3. Analyzing the Story

Look back at the Literary Term on page 67. One of the story’s themes is the importance of tradition. Both Stuffy Pete and the Old Gentleman respect tradition; yet their ways of doing so are often different. Find as many similarities and differences as you can and write them in the chart below. An example has been provided for you.

Traditions: Thanksgiving Day Similarities and Differences

Stuffy Pete Stuffy Pete eats Thanksgiving Day dinner.

The Old Gentleman The Old Gentleman treats Stuffy Pete to a Thanksgiving Day dinner.

4. Writing

Choose one of the following writing assignments:

1. Write a summary of the story in two to three paragraphs. Be sure to include all of the major events.

2. Imagine that you are Stuffy Pete. Write about your thoughts the next day when you wake up in the hospital.

3. Imagine that you are the Old Gentleman. Write about your thoughts when you wake up the next morning in the hospital.

4. Imagine that you are the doctor at the hospital. Describe the two patients – the Old Gentleman and Stuffy Pete.

5. Continue the story a year later. What has happened to Stuffy Pete? What has happened to the Old Gentleman?

6. You are a reporter. Make a list of questions to ask Stuffy Pete and the Old Gentleman about their relationship over the past nine years. You can ask two of your classmates to take the roles of the characters.

7. Write the story in the present time in a different city. Change the characters to two women who meet in a park. You can change details of the story, but don’t change the main idea or theme.

List of literary terms

The following is a list of terms commonly used in literature. The list is short, and the definitions are purposely brief. Students seeking a more detailed and comprehensive set of definitions and examples should consult a good literary dictionary or encyclopedia.

Cause and effect One event in а story or text is often the direct result of another. In other words, one thing happens; then, as а result, а second thing happens. The first event is the cause, and the next event (or events) is the effect.

Characters The people in а story are called the characters.

Conflict Within the plot there is а conflict, or struggle, between characters, between а character and the environment, or within а character’s mind.

Dialogue The characters’ conversations are called dialogue.

Fable А fable is а short story with а moral, or а lesson. The characters in fables are often animals who speak and act like humans. The most famous fables were written by Aesop, а Greek slave living in the sixth century B.C. Another famous writer of fables was the seventeenth century French author La Fontaine.

First person narrator This means that the story is told in the first person by а character, often the main character, who refers to him- or herself as “I.” Therefore, the reader learns what happens in the story from the perspective of the character telling it.

Foreshadowing The hints and clues that the author puts in а story to prepare you for what is going to happen are called foreshadowing.

Imagery In literature, the term imagery refers to the descriptive language that the author uses to paint а picture of the situation, characters, setting, or anything else of importance in the author’s story.

Irony In literature, irony frequently occurs when there is а difference between what is expected or desired and what actually happens. For example, what а character thinks will happen to him mау turn out to be the exact opposite of what actually does happen.

Plot The plot of а story consists of the events that happen in the story. The plot often has four parts: (1) the introduction, where the main character(s) and the situation are introduced; (2) the complications, or the events that happen once the situation has been introduced; (3) the climax of the story, or the most important event, which usually occurs near the end and brings some change; (4) the conclusion of the story, when the situation is resolved in some way and the story comes to an end.

Poetic justice In real life, people don’t necessarily get what they deserve. However, in fiction, authors can reward or punish characters for their actions. This is called poetic justice (because it is literary and the characters get what they deserve).

Realism In literature, realism gives us а picture of life as it really is. Stories of realism deal with everyday problems that most people encounter.

Setting The setting of а story is the time and location in which it takes place.

Surprise ending А surprise ending is а sudden and unexpected ending.

Symbolism А symbol is а thing (most often а concrete object of some type) that represents an idea or а group of ideas. Symbols are often used in literary works. Examples of stories with symbolism are “The Blanket” and “The Bracelet.”

Theme А story’s theme is the main idea that runs through the narrative. Sometimes, а story has several themes.