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The Contest Short Story Humor In the town of Elk Tooth, there is an annual contest in which the men attempt grow the largest beard. Each beard reflects their masculinity and it describes each unique personality. In the end, the mens competitiveness goes to waste as a new man enters the town with the greatest beard. The theme is do not judge someone by their appearance, specifically their beard. Also, another theme is do not get so caught up in competitions.
How does the Author Make You Feel About the Character? • Character- Ralph Kaups • We meet the character Ralph at the end of the story for a brief moment; however, he proves to be very interesting. Based on his appearance he is very intimidating, “ He wore a bandana and a red silk scarf on his mouth in the classic style of stagecoach robbers”( 433). However, he proves to be extremely interesting, when he describes his background, “... I went to Princeton and graduated summa cum laude…” ( 434). The contrast between his appearance and background sparks a definite interest into this mysterious person.
The Taste of Watermelon Makea Carmelo-Preston
The Taste of Watermelon Slide 2 Author: Borden Deal Realistic Fiction, Short Story Synopsis: Mr. Wills grow the biggest watermelon in the community. The new kid in town comes across and eats the powerful watermelon and Mr. Wills freaked out. Theme: The theme of this story is of coming of age and dealing illness with Mr. Wills wife. And going through rights of passage of stealing and stomping the melon.
The Taste of Watermelon Slide 2 How does the author convey the drama of this moment? “A great strangled crying tearing out of his throat. Chilled me deep down and all the way through, like the cry of a wild animal.” This shows how much Mr. Wills has feelings for the melon and how much it meant to him and his family.
How It Happened Arthur Conan Doyle
-Short Story -Suspense Over the course of this story the owner of the car decides to drive the car. He doesn't exactly know how to so he gets into some trouble. Eventually the suspense builds to where he crashes the car, and we find out that he had killed himself. -dialouge, suspense, “Brushwood” “Brow of this hill, where the grade is the steepest”
How does the author make this character important in the story? There is only one true/reappearing character in this short story. The main character is the narrator and he describes his experience with his car. The story being told in 1st person adds a personal aspect where you feel like its you crashing the car. “I was conscious of flying through the air, and then- and then-!”
Real Time Real Time was written by Amit Chaudhuri and published in Stories of Ourselves in 2002. It was about MrMitra going to a funeral held at a place in an area of his country that was more poor than his own. He finds it strange and is pessimistic about the whole experience. Chaudhuri’s featured style is matter of factly on the dark side. His purpose was to write about attending a funeral that was advertised about on the streets to gain more attendees. “It was clear from the size of the cramped compound, with the ceilling overhanging the porch only a few feet away from the adjoining wall,…” exemplifies a tone of indifference. The theme is “Do what your wife wants to make her want you”
How does the author convey the main character? Chaudhuri had made MrMitra a man who does not fancy much of anything in his life. “…his wife never satisfied him when he needed her most; and quite probably it was the same story the other way around” tells that MrMitra knows he is less than average as a husband but he does not try to do anything to fix that.
Her First Ball • “Her First Ball” by Katherine Mansfield • Synopsis: Leila is excited for attending her first real ball or dance. She then meets a fat person who tells her how she will be in the future. • Prominent features: The imagery of the ball make this story memorable. The descriptions of the ballroom and the different types of dresses is throughout the short story. “Leila put two fingers on Laura’s pink velvet cloak, and they were somehow lifted past the big golden lantern, carried along the passage, and pushing into the little room marked ‘Ladies.’ Here the crowd was so great there was hardly space to take off their things; the noise was deafening. • Figurative language and purpose: Imagery and metaphors to provide a powerful picture in the reader’s head. • Tone: Happy and optimistic. “Oh dear, how hard it was to be indifferent like the others! She tries not to smile too much; she tried not to care. But every single thing was so new and exciting...Meg’s tuberoses, Jose’s long loop of amber, Laura’s little dark head, pushing above her white fur like a flower through snow.
Cambridge response • How does the author powerfully reveal the characters state of mind? • The author reveals the characters state of mind by taking the reader into the point of view of the main character. The author describes how happy Leila is to be at the dance, and how starstruck she is by all the luxury and glamour. This reveals how Leila is thinking and her state of mind during the whole story, and during the main event which is the ball.
Ming’s Biggest Prey Emily Curtice Ms. Fischer 05/28/14
Slide 1 • Title- “Ming’s Biggest Prey” • Author- Patricia Highsmith • The story is about a man that hates his fiancé's beloved cat, so the cat finds a way to get revenge. • Figurative language- Simile- “The garden was like a jungle or a forest” • This simile creates a great image for the setting. • Theme- I think the theme is to be aware of your surroundings and never underestimate anyone or anything because you never know what they’re capable of • Tone- The tone is very bitter, and passion filled. Ming despises his hateful owner, and this shows in lines like, “Hatred burned his eyes.”
Slide 2 • How does the author portray the relationship between characters? • Ming & the man- The author portrays Ming’s disgust for the man and vise versa through their actions towards each other. The man tries to leave Ming out of the house and he expresses his discontent. • Ming & the owner- There is also a strong relationship between Ming’s owner and Ming himself. They love and adore each other and that shows through when the owner defends Ming against her fiancé. • Scene- To address this prompt, you could also acknowledge the scene where Ming kills his pursuer, and include his emotions following the event and his emotions during the event.
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe • Synopsis: The main character, which is the narrator of the story, goes to visit his friend Roderick Usher at his house because he sent for him. Once he arrives though, he notices that Roderick acts strange and weird things begin to occur, and his sister eventually pops up. However she was dead. so he leaves the house and a storm begins to grow taking down the house of usher as well. • Edgar Allen Poe’s writing is very mysterious and dramatic. It always has hidden meanings and symbolism. • Symbolism • Tone: Treacherous or suspenseful • Themes: Isolation By: Kassie Garcia
Cambridge Prompt: • Prompt: How does the author add to the dramatic impact in the selection? • Descriptions: • “dull, dark, and soundless day” • Builds suspense/tension • introduction of Madeline • Rodericks strange personality and actions • storm that starts to build up while narrator is leaving • fall of house of usher
“The Contest" by Annie Proulx • The story takes place in the town of Elk Tooth.It is about how the town handles a beard growing contest. • one of the most prominent features of the story is the randomness of a beard contest. Also the author writes • the beards are a symbol in this story. they represent passing time. there is also alliteration and personification • the purpose of the story is to entertain • the tone is whimsical because a beard growing contest is vey odd • theme: knowledge opens up ones world
Cambridge prompt • How did the author cause you to enjoy the selection because of humor? Or because of Tragedy? • have specific humorous quotes • explain why the quotes are humorous • explain why the story is humorous • if the story is tragic to you then do these things but find tragic examples
The Open Boatby: Stephen Crane This short story focuses around four men who are stuck out at sea. The story revolves around “ naturalism” which is the use of realism to show that the environment has an inescapable affect on shaping human character. Prominent features: Stephen Crane is constantly using figurative language to develop his characters mindsets, imagery, and setting. He also shifts between each characters reality ultimately giving limited perspectives throughout the story. Figurative language- Stephen Crane uses personification, similes, and metaphors predominantly through his writing. -”craft pranced and reared, and plunged like an animal.”- Simile describing how the boat is no match for the ocean and how the ocean is a fierce piece of nature. -”There was a terrible grace in the move of the waves, and they came in silence, save for the snarling of the crests.” Personification addressing the waves as vicious and aggressive, hence the word “ snarling”-. -”although this iron man seemed to be always awake’’-The comparison of the captain to iron reveals his strength and how the crew sees him as invisible. Tone-There are a variety of tones through the story but one that prevailed was hopelessness. Through the story the author is constantly talking about how nature is aggressive and conquering of all. Due to these details the readers forms the impression that if the men are no match for nature they are hopeless and will not survive. Theme: Nature is not a force which can be controlled.
How does the author vividly convey thoughts and feelings through imagery? How is imagery created? description diction sound devices figurative language -Figurative language EX:The surf's roar was here dulled, but its tone was, nevertheless, thunderous and mighty. As the boat swam over the great rollers, the men sat listening to this roar. - The fact that the men just sat there and listened to the “ roar” of the ocean could suggest they are feeling overwhelmed. -Focus on the characters individually and determine what there stereotypes are. - Notice how, in combination with the imagery, how the men react and find realizations. EX: “When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no brick and no temples.” – Through this comparison of the bricks and temples we discover that the correspondent is realizing how indifferent nature is towards man.
How It Happened by Arthur Conan Doyle Synopsis: A man gets a new car and insists that he is the one who drives it. Then he loses control and finds out he died. Prominent Features of Writing: Based in 1918. Tone: Light-hearted; after he died Stanley jokingly smiled and told him he was dead. Themes: Take the advice of others.
Cambridge Prompt How does the author create a memorable character for you? Main Character: • The character is important: • The other characters referred to him as “master” • The character is loyal: • He stayed in the car and gave the passenger the opportunity to jump out.
