- •Section I plot and plot structure theoretical preliminaries
- •Text 1. T he cop and the anthem
- •P lot, Setting
- •Literary Techniques
- •Plot Structure
- •Text 2. Mistaken identity
- •P lot Structure and Literary Techniques
- •Text 3. The lady or the tiger?
- •Style, Message
- •Suggestions for comparative analysis
- •Section II system of images. Means of characterization theoretical preliminaries
- •Plot Structure
- •1. Presentation of the character through action.
- •2. Speech characteristics.
- •3. Psychological portrayal and analysis of motive.
- •4. Description of the outward appearance, the portrayal of a character.
- •5. Description of the world of things that surround the character.
- •6. The use of a foil
- •7. The naming of characters.
- •Text 4. The pawnbroker’s wife
- •The Major Character
- •Arnold bennett
- •Character Drawing
- •Conflict, Representational Forms
- •Charles shirley jackson
- •P lot Structure and Character-Drawing
- •S uggestions for comparative analysis
- •Section III narrative method theoretical preliminaries
- •Text 7. The ladie’s maid
- •Narrative Method
- •Means of Characterization
- •S uggestions for comparative analysis
- •Text 8. The escape
- •P lot Structure and Literary Techniques
- •Narrative Method and Tone
- •Text 9. New york to detroit
- •N arrative Method, Plot Structure
- •Means of Characterization. Tone. Mood
- •Suggestions for comparative analysis
- •Section IV tonal system theoretical preliminaries
- •Text 10. The oval portrait
- •P lot Structure
- •Setting
- •Narrative Method
- •Tone, Atmosphere, Style
- •S uggestions for comparative analysis
- •Text 11. The night the bed fell
- •P lot Structure
- •Narrative Method
- •Means of Characterization
- •Attitude and Tone
- •Text 12. Arrangement in black and white
- •Narrative Method
- •Plot Structure
- •Means of Characterization
- •S uggestions for comparative analysis
- •Section V the message of a literary work theoretical preliminaries
- •Text 13. The pleasures of solitude
- •Message, Means of characterization
- •Plot Structure
- •Setting, Tone
- •Narrative Method
- •Text 14. The legacy
- •C haracter-Images
- •Message
- •Text 15. A painful case
- •Death of a lady at sydney parade a painful case
- •C haracter-Images
- •Style, Setting, Message
- •Suggestions for comparative analysis
Narrative Method
1. Is the story told by the omniscient author or by the observer-author?
2. What advantage did the author have in adopting this narrative method?
3. What limitations are involved in telling the story by an observer-author?
4. Is it a one-scene story?
5. Does the extensive use of dialogue contribute to character development?
6. Comment on the author's skill in writing dialogue, which comprises the major part M the story. How successful is D. Parker in using this technique?
Plot Structure
1. Does the story contain all the components of plot structure?
2. Where is the story set and what time-span does it cover?
3. What evidence is there that the story is set in the USA?
Means of Characterization
1. What is the dominant means of characterization that the writer resorts to?
2. What is the main feature that is accentuated in the protagonist?
3. Which words in the protagonist's speech reveal her contemptuous attitude to the blacks?
4. What other traits does she reveal in what she says about herself and about others? Refer to specific instances in the story to support your views.
5. What social class does the protagonist represent? What evidence can you find in the text of the story?
6. Describe her personality. In your assessment of her personality consider a) her speech, b) her manners and actions, c) her appearance. How is her nature reflected in her behaviour?
7. What other characters are introduced in the story?
8. The minor characters of the story are hardly identified and are not clearly outlined. Why do you suppose the author used this technique?
9. What purpose do the minor characters serve? What traits in the protagonist's character do they help to reveal?
10. What is the author's attitude to the protagonist?
11. Irony as a literary device uses characters, situations or plot development to reveal the contradictions between what people (or things) seem to be and what their real nature is like. Does D. Parker use irony in developing the character of the protagonist?
12. Does the title also reveal her ironic attitude to the people whom the protagonist represents?
13. How is the hypocrisy of the protagonist revealed?
14. What is the messsage of the story?
S uggestions for comparative analysis
1. Compare the stones The Pawnbroker's Wife, The Lady's Maid and Arrangement in Black and While in terms of irony and the way it is developed. Is irony in those stories developed linguistically or extralinguistically?
2. What contrasts reveal the author’s ironical attitude in each of those stones? Indicate whether you think these means of creating irony effective or not.
3. What does the title of each story imply? To what extent does it contribute to the irony conveyed by the author?
4. Define the tone and trace its changes in the course of each story. Is the tone of the narrative ironical? What evidence can you offer to support your view?
5. What social vices does each of the three stories satirize?
6. Consider the contribution of irony to the message of each story.