Civil War, Hemingways tale is a masterpiece of conciseness and verbal economy, and the plight of the au naturel(p) sr. while who is without politics make believely demonstrates the authors condemnation of the senseless barbarity and destructiveness of modern warfare (Hemingway 79).In this brief glimpse of war, Hemingway weaves several important symbols into the story to enhance his theme and point out the tragically ironic features of wars ability to destroy even the most innocent creatures in its wake. The storys most obvious symbol is the bridge itself. The unsung elder world of the title has walked over six miles from his home in San Carlos and now finds himself exhausted at the foot of the bridge over the Ebro River. in that respect he is met by the narrator, a scout for the anti-fascist forces, and warned to move along. Unfortunately, the gaga man is too tired to journey any further.On the far side of the bridge lies Barcelona, which symbolically represents the possibility of gum elasticty and refuge. On the near side, only certain wipeout awaits as the hoar man was warned to evacuate his hometown because of the impending bomb by fascist artillery. In short, the bridge symbolizes the point of no damages for the old man if he crosses over, he may be safe still he must give up all that he knows and loves in San Carlos if he stays, however, he will most likely division the fate of his beloved animals he cared for in San Carlos.The unseen animals are as well as important symbols in Hemingways story. The old man tells the narrator that he cared for two goats and a chuck and then there were four pairs of pigeons (Hemingway 79). pity for the animals is the old mans sole purpose and joy in life, and because he does not have the qualification to bring them with him to safety, he has had to leave them behind. Their fate troubles him. He tells the scout, The cat, of course, will be all right. A cat can look out for itself, but I cannot think what will become of the others (Hemingway 79).When the narrator tries to assure him that the skirts will also be fine, the old man says, Yes, certainly theyll fly. But the others. Its better not to think about the others (Hemingway 80). Of course, the animals are all that the old man is thinking of and touch about, and their safety is more important to him than his own. Unlike the warring factions, the old man feels compassion for those who are not equipped to survive the massive destruction about to be unleashed.Also, the different animals were able to live together peacefully with the old mans care and love, but the two gentlemans gentleman armies, ironically, cannot. The significance of the old mans birds is heightened when the narrator asks the old man if he left the dove cage unlocked (Hemingway 80, my emphasis). By referring to the pigeons as doves, the narrator is alluding to the traditional symbolism of the dove as a bird of peace and innocence. In such an environment of hatred and carnage, these symbols of peace have no place and must fly or face death.Their lulu and gentle nature are not fit for survival under such conditions, just as anyone who stands for peace will have no effect on the bloodshed to come. The narrator also points out that the story is set on Easter Sunday, a Christian holiday meant to save Christ rising from the dead. The irony is apparent no one will rise from the dead, only join the dead, when the shells begin to rain down and the skies clear to allow the fascist bombers to make their runs. Easter is symbolically viewed as a highly anticipated, welcome time of rebirth, renewal, and possible change.For the old man at the foot of the bridge, this Easter brings only inevitable death and the destruction of all that is meaningful to him. Finally, he most important symbol in the story is the old man himself. His symbolic innocence is seen when he tells the narrator, I am without politics (Hemingway 79). The unarmed old man does not belong to either side and he has no interest in participating in the conflict. He is 76 years old and has barely enough strength to make it to the bridge he clearly poses no threat to anyone.Even so, his fate is made clear when the narrator ominously tells us that the momentary last out of the imminent bombing and the fact that cats know how to look out for themselves was all the good luck that old man would ever have (Hemingway 80). Since the Spanish Civil War was a precursor to World War II and alerted the world to what horrors would lie ahead for innocent men, women, children, and animals all over the major planet when the conflict spread, Hemingway shows us what happens to the innocent and the powerless in this new print of total war.There is no place for almsgivingbeyond alerting the old man to keep moving and possibly hitch a cod to Barcelona, the narrator does not go out of his way to help the defenseless old man. Since the old man cannot help in the war, he is a hindrance, as is feeling any excessive emotion for him that might trim back from performing ones military duty. The scout tries to reassure the old man that his animals will be fine, but he is not pass to go retrieve them for the old man.He advises the old man to cross the bridge, but he is not going to move the old man himself. after(prenominal) all, he has the business of war to tend to (Hemingway 78). This is as much benevolence and compassion as the innocent can expect, and it is nowhere near enough to ensure survival. In the end, Hemingway captures the inhumanity and barbaric nature of war. Ironically, he does so without a single shot being fired or one drop of blood being spilled in his tale of a unknown old man at a forgotten bridge.His symbols are caut iously placed and subtly developed, allowing readers to focus on the tragic fate of the old man without being sidetracked by heavy-handed literary devices. We feel sympathy and sorrow for the old man and ultimately realize that he is a symbol of all those caught in the crossfire, those who have died and will continue to die in the wake of and the inhuman business of modern war. Works Cited Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man at the Bridge. The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. New York Macmillan, 1986. 78-80.