Online Writing Assignment for The Metamorphosis

In this story the relationship between Gregor and his sister Grete
is very complex through all the events that take place. Some may think that
this is strange while some may think this is very normal. For one to come to
this assumption they would ask many questions. Do these characters genuinely
care about each other? How do they show their care or lack thereof? How does
this relationship highlight the themes of the narrative as a whole? How does
the scope of the novella allow Kafka to reveal changing in more than one
character while maintaining focus on one problem? One may believe at first that
the characters truly care about each other. Reason being that even though
Gregor transformed into a cockroach his sister still brought him food. This was
only until she was tired of him and wanted to get rid of him. Some still
believe though that they truly cared for one another. One may also believe
though that he cares because of the story about how he was saving up to send
her to music school. Some think that the theme of, The Metamorphosis, is absurdity. The characters represent this
through their caring relationship. One may believe that the author was able to
show changing in other characters while still focusing solely on Gregor because
Gregor has become a problem for the family. This problem makes the some in the
family age. While some just have to go back to work to support the family. In this
story it is easy to see that the family still loves Gregor. If not why would
they have let a cockroach live in their home?

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 since the story is told in first person the author is the narrator.

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

I believe that the bell cricket symbolizes the perfect person that sometimes isn’t always noticed. While the grasshopper shows a relationship that deffinately isn’t an example of a perfect relationship.

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

I believe that the final three paragraphs does come close to stating the theme. I also think that the theme of the story is sometimes you do not notice your bell cricket until you go through a grasshopper or two.

Love Medicine Questions

1.) 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 think he realizes not to let his grandma make his decisions in life throughout the story including how he uses his touch. I think he shows us we have to be the ones to choose who we love and not let somthing alter our choice.

2.) 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?

The phrase love medicine is very consisitent throughout this story. Especially in theme. It show’s how dependent Lipsha becomes on this until he realizes he should not have to use it to have someone have true feelings for him.

3.) 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?

I honestly believe that the stories are completely irrelevant. All they really show anyone is just a little more about Lipsha. Also I think they once again prove to Lipsha someone should love him for him not because of any medicine.

Questions for A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

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

I believe that the subtitle shows an apt one because it shows that someone is there watching all the children.

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

Some see him as an angel which is what he is. Others see him as a shipwrecked castaway as well. His apperance may be their interpretations. I think they see him as cheap entertainment.

3.) 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 they first come because he is cheap entertainment and then he gets old and they move on and do not worry about him anymore. I feel as though he is annoyance to her and that is why she is happy when he is gone. I think this repesentation is how parents view there realtionship between theire children and theirselves.

The Birth-Mark Questions

1.) What difference would it make if the mark on Georgianna’s check 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”, what kinds of imperfection does it represent?

I do not believe it would make any difference if her imperfection was shaped as anything else. Her husband will always see it as what sets her back from being perfect. The mark appears redder when Georgianna is pale. I believe that the imperfection shows that no one is perfect and that sometimes even spouses can even get self conecious of what other people think.

2.) Aylmer says to his wife, “Even Pygmalion, when his sculptured woman assumed life, felt not greater ecstasy than mine will be”. 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 Aylmer’s project to make his wife perfect?

I believe he was comparing his wife to the staute in this statement. I believe it does enhance the meaning of the Birth-Mark because stautes or huge and noticable usually and I believe he is saying his wifes birthmark is huge and noticable. I do not believe it is ironic at all because he was trying to make his wife perfect like statues.

3.) Look closely at the setting of the story, from the laboratory to the boudoir. Note the similies, 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?

It shows the moods some what of events that take place in the story.

The Lady with the Dog Questions

1.) 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.” What do you think Chekhov waits until this moment to provide descriptive details of the story’s setting in Yalta?

I believe that Chekhov waits until this moment because he wanted the perfect romantic moment betwwen the two to describe Yalta.

2.) How do the weather and season described in each section relate to the action in the section?

I believe that the weather and season possibly may have some hidden meaning between the two’s relationship.

3.)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 devolps betweem them?

Gurov to me is okay with his affair because I do not believe that this was his only one. Anna on the other hand felt horrible at first, she feels like a sinner and just down right in the wrong. I believe neither of them really knew what love was until they met each other because they never really acted like they had feelings for one another. I think they both probably realized their feelings after Anna left.

Barn Burning Questions

1.) At one point in “Barn Burning,” Sarty thinks that “maybe” his father “couldn’t help but be” what he is (par.40). What is Abner Snopes? What desires, motives, values, and views-especially of justice- seem to drive and explain him? What does the story imply about how and why he has beome 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 a crook. Abner also feels that if someone does something to him he can do what he feels is right to them. Even if what is right to him is ultimately wrong. This is his form of justice. The story never really implies who does the barn burning though you kind of just guess. The narrative point of view shapes ones attitude and understanding because it implys that he is a crook and barn burner.

2.) How is Sarty characterized? How is this characterization affected by the multiple flashfowards 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?

One may get from this story that Sarty is a younger gentleman who is very shy. He also kind of just stands back from his fathers actions. One may say that he somewhat of a victim. One may think that Sarty is affected by his fathers behavior because he is very fearful. I think he is afraid one day his father will get caught burning barns. I do believe Sarty chages over the story because he somewhat stays fearful of his father and fearful his father will be caught but, then realizes his father is in the wrong for what he is doing to others.

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

I believe that Sarty mother is the one who brings the emotions into the story. Sarty’s twin sisters in this story are the living example of laziness. His older brother I feel is just a younger version of his father.

Questions about Character

1.) What 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 the minor characters?

Protagonists are the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem. In some works of literature there is more than one protagonist. One reason there is more than one protagonist is there are many types of protagonist. Main characters are the ones who usually tell the story or make the story. Minor characters are the ones who occur periodically throughtout a story and fill in gaps.

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

The prtoagonist is usually the good guy or the so called “hero”. The protagonist outlook is usually to save the day and this is also the motivation of the protagonist. Usullay the antagonist gets in the way of the protagonist but, not always. The character that usually creates the internal and/or external conflict is the antagonist.

3.) Which textual deatails and moments reveal most about this character? Which are most surprising or might complicate your inerpretaion of this character? How is your view of the character affected by what you don’t know about him or her?

Textual details is really just anything about the character from features to the way one speaks. One usually orecieves the character how one reads it. So the one rellaies completely on the narrator and the textual deatils.

4.) 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 role of other characters are to fill out the story, these characters are known as minor characters. Minor characters usually serve as foils.  These characters usually do not function as antagonist because they usually do not appear enough to be antagonist. If these characters disappeared you really would not get the full affect of the story since they are used to fill in.

5.) Which of the characters, or which aspects of the characters, does the text encourage us to sympathize with or to admire? To view negatively? Why and how so?

The text encourages you to admire the main character or protagonist. It wants you to dislike the antagonist and gives you the choice about other minor characters.

6.) 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, your view of the characters can change over the course  of the story. Reason being some characters do not turn out to be the people or things you thought they was.

7.) 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?

Sometimes the author makes the characterization of a protagonist is indirect. The author does not always give us all the information because they want us to connect the dots through sometimes minor characters.

Narration and Point of View

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

The narrator can be spoken in first, second, or third person it just depends on the story and author.

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

The story are narrated in the present tense. Of course, when reading your the verb tenses is gonna change because past and present tenses are worded differently.

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

I believe it depends on the narrator if the use distinctive or standard style, vocabulary, and tone.

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

Once again it all depends on the author if the character is the narrator and if he or she participates in the action or not.

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

Yes, the narrator speaks directly to the audience because usually in formal writing you do not use the word “you” in it.

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

Again it just depends on the author if you know what every or any of the character is thinking.

7. Does the narrative voice or focus shift during the story or remain consistent?

I believe it usually remains consistent but, then again there it is again it depends on the author.

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

It just depends on how people understand because not everyone understands the same way or on the same level.

Jewelry Discussion

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

The exposition in this story seems to me like when the author is first telling about Madame Lantin amd meeting her husband. The rising action I feel like is when Madame Lantin dies. The climax to me, is when her husband finds out how much her jewelry is worth. The falling action is when he quits his job, goes out to dinner, and moves on with his life. I feel like the conclusion, is when M. Lantin gets remarried and is miserable.

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

When Madame Lantin’s jewelry is revaled it makes the fact that she went to the theater by herself a bit questionable. During, this time woman usually didn’t go anywhere by theirselves. So, when her husband begged her to go alone and she went for this idea seems weary. Was she having an affair is probably the first thing that came to my mind because in the story it said her husband was not a very wealthy man but, yet somehow she had all this expensive jewelry. Also, it notes that she was a very respectable young woman in the story that anyone would be lucky to have her so that makes the affair idea even more belivable. The huge signifigance in finding out that her jewerly was so expensive all boils down to the simple fact she went to the theater alone as a woman in this time.

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

When the story ends one may think it’s strange because he was suppose to be so in love with his first wife that you would think he wouldn’t remarry. How could someone that loved one so much move on so quickly. Just like when his wife was alive, she adored the theater and he at the time hated it. Once, he was rich due to his wife’s surprise good fortune he adorded the theater, as well. Which is very odd because you would think that since he supposedly loved his wife so much he would have wanted to go with her, not after her passing.  The ending is just, all in all, very strange to me.