Short Story Review Binder Core A Boy His

Short Story Review Binder Core “A Boy & His Puppy” Stories

THEME • It is not the "moral" of the story. • A moral is a piece of practical advice that can be gained from the novel to apply to our own lives. • A theme is more complex than a moral and may have no direct advice or philosophical value that the reader can apply • It is not the subject of the story. • It is not a "hidden meaning" that needs to be pulled out of the story.

THEME • What theme is: • Theme is the meaning released by the work when we take all aspects of the work in its entirety into account. • It is an aspect of human experience that the author wishes to express. • The importance of theme in literature can be overestimated; the work of fiction is more than just theme. However, theme allows the author to control or give order to his perceptions about life.

THEME • Discovering theme: Theme can be discovered only by becoming aware of the relations among the parts of a story and of the relations of the parts to a whole: – Characters: What kind of people does the story deal with? – Plot: What do the characters do? Are they in control of their lives, or are they controlled by fate? – Motivation: Why do the characters behave as they do, and what motives dominate them? – Style: How does the author perceive reality? – Tone: What is the author's attitude towards his subject? – Values: What are the values of the characters in the story? What values does the author seem to promote?

MOTIF • recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. • a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc. , especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.

“The Monkey’s Paw” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – danger of wishing – home vs. outside – groups of three • literary devices: – foreshadowing – symbols: • paw • chess

“There Will Come Soft Rains” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – war – technology – nature’s triumph • literary devices: – personification – foreshadowing – suspense

“A Sound of Thunder” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – interconnectedness – purpose of all actions • literary devices: – allusion: • Bible • Nazi Germany – irony – foreshadowing – simile & metaphor

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – fluid nature of time – blurred line between reality & illusion – distorted sensory experience – color gray • literary devices: – realism – foreshadowing (widens towards end) – tone (seem) – symbols: • driftwood • bridge

“Charles” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – identity – home vs. outside – appearance vs. reality – lies & getting caught • literary devices: – point-of-view – character:

“The Lottery” setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – blindly following tradition – random persecution – rules • literary devices: – specific details (sets up shocking end) • • – foreshadowing – suspense (lack of detail) – symbols: • lottery • black box

“Lamb to the Slaughter” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – betrayal – identity – devotion • literary devices: – internal conflict – suspense – dark humor – irony

“The Man From the South” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – trust – too good to be true • literary devices: – dark humor – point-of-view

“The Tell-Tale Heart” • • setting: characters: climax: themes & motifs: – love & hate – self vs. alter ego (in/sanity? ) – eyes – guilt – time • literary devices: – flashback – irony – mood (sound) – imagery