Week 1--"Eveline" by James Joyce
Throughout “Eveline” by James Joyce, the protagonist, Eveline, struggles constantly with an internal conflict. Although it’s difficult to tell until the end of the story,
Eveline can’t decide if she wants to leave her family, or to travel to Buenos Ayres with her lover, Frank. One of the first signs of her conflict was when she thought:
"She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise?” It’s mentioned in the story that her father gets violent, with his late wife and his children.
However, Eveline knows that “Sometimes he could be very nice,” which is something that holds her back from following Frank. But yet, she longs to get away from
her father, to finally be out of his grasp and “people would treat her with respect.” Another part that set off Eveline’s conflict was when she glanced at the two white
letters in her lap. She realizes that her father has become much older and “he would miss her.” This sight of the letters also sets off a memory in which her father
was in a nicer point of his life. But lastly, the conflict is fully visible is when Frank is attempting to get Eveline to board the boat and she refuses. Eveline has a panic attack, creating vivid images into her head that are not likely to happen. The panic attack is what stops her conflict however, because of it she chose to let Frank leave alone and stay with her troubled family.
Eveline can’t decide if she wants to leave her family, or to travel to Buenos Ayres with her lover, Frank. One of the first signs of her conflict was when she thought:
"She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise?” It’s mentioned in the story that her father gets violent, with his late wife and his children.
However, Eveline knows that “Sometimes he could be very nice,” which is something that holds her back from following Frank. But yet, she longs to get away from
her father, to finally be out of his grasp and “people would treat her with respect.” Another part that set off Eveline’s conflict was when she glanced at the two white
letters in her lap. She realizes that her father has become much older and “he would miss her.” This sight of the letters also sets off a memory in which her father
was in a nicer point of his life. But lastly, the conflict is fully visible is when Frank is attempting to get Eveline to board the boat and she refuses. Eveline has a panic attack, creating vivid images into her head that are not likely to happen. The panic attack is what stops her conflict however, because of it she chose to let Frank leave alone and stay with her troubled family.
Week 2: "Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote
The majority of the short story, “Christmas Memory,” is told in the perspective of the seven-year-old protagonist. Although the narrator is only seven, he seems to be much older. This is because his friend is considerably older and Buddy, as called by the old woman, has to be the adult often in their friendship. The friendship
between the two characters is what makes the story so intriguing, “We are each other’s best friend.” is stated by Buddy. In the story, Buddy tells the story of how they would always make fruitcakes together on a November “coming of winter morning.” Even though the times the lived in were difficult, they were able to scrounge up enough money every year for their “Fruitcake Fund.” The two friends were constantly degraded from their other relatives, but this strengthened their relationship,
because they knew they had to rely on each other. One night, once they had completed all 31 fruitcakes, the old woman and Buddy finished the “last two inches of
whiskey” from the fruitcakes. However, some of the other relatives came and scolded the friend for giving a young boy whiskey. When Buddy discovered she went to bed crying, he went to console her. This exemplified that even though he was only seven, he strongly cared for her and their friendship. At the end of the story,
Buddy leaves to go to military school, but the friends keep their friendship alive, until the old woman gets too old to make fruitcakes anymore.
between the two characters is what makes the story so intriguing, “We are each other’s best friend.” is stated by Buddy. In the story, Buddy tells the story of how they would always make fruitcakes together on a November “coming of winter morning.” Even though the times the lived in were difficult, they were able to scrounge up enough money every year for their “Fruitcake Fund.” The two friends were constantly degraded from their other relatives, but this strengthened their relationship,
because they knew they had to rely on each other. One night, once they had completed all 31 fruitcakes, the old woman and Buddy finished the “last two inches of
whiskey” from the fruitcakes. However, some of the other relatives came and scolded the friend for giving a young boy whiskey. When Buddy discovered she went to bed crying, he went to console her. This exemplified that even though he was only seven, he strongly cared for her and their friendship. At the end of the story,
Buddy leaves to go to military school, but the friends keep their friendship alive, until the old woman gets too old to make fruitcakes anymore.
Week 3: "A&P" by John Updike
"A&P" is strongly built by exquisite and plentiful detail. Told from the point-of-view of a 19-year-old boy, the focus of the detail is especially focused on "three girls in nothing but bathing suits." Sammy, the narrator, spends a great deal of time describing the girls, which a reader would expect considering his age. He describes the first as "a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can," the second "with one of those chubby berry-faces, the lips all bunched together under her nose,...a tall one, with black hair..." and lastly "Queenie" who "just walked straight, on these long prima donna legs." The focus of the story is strictly based on the detail that is provided by Sammy, however it's essential that he is the narrator. Sammy explains the event exactly how a teenage boy would and if someone else would, the story would be completely different. At the end of the story, the girls even cause Sammy to act on a rash decision that only a boy of his age would do. Considering the girls are only in swim suits, the manager approaches them and states "'Girls, this isn't the beach.'" and embarrasses them and "Queenie's blush is no sunburn now." Since the narrator is a teenage boy, he wants to appear to be the girl's "hero" and quits his job on the spot. The story is told exclusively by Sammy's view and it's evident that the description and plot is based on the fact that he is a teenage boy whom is attracted a girl in a bathing suit.
Week 4: "The Rocking Horse Winner" by D.H. Lawerence
What makes "The Rocking Horse Winner" so intriguing is the mystery that is behind the rocking horse and the connection the boy has to it. Throughout the story the reader is forced to make guesses and hypothesis' based on the detail and plot line of the story. One of the first befuddlements of the story is when the boy is explaining to his mother about the idea that he is "a lucky person." and that "God told me." His mom however does not believe him nor did "she paid no attention to assertion." This portion makes the reader wonder and envision on how the boy could possibly be so sure of his luck. The biggest question that the reader thinks is why does Paul "sit on his big rocking-horse, charging madly into space, with a frenzy that made the little girls peer at him uneasily." What is the point of this bodacious event, especially considering he is much too old to ride a rocking-horse. Another point that adds mystery to the plot is when Paul is so sure that Daffodil will win the race, yet the horse isn't favored to. How does Paul know that this horse will win? Or any other times when he knows which horse will win? However the one thing that is known is that "I started it [being winning the money] for mother. She had no luck because father is unlucky, so I thought if I was lucky, it might stop whispering." The story, as a whole, is wrapped up at the end with many of these questions being answered after the boys unfortunate last ride of his rocking-horse.
Week 5 "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates
Throughout the story dramatic irony is strongly evident. Even though we know that the man, Arnold Friend, seems like a suspicious character and so does Connie, we also know that she will end up going with him anyway. The concepts that lead the reader to believe that Arnold Friend, isn't friendly and has horrifying intentions are spread throughout the story. One of the first things is when he states: "'Connie, you ain't telling the truth. This is your day set aside for a ride with me and you know it.'" Although he called her Connie she never told him her name, he also knew other facts that he never shared with her. Another time where the reader discovers this man isn't who he seems is when "She said suddenly, 'Hey, how old are you?' His smile faded. She could see then that he wasn't a kid, he was much older--thirty, maybe more. At this knowledge her heart began to pound faster." The readers begin to realize that this isn't an odd boy at all, but in fact a very creepy man. And lastly, is when Arnold addresses the fact that he has intentions of raping her, but really it won't be that bad. During the length of the story numerous red flags are put up about the awful person Arnold Friend is and the reader and Connie know, but in an exemplification of dramatic irony, she goes with him anyway.