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Elements of Fiction in Literature Analysis

The document discusses the key elements of fiction, including characters, setting, plot, conflict, theme, point of view, and style, as well as various figures of speech used in literature. It also provides a brief history of English literature from the medieval period to contemporary times, highlighting significant authors and movements. Additionally, it outlines the development of American literature during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, emphasizing Puritan beliefs and literary styles.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
44 views53 pages

Elements of Fiction in Literature Analysis

The document discusses the key elements of fiction, including characters, setting, plot, conflict, theme, point of view, and style, as well as various figures of speech used in literature. It also provides a brief history of English literature from the medieval period to contemporary times, highlighting significant authors and movements. Additionally, it outlines the development of American literature during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, emphasizing Puritan beliefs and literary styles.

Uploaded by

vanthao1972hd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Câu 1: Phân tích các yếu tố chính cấu thành một tác phẩm văn học; một số thủ

pháp nghệ thuật sử dụng trong các tác phẩm văn học Anh – Mỹ nói riêng, văn học
nói chung.
Elements of Fiction: Characters, setting, plot, conflict, point of view, theme and style
-What is fiction? Fiction is make-believe, invented stories. They may be short stories,
fables, vignettes, plays, novellas, or novels. Although writers may base a character on
people they have met in real life, the characters and the experiences that the character
faces in the story are not real.
- Characters:
+ A piece of literature has to have at least one character, which can be a person, an
object, or an animal. Readers come to know the characters through what they
saay, what they think, and how they act.
+ Characters are either flat or round. Flat characters do not play important roles in
the stories. They often have only one or two traits with little description about
them. A flat character may even be a stock character, which is a stereotypical
figure that is easily recognized by readers, for example, the mad scientist or the
evil stepmother.
- Setting:
Setting is where and when the story takes place. It includes the following:
+ The immediate surroundings of the characters such as props in a scene: trees,
furniture, food, inside of a house or car, etc.
+ The time of day such as morning, afternoon, or night.
+ The weather such as cloudy, sunny, windy, snow, or rain, etc.
+ The time of year, particularly the seasons: fall, winter, summer, spring.
+ The historical period such as what century or decade the story takes place.
+ The geographical location including the city, state, country, and possibly even
the universe, if the writer is writing science fiction.
=> Setting can function as a main force that the characters encounter, such as a
tornado or flood, or a setting can play a minor role such as setting the mood.
Often times, the setting can reveal something about the main character as he/she
functions in that place and time period.
- Conflict: is the struggle between two entities. In story writing the protagonist
encouters a conflict with the antagonist, which is an adversary. The conflict may
be one of six kinds:
+ Character vs. character
+ Character vs. nature or natural forces
+ Character vs. society or culture
+ Character vs. machine or technology
+ Character vs. God
+ Character vs. himself of herself
- Theme: A theme is not the plot of the story. It is the underlying truth that is being
conveyed in the story. Themes can be universal, meaning they are understood by
readers no matter what culture or country the readers are in. Common themes
include coming of age, circle of life, prejudice, greed, good vs. evil, beating the
odds, etc.
- Point of view: point of view is the perspective from which the story is told.. The
three main POVS in writing are first-person, second-person, and third-person.
Most stories are written in third-person point of view or first-person point of
view, though second-person is Occasionally employed. The point of view from
which you choose to write affects how a reader processes your story. A third-
person narrator can bring a more objective, aloof tone to a narrative, whereas a
first person narrator can make the story feel more subjective and intimate.
- -Style: Style in creative writing starts with word choice. When we talk about
fiction stories, we talk about the diction (or choice of words) that an author
chooses to employ and the structure of their work. There are no style guides or
rules for fiction stories. and novels are an exciting place for writers to play
around with bold stylistic choices.
- 14 Figures of speech: Simile, personification, metaphor, metonymy,
oxymoron, irony, imagery, alliteration, repetition, euphemism, cliché,
hyperbole, allusion, foreshadowing.
[Link] (So Sánh)

A simile compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use
the connecting words "like" or "as," but can also use other words that indicate a
comparison.

Example: The dog is as fit as a fiddle

Example:

“Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a

courteous, and a kind, and a handsome…”

"This simile serves to reinforce the fact that the nurse’s favorable opinion of Romeo
inevitably encourages her to act as an ally to the young lovers."

[Link] (ẩn dụ)

Metaphors describe something by saying that it is something else

Example: She is an angel.

Example: “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is
the sun!”

Romeo and Juliet (1597):

Shakespeare’s tragedy features several metaphors. When Romeo sees Juliet at the
beginning of the famous balcony scene, he speaks the iconic line, Romeo uses metaphor
to compare her visage to the sun.
[Link] ( Nhân hóa)

Personification is a rhetorical device in which an object or animal is described

by human characteristics properties, and actions.

Example: “Alas that love, whose view is muffled still,

Should without eyes see pathways to his will!”

[Link] ( Phép hoán dụ )


Metonymy is a form of figurative language in which a word is replaced by something
very close to the original meaning .

Example: Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." "Lend me your ears"
means listen to me, hear what I am saying.

(In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Antony declares)

[Link] (Phép nghịch hợp )

Oxymoron is a type of figurative language which involves the use of two words

DEFINITION which appear to contradict one another but when used together make a
true and sometimes positive statement.

Example : “All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite
agony of this.”

[Link] ( Mỉa mai , châm biếm )

Irony is also one of the most misunderstood concepts. Most people call something
"ironic" when it's surprising, different, or coincidental. In other words, the concept as
we know it has expanded outside of its actual definition.

Example :"A fireman was arrested for setting fires for his company to put out.

[Link] (Tượng hình, liên tưởng, tưởng tượng)

Imagery is language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images in the
mind of the reader. Imagery includes figurative and metaphorical language to improve
the reader's experience through their senses.

Example : Gustatory - Her mouth watered and her tongue burned as she bit into the
sour, peppery mango.

8. Alliteration ( Lặp âm đầu, lặp phụ âm đầu )


Alliteration is a literary device that uses the repetition of the same sound at the
beginning of words that are close together in a sentence or a line of poetry.

For example: “She sells seashells by the seashore”

__is a sentence that has alliteration with the “s” sound.

=>Alliteration can create a musical effect, emphasize certain words, or make a phrase
more memorable.

[Link] (Lặp từ)


Repetition is a literary device that involves using a word or phrase more than once for
emphasis or effect. Repetition can help create rhythm, clarity, or memorability in a
piece of writing. Repetition can also be used to reinforce an idea or a theme.

Some examples of repetition in literature are:

 “Nevermore” is repeated throughout Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” to


create a haunting and obsessive tone.
 “I have a dream” is repeated by Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous speech to
express his vision and hope for racial equality.

[Link] (NÓI GIẢM NÓI TRÁNH, UYỂN NGỮ)


A euphemism is a word or phrase that is used to replace another word or phrase that
might be considered unpleasant, offensive, or inappropriate. Euphemisms are often
used to avoid talking directly about topics such as death, sex, violence, or bodily
functions. For example, instead of saying “He died”, one might say “He passed away” or
“He went to a better place”. Euphemisms can also be used to soften the impact of a
negative or harsh statement.
[Link]é ( Lời nói sáo rỗng)

A cliché is a word or phrase that has been used so often that it has lost its originality
and impact. Clichés are usually considered to be a sign of poor writing or lack of
creativity, as they show that the writer is relying on familiar and easy expressions
instead of coming up with something new and fresh. For example, saying that someone
is “as blind as a bat” or that something is “a piece of cake” are clichés that have been
heard many times before.

Clichés can be found in both English and American literature, as well as in other
languages and genres. Sometimes, writers use clichés intentionally to create a certain
effect, such as humor, irony, or satire.

Some examples of common clichés in English and American literature are:

• Love at first sight

• The calm before the storm


• The straw that broke the camel’s back

• A diamond in the rough

• A needle in a haystack

• A wolf in sheep’s clothing

• All’s well that ends well

• Beauty is only skin deep

• Better late than never

• Don’t judge a book by its cover

[Link] (khoa trương, phóng đại, nói quá)


What is a Hyperbole?

+ Is someone who exaggerates an idea to its extreme. That idea should not be taken
literally by its viewers and its readers.

+ Opposite of the understatement.

Example: The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,

As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven

Would through the airy region stream so bright

That birds would sing and think it were not night.

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)


[Link] ( nói bóng gió )
An allusion is a literary device that adds meaning to your work by alluding or referring
to a person, place, or thing that’s considered common knowledge. This could be a
reference to a work of art or literature, a famous person, a popular location, a historic
event, a cultural norm, etc., that readers use to understand your implication.

Example: "At lovers’ perjuries,

They say Jove laughs".

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)


[Link] (Điềm báo trước)
What is Foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing has the author hinting, warnings, or giving clues about future events
through symbols, language, narration, or even through imagery.
Why?
Creates tension or suspense in the audience amore reveal leaves them wanting more
Example:“On December the third the wind changed overnight and it was winter.” “The
birds had been more restless than ever this fall of the year. Their agitation more
remarked because the days were still.”
(The Birds 1952 - Daphne du Maurier )
-
Câu 2: A BRIEF HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
1. English literature in edieval period:
1.1. Anglo-Norman period (11th – 13th centuries)
- The power of Catholic Church has become very great.
- 3 main languages: France (nobility), Latin (churchman), Anglo-Saxon
(common people).
- The literature of the Church was scholatic, moralizing and it supported the
feudal system.
- The Anglo-Saxon composed their own poetry.
- Genres: Fabiliaux, funny stories.
1.2. Pre-Renaissance (14th – 15th centuries)
- The English Nation was being formed; English became the spoken language
of the country -> English literature was born.
- Geoffrey Chaucer – the first poet who pave the way for English literature,
free the influence of the Church.
2. English literature in Renaissance
2.1. The Elizabethan age (the 16th century)
- The time of Renaissance and the Reformation in literature.
- The age of great playwrights (writers of plays)
- The climax of this period is William Shakespreare
2.2. The Puritan age (the 17th century)
- Began in 1626, the age of religious and political controversy Puritanism.
- The main figure of this age is John Milton (1608 – 1674). He was a blind
poet. His great poems are “Paradise lost”, “Paradise regained”.
2.3. The enlightment age (the 18th century)
- The gae of reason or enlightment, marked by the scientific and
technological evolution in England and France.
- Ratinalism prevailed and inluenced writers.
- 2 typical figures:
+ Daniel Defoe (1660 – 1731) a minister with Robinson Crusoe.
+ Jonathan Swift (1667 – 1745) with Gulliver’s travelers.
2.4. Romanticism (the late 18th century)
- In 1789 William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) with coleridge a book of
lyrical poetry “The Lyrical Ballad”.
- The pricipal of romanticism:
+ Ordinary life.
+ Written in the language of ordinary men and women.
+ Nature is the most suitable subject.
3. English literature in late 19th century and early 20th century (Victorian era
literature)
- In 1857, Queen Victoria ascended the throne, ushering the victorian age
with the quality and excellence of literature in poetry, prose, and novels.
- In the field of prose, the Representative is sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
Remembered as the creator of the English historican novel with Ivanhoe.
- The representative novelist of this age is CHARLES DICKENS (1812-1870)
with a lot of depictions of the working people in his novels. His most
popular books are:
+ THE PICKWICK PAPERS
+ DAVID COPPERFIELD OLIVER TWIST
+ THE CHRISTMAS BOOKS
4. English literature in 20th century and contemporary literature
- The English literature in the 20th century lays more emphasis on:
+ Realism and philosophy of life.
+ Social reflection: and showing life as it is.
+ Changes in life and thought which are brought about by the two world wars.
5. 2. Some typical figures:
+ H.G. WELLS (1866-1946) with THE TIME MACHINE.
+ SOMERSET MAUGHAM (1874-1965) with OF HUMAN BONDAGE.
+ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950): a playwright with MAN AND
SUPERMAN.
A brief history of America Literature
1. American Literature during Colonial Period and Revolutionary Period

- Time Period: Beginnings - 1750


- Native American Myths:
+Explain customs, institutions, or religious rites
+Natural landmarks
+ Events beyond people's control Puritans/Pilgrims/Separatists:
+Pilgrims, or Separatists, wanted to withdraw from the Church of England
+Puritans wanted to reform or "purify" the church from within; they wanted to create a
theocracy (government through God)
+Puritans' Central Beliefs Human beings exist for the glory of God and Bible is sole
expression of faith
+"Puritan Ethic thought they could accomplish good only through continual hard work
and self-discipline
+ Theocracy-state under the immediate guidance of God
Puritan Plain Style:
- Literature produced by Puritans as an extension of their religion Few literary devices
Simple, straightforward style Not intended to entertain Prayers. Psalms, Songs, Diaries,
Journals.
Great Awakening:
+ Early 1700s, Puritanism was in a decline
+In 1720, religious revivals, known as The Great Awakening, were led by ministers,
such as Jonathan Edwards
+This was done in hopes of reviving the Puritan ways and beliefs P+It did little to revive
old-fashioned Puritanism
Writers and Works of the Period:
A point of view brief-Puritanism Puritans wanted to purify the church to its original
state because they thought the churches were corrupted and had too many rituals.
+Native Americans: "The Earth on Turtle's Back, "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"
Explorers/Narrative Accounts:
+Christopher Columbus "Journal of the First Voyage to America"
+ William Bradford - "Of Plymouth Plantation"
Puritans:
+ Edward Taylor-"Huswifery" + Anne Bradstreet- "To My Dear and Loving Husband"
+ Jonathan Edwards - "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
+ The Crucible (written in the [Link] about Puritans)
Revolutionary period(1750-1850)
Setting the Scene:
• 1754 French and Indian WarFrench and British fight for control of Canada.
• Many of the colonist still considered themselves British (not American) therefore
there was a strong allegiance to England, not the respectivecolony.
The revolution:
• The American Colonist were angry because they hoped that America would be a land
of freedom and opportunity. They had labored hard and endured severe weather and
risked disease and starvation in order to build towns and farms.
• They had helped the British in the French and
• Indian War
• However, that war had put the British in debt and to raise money, they looked to the
Colonist.
 Some colonial political leaders refused to comply, yet Britain dissolved their
power.
 Then, in 1770, British troops fired on Boston.
 This event became known as the Boston Massacre.
American Puritanism
• Influence of Puritanism on American literature
The basis of American literature
• Widely used technique of symbolism
• Influencing the style of literature: simple, fresh and direct.
The Making of American Literature( 1800 - 1865)
Characteristics
 Influence of English romanticism, but search for truly American topics and
settings;
 Celebration of American landscapes and values; short story and novel are most
important; essay established as an American genre.
Cultural Context
 Stuggle for culture independence from Europe;
 Desire to define a nation identity of the U.S and to establish a national culture;
 Transcendentalism: romantic philosophy and mode of writing that values
intuition as a guide to what lies underneath the surfaces
Historical Context:
 Massive immigration and diversification;
 Westward expansion / "Frontier";
 Slavery, abolitionist movemet;
 1861 - 1865 : Civil War
Athur:
 Edgar Allan Poe ( poetry, short stories) ;
 Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Herman Melville, Moby Dick
 Walt Whitman ( free verse, democratic, national poet);
 Emily Dickinson (unconventional poetry)
3. Reconstructing the Past, Reimagining the Future The Development of
American Literature 1865–1900
a. Rebuilding a Nation
 South: devastation after the Civil War, struggle with Southern heritage and race
division;
 North: growing industrialization and urbanization; mass immigration; westward
expansion (completed in the 1890s); discussion of the position of African
Americans Women rights

b. REBUILDING A NATION

 The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in American history, with over 360,000
Union soldiers and 260,000 Confederates lost on the battlefield or in military
hospitals.
 Within a few decades after the war, the United States was assuming a new
prosperity and developing into an industrial giant, with over half the population
in the Eastern states living in towns and cities

4. Modern American Literature ( 1900 - 1945 )

a. CAUSES OF MODERNISM

 World War I

 Urbanization

 Industrialization

 Immigration

 Technological Evolution

 Growth of Modern Science

 Influence of Austrian Sigmund Freud (1856-1939 )

 Influence of German Karl Marx (1818-1883 )

b. THE SPIRIT OF MODERNIST LITERATURE

 Conviction that the previously sustaining structures of human life have been
destroyed or shown up as falsehoods or fantasies

=> Therefore, art had to be renovated.

 “Modern” implies a historical discontinuity, a sense of alienation, loss, and


despair.
 Poetry tended to provide pessimistic cultural criticism or loftily reject social
issues altogether.

 Writers exhibited a skeptical, apprehensive attitude toward pop culture;


 Writers criticized and deplored its manipulative commercialism

c. CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNIST

 A movement away from realism into abstractions

 A deliberate complexity, even to the point of elitism, forcing readers to be very


well-educated in order to read these works

 A high degree of aesthetic self-consciousness

 Questions of what constitutes the nature of being

 A breaking with tradition and conventional modes of form, bold, highly


innovative experimentation
 A variety in content , subjectivity was ever more valued and accepted in literature
 Along with the social realist and proletarian prose of the 1920s and 1930s came a
significant outpouring of political and protest poetry.

Câu 3: Tìm hiểu, phân tích tư tưởng sáng tác, tư tưởng thời đại, phong cách sáng
tác của đại văn hào William Shakepeare.
* William Shakespeare’s life and work:
- He was born on April 23, 1564, in small town of Stratford-upon-Avon.
- He was the son of a tradesman and studied at Stratford Grammar School, where Latin
and Greek were almost the only subject.
- It’s quite possible that Shakespeare saw some plays performed by such actors and was
impressed by them.
- When he was eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was twenty-six.
- It was a rushed marriage because Anne was already pregnant at that time of the
ceremony.
- Together they had three children.
- Their first daughter, Susanna, was born six months after the wedding and was later
followed by twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he was just 11 years old.
- 1594, He joined the Lord Chamberlain’s company of actors, the most popular of the
companies acting at Court.
- 1599, Shakespeare joined a group of Chamberlain’s Men that would form a syndicate
to build and operate a new house: The Globe
- Shakespeare is the author of 2 poems, 37 plays, and 154 sonnets. His creative work is
divided into 3 periods:
- The first period (1590-1600) was marked by the optimism so characteristic of all
humanist literature.
- The second period (1601-1608): The tragedies reflect the deep , unsolvable
contradictions of life, the falsehood, injustice and existing in society.
- The third period (1609-1612): He introduces romantic and fantastic elements, which
have a decisive role in his play.
- After 1612, Shakespeare retired from the stage and returned to his home in Stratford.
- He drew up his will in January of 1616, which included his famous bequest to his wife
of his “second best bed”.
- He died on April 23, 1616, and was buried two days later at Stratford Church.
- William Shakespeare’s early plays were written in the conventional style of the
day, with elaborate metaphors and rhetorical phrases that didn’t always align
naturally with the story’s plot or characters. However, Shakespeare was very
innovative, adapting the traditional style to his own purposes and creating a free
flow of words. With only small degrees of variation, Shakespeare primarily used a
metrical pattern consisting of lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter, or blank
verse, to compose his play. At the same time, there are passages in all the plays
that deviate from this and use forms of poetry or simple prose.
- Shakespeare's writing style:
+ "Blank verse", a form of pentagram without rhythm
+ Filled with figurative language and rhetoric - a steady rhythm style
+ "Iambic pentameter": technique of following an unstressed syllable with an
stressed syllable (called "iamb" or "iambic foot") five times on each line
("pentameter")
+ Include multiple plots in his works to represent all points of view of the same
story strengths of Shakespearean work is the creation of characters that show
different human motivations. Shakespeare's characters forged an interesting
bond with an audience.
- Shakespeare's writing style in "Romeo and Juliet":
• Dramatic action, varied.
• Build vivid, realistic characters.
• Unique dramatic language, massive vocabulary.
• ROMEO AND JULIET
1. Background
- Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, written in 1595.
- Romeo and Juliet is a play about love and passion between two young people. It also
tells the fate of two “star-crossed lovers” who eventually took their own lives because
of misunderstandings.
2. Scene 2 summary:
Ignoring the danger, Romeo climbs the Capulet wall to get closer to Juliet, the woman
he cannot forget... Unnoticed in Juliet's orchard, Romeo learns of Juliet's love for him.
After confessing their feelings to each other, the two decided to get married. Juliet will
send Romeo a messenger in the morning to plan their wedding...
Major characters:
A-ROMEO
- Romeo, in Romeo and Juliet, actually experienced pure and passionate love. However,
the power of Romeo's love often obscures a clear view of Romeo's character.
-Romeo's love gradually matures as the play progresses, from a shallow desire to be
loved to a deep and intense passion.
- Romeo is a man who lacks the ability to control himself.
B-JULIET
- Not yet fourteen years old, Juliet is at the age that stands on the boundary between
immaturity and maturity
- Juliet's first meeting with Romeo spurs her full strength towards adulthood. Although
she loves him deeply, Juliet is still able to see and criticize Romeo's rash decisions and
his tendency to romanticize everything.
- Juliet's development from a girl with big eyes into a confident, loyal and capable
woman is one of Shakespeare's first successes in portraying the character.
Question about: Romeo and Juliet
1. Is Romeo's relation to love simple? Why?
->Romeo's relation to love is not so simple. At the beginning of the play, Romeo pines
for Rosaline, proclaiming her the paragon of women and despairing at her indifference
towards him.
2. How does Juliet feel from Romeo's first kiss?
-> After first kissing Juliet, she tells him "You kiss by the book", meaning that he kisses
by the rules and implying that while proficient, his kissing lacks originality.
3. Analyze Romeo's love, anger, and despair as illustration of his lack of the capacity for
moderation.
-> Love compels him to sneak into the garden of his enemy's daughter, risking death
simply to catch a glimpse of her. Anger compels him to kill his wife's cousin in a
reckless duel to avenge the death of his friend. Despair compels him to suicide upon
hearing of Juliet's death. Such extreme behavior dominates Romeo's character
throughout the play and contributes to the ultimate tragedy that befalls the lovers. Had
Romeo restrained himself from killing Tybalt, or waited even a day before killing
himself after hearing of Juliet's death, everything could have ended happily.
4. Is Juliet determined, strong, and sober-minded in her earliest scenes? For
example?
-> Juliet glimpses her determination, strength, and sober-mindedness, in her earliest
scenes, and offers a preview of the woman she will become during the five-day span of
Romeo and Juliet
5. Give an example of how Juliet's first meeting with Romeo propels her full-force
toward adulthood.
-> Juliet's first meeting with Romeo propels her full-force toward adulthood. Though
profoundly in love with him, Juliet is able to see and criticize Romeo's rash decisions
and his tendency to romanticize things.
[Link], MOTIFS, SYMBOLS
Key themes in "Romeo and Juliet"
Love: is a recurring theme in Romeo and Juliet.
It is shown in many different aspects and in many types: courtly, physical, passionate,
spiritual, platonic.
Hate: is a prominent theme throughout the play of Romeo and Juliet but are always
connected with passion.
Authority: Builds the theme of authority by showing how each character wields his or
her power over others. Authority of parents, of the law, of the Prince, of society
Fate: plays a powerful role against Romeo and Juliet’s relationship - how we are not
always or fully in control of our own lives.
Youth and age: The folly of youth and the wisdom of adulthood.
Violence: Due to the on going feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, violence
permeates the world of Romeo and Juliet.
Motifs
Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop
and inform the text's major themes.
Symbols
Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or
concepts.
Poison In his first appearance, in Act II, scene II, Friar Lawrence remarks that every
plant, herb, and stone has its own special properties, and that nothing exists in nature
that cannot be put to both good and bad uses. Thus, poison is not intrinsically evil, but
is instead a natural substance made lethal by human hands.
Thumb-biting
In Act I, scene I, the buffoonish Samson begins a brawl between the Montagues and
Capulets by flicking his thumbnail from behind his upper teeth, an insulting gesture
known as biting the thumb.
Queen Mab
In Act I, scene lV, Mercutio delivers a dazzling speech about the fairy Queen Mab, who
rides through the night on her tiny wagon bringing dreams to sleepers.
1. When Juliet appears on her balcony, what does Romeo compare her to? Is his
imagination suitable with the scene of the orchard at night?
Romeo uses a metaphor to compare Juliet to the sun. Romeo then compares her eyes to
two absent stars in the sky.
Comparing Juliet to the sun makes her radiant and bright. Romeo, as the moon, is dark
and only shines because of the light of the sun, implying that Romeo needs Juliet to
function.
2. Unaware of his presence, what does Juliet ask Romeo to say? What is her
desperate wish and desire? Why?
Juliet asks that Romeo would deny his father and "refuse thy name." Juliet is lamenting
over the fact that Romeo is a Montague.
Juliet wishes that it was night because she wants to consummate her marriage with
Romeo and in the night she can do so, which makes the night seem good and the light or
daytime bad because it is preventing Juliet from being with Romeo.
3. In a sentence or two, explain what Juliet says about names.
Juliet is expressing that it does not matter what a person's name is, a rose would still be
a sweet smelling flower if it were called by another name. She is comparing Romeo to a
rose and states that it is just a name and not the person within.
4. What are in Juliet's thought the barriers to the lovers? What does she think
about that?
Juliet's chief concern has to do with Romeo's family, which is the sworn enemy of the
Capulets. She is well aware that her parents and relatives would not approve of her
marrying a Montague and recognizes the feud as a significant obstacle standing in their
way of publicly revealing their love
5. Juliet asks how Romeo got into her place. The orchard walls are high, and
Romeo's life would be in danger if her relatives were to find him there. What is
Romeo's response to these questions?
Romeo states that he flew on "love's wings" meaning it was love that allowed him to
leap over the orchard walls. He also states that love will protect him from her kinsmen
because "with love, a man can do anything."
[Link] is Juliet embarrassed?
Because Romeo hid in the darkness and confessed his feelings to Juliet.
[Link] strong is Romeo's love for Juliet?
The meeting made the two people develop feelings. When they learned about the
hatred between the two families, their love grew stronger. Although they were
prevented, with a beautiful heart, the two people overcame all the difficulties. prevent
and come together as a living truth of life. Love has grown and it overcomes everyone's
barriers and chains.
[Link] the image of stone wall in the scene?
Always haunted by constant fear, she is always reminded of the feud between two great
families, the embodiment of that worry is the stone wall.
The stone wall protects the family from the intrusion of those with nefarious intentions,
is a separation in love, a barrier, a deep hatred of the two families, it is also a symbol of
anxiety. Juliet's confession about Romeo's love.
Romeo's thoughts were much more open and gentle, immediately affirming that he was
willing to give up his family name to erase the feud.
Eliminate all of Juliet's worries about his love by firmly affirming his strong love for her.
The silhouette of the wall becomes a lever, a formal formula for Romeo's love.
[Link] the motifs of light & dark, stars and names used in this scene?
Light and stars are all used to express Juliet's beauty.
Light is also hope for the beautiful love of Romeo and Juliet.
My shadow is both the darkness and the dark conflict of two families.
Names used: thy= your; thou, thee= you,
[Link] your own comments and comparison between their love and love of the
youngsters in the modern time?
The desire for eternal and immortal love is always the dream of everyone, but not
everyone dares to stand up and fight for that love. Analyzing the characters of Romeo
and Juliet, we realize that only when love is fought and tested does it deserve to be
respected. The two characters Romeo and Juliet are two immortal citadels of the image
of love in the old society.
Through this, I can see that Romeo and Juliet's love is sincere and lasting, overcoming
all social barriers. Modern love is not like that. Love is no longer simply love, but also
for a purpose, for personal or pragmatic benefit. Love comes easily and goes easily, no
longer deeply intense.
11. Shakespeare’s Sonnets
- The sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines divided into two quatrains and two tercels
( Italian sonnet) or into three quatrains and a final couplet ( English sonnet). The so-
called Shakespearean sonnet has the following rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef,... The
sonnet was brought to England at the beginning of the 16th century; The English poets
– humanists Thomas Wyatt, Philip Sydney, and Edmund Spenser made it very popular
with the British public. Thousands of sonnets were written and published during the
1590s. In those years the poets considered Love to be the only suitable theme for the
sonnets.
- His sonnets are real dramas in miniature because they are no less deep in thought and
feeling than his plays are. They are all builts on contrast which reflects the struggle of
conflicting emotions in the poet’s soul. All his sonnets are full of feeling, of philosophical
meditations on life.
- He believes that Beauty and Life are able to conquer Death, because they continue to
live in new generations and in the works of Art. Shakespeare considers the Poet and his
Poetry to play an important role in making people understand life.
- Shakespeare’s sonnets are valued because of their wealth of thought, varity of themes
and beauty of the language. The style of the sonnet is rich metaphors, similes abd other
devives.
* William Wordsworth life and work:
1. Biography
- April 7, 1770: William Wordsworth was born in the Lake District of Northern
England.
- 1778: His mother passed away. 1783: His father followed his mother
- 1790: he got a degree at St John’s College, Cambridge.
- 1791: he went on a walking tour of France and the Alps; he was fascinated by the
democratic ideals of Revolutionary France.
- 1792: he had a daughter, Caroline, from a French aristocratic woman, Caroline.
- 1795: William inherited some money from a friend. He also moved to Somerset with
his sister Dorothy. Dorothy was a poet, too, and wrote many diaries. She was said to
have a great influence on William’s writing.
- 1797-1799: living with his sister Dorothy, with his friend, Coleridge, write Lyrical
Ballads.
- He got married with a childhood friend, Mary Hutchinson, and had five children.

2. Main work
- Wordsworth was a well-known romantic poet with many lyric poems. Almost works
described the poet's love of nature and revolve around themes of death, endurance,
separation and grief. He gave prominence to emotion in poetry. He said: “the poetry as
the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”.
- 1798-1800: Ballads an important work in the English Romantic movement. The
second edition was published in 1800.

- 1807: His Poems in Two Volumes were published, including "Ode: Intimations of
Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood".

- 1850: His widow Mary published his lengthy autobiographical "poem to Coleridge" as
The Prelude several months after his death. Then it was recognized as his masterpiece.
3. His poetry

- William Wordsworth was an English poet known for his lengthy and deeply personal
poems.

- His most famous poem, "The Prelude," is an autobiographical poem that covers many
aspects of his life.

- His poetry is often deeply personal and reflective, exploring themes such as loss,
memory, and the importance of imagination and creativity in life.

- He was an important figure in the development of the romantic tradition in English


literature.

- His poetry is characterized by its length and depth of feeling and uses vivid language
to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

- He was a champion of the "common man" and his poetry has had a significant
influence on the development of English romanticism and the poetry of his era.

4. Daffodils

“I wandered lonely as a cloud”

Simile: “lonely as a cloud" compares the speaker's state to that of a cloud, using the
word "as" for comparison

“That floats on high o'er vales and hills,”

Personification: the cloud is given the ability to float, which is a human characteristic.

“When all at once I saw a crowd”

Metaphor: "crowd" is used to describe the large number of daffodils, creating a vivid
image of the flowers.

“A host, of golden daffodils;”

Metaphor: the daffodils are metaphorically compared to a host, emphasizing their


abundance and beauty.

"Beside the lake, beneath the trees,"

Alliteration: the repetitive "b" sound in "beside," "beneath," and "trees" creates a
musical effect.
"Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."

Personification: the daffodils are given the ability to flutter and dance, enhancing their
liveliness.

=> Overall, in this first essay, the speaker's initial loneliness is contrasted with the
sudden encounter of the golden daffodils, bringing a sense of beauty and life into their
surroundings. The essay invites the reader to appreciate the power of nature to
transform and uplift the human spirit.

"Continuous as the stars that shine."

Simile: the daffodils are compared to the continuous shine of the stars, using the word
"as" for comparison.

“And twinkle on the milky way,”

Metaphor: the twinkling of the stars is compared to their reflection on the Milky Way

"They stretched in never-ending line."

Hyperbole: the line illustrates the extent of the daffodils' presence, emphasizing their
seemingly infinite number.

"Along the margin of a bay:"

Imagery: the phrase creates a vivid image of the daffodils bordering the edge of a bay,
enhancing the visual description.

"Ten thousand saw I at a glance,"

Hyperbole: an exaggeration of the number of daffodils seen in a single look.

"Tossing their heads in sprightly dance."

Personification: the daffodils are personified as they are described as tossing

=> In this second essay, the speaker continues to convey the transformative power of
nature. The abundance and liveliness of the daffodils astound and uplift the speaker,
reinforcing the idea that nature can inspire and bring joy to the human spirit.

"The waves beside them danced; but they."

Personification: the waves and the daffodils are given the ability to dance, creating an
animated scene.
“Out-did the sparkling waves in glee."

Hyperbole: the daffodils are described to have surpassed the sparkling waves in terms
of joy, emphasizing their radiance.

"A poet could not but be gay,"

Allusion: the line alludes to the idea that a poet cannot help but feel happy when
witnessing such beauty.

"In such a jocund company."

Personification: the daffodils are treated as a cheerful and playful group, referred to as
"jocund company."

"I gazed—and gazed—but little thought."

Repetition: the repetition of the word "gazed" emphasizes the speaker's intense focus
on the daffodils.

"What wealth the show to me had brought"

Metaphor: the daffodils are metaphorically perceived as valuable wealth.

=> In this third essay, the speaker expresses the overwhelming happiness and delight
experienced in the presence of the daffodils. The essay reflects on the profound impact
that nature can have on an individual's emotional well-being and the importance of
appreciating the simple and joyful moments that it offers.

"For oft, when on my couch I lie"

Repetition: the repetition of the phrase "when on my couch I lie" creates a rhythmic
effect.

"In vacant or in pensive mood,"

Juxtaposition: the combination of "vacant" and "pensive" mood creates a contrast


between emptiness and deep thought.

"They flash upon that inward eye"

Metaphor: the daffodils are metaphorically depicted as a striking image in the


speaker's mind.

"Which is the bliss of solitude;"


Metaphor: the bliss of solitude is represented by the inward image of the daffodils.

"And then my heart with pleasure fills,"

Repetition: the repetition of the word "fills" creates emphasis on the joyous reaction of
the heart.

"And dances with the daffodils."

Personification: the heart is personified as it is described as dancing along with the


daffodils.

=> This essay ultimately illustrates the power of memory and the enduring impact of
nature on the human spirit. The daffodils serve as a source of inspiration and solace,
capable of bringing joy even in moments of solitude and reflection. The speaker's
experience suggests that the transformative influence of nature can persist in one's
consciousness and enhance one's emotional well-being long after the initial encounter.

Oscar wilde life and work


1. The author biography (life and work)

a, Wilde's life

*Oscar Wilde ( 1854 – 1900) was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic
and a prominent figure in London in the late 19th century.

* Oscar's mother, Lady Jane Francesca Wilde (1820-1896), was a successful poet and
journalist. She wrote patriotic Irish verse under the pseudonym "Speranza".

*Oscar's father, Sir William Wilde (1815 - 1876), was a leading ear and eye surgeon, a
renowned philanthropist and gifted writer, who wrote books on archaeology and
folklore

b, Wilde's career

-Wilde attended Trinity College in Dublin and Magdalen College in Oxford. While at
Oxford, Wilde became interested in aesthetics, art. After he graduated, he moved to
Chelsea in London (1879) to establish a literary career.

-In 1881, he published his first collection of poetry. Wilde also contributed many
articles to the Pall Mall Gazette, wrote fairy tales and published the novel 'The Picture
of Dorian Gray' in 1891. Wilde's greatest talent, however, was writing plays. He
produced a series of extremely popular plays such as 'Lady Windermere's Fan' in 1892,
'An Ideal Husband' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in 1895. 'Salomé' was
performed in Paris in 1896.

-In 1884 he married Constance Lloyd and they had two sons, but in 1891 he began a
homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas (nicknamed Bosie). In April 1895,
Wilde sued Bosie's father (Marquis of Queensberry) for insulting him after he accused
Wilde of being gay. Wilde lost the case and was arrested

-Upon his release in 1897, He spent the rest of his life in Europe, publishing his poetic
work 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' in 1898. On November 30, 1900, Oscar Wilde died in
Paris.

2. Oscar Wilde and his Realism

- Wilde is well known for his critiques of realism, which emphasize art over life, masks
and lies over truth, surface over substance. An important and unremarked aspect of
these critiques is a tendency to invoke comparisons of English and French aesthetics. In
his most extended critical treatment of English aesthetic productions, “The Soul of Man
under Socialism,” English reading practices are compared with English habits of
consumption and production; the world of capitalism absorbs the aesthetic so that the
latter looks like a form of producing or consuming.

- In both “The Soul of Man under Socialism” and “The Critic as Artist,” Wilde holds up
French aesthetic culture as a counter-example to this distinctly English problem. The
terms of this comparison are nationalized versions of oppositions found in aestheticism
more generally, between the artistic and the mechanical, the original and the mass-
produced. While the English impose upon artists standardized criteria of professional
writing, the French protect the artist’s unique powers of individual expression from the
commercial world.
- The general terms of Wilde’s critique underwrite a more specific claim, that French
and English readers occupy different relationships to novelistic realism. Throughout
both his critical and literary texts, Wilde puts forward the idea that the English possess
a taste for social realism chronicling the quotidian habits of the working and middle
classes.
3. A brief introduction of "The picture of Dorian Gray"
a. Story content
- The story revolves around a portrait of Dorian Gray painted by Basil Hallward, a
friend of Dorian's and an artist infatuated with Dorian's beauty. Through Basil, Dorian
meets Lord Henry Wotton and is soon enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic
worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in
life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell
his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is
granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied amoral experiences while staying
young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and visually records every one of
Dorian's sins.
b. Message from the novel
- The picture of Dorian Gray is a young man's journey to find his conscience. This is a
journey of emotions: torn mind, sliding through cruel torments, struggling, facing
intense temptations to find beauty and goodness. Dorian's journey is also a question for
the reader to wonder and [Link] is also the message that Oscar Wilde sends to his
readers in this novel.
c. The fairy tale "The Happy Prince
- "The Happy Prince" was published in 1888 in the book The Happy Prince and Other
Tales, a collection of fairy tales for children. However, ''The Happy Prince'' can be
considered an allegory, which is a story that has a moral and political meaning. The
following sections will summarize and analyze ''The Happy Prince,'' discussing the
themes in the short story.
d. Analysis of "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde
- 'The Happy Prince'' is ironic as it is a story about a Prince who is more sad than happy.
His childhood could be considered a period of blissful ignorance as he was kept away
from reality. Only after he dies as a statue does the Prince achieve happiness in heaven.
The moral of the story is that true happiness comes from leading a good and just
life, even if that is a life where one must feel sadness through being
compassionate and making material sacrifices. The reader could interpret that the
Prince is happy in the true love the Prince and the bird have for each other, even during
times of sorrow.
e. Literary Elements
- Genre: fairytale
Setting: the unnamed city with scenes of classical Europe during the middle age,
possibly London
Point of view and Narrator: a third-person narrator
Tone and Mood: sincerity and comedy with the central tragedy
Style: conversational with vivid descriptions
Protagonist and Antagonist: protagonists are the prince and the swallow while the
story doesn't have a main antagonist, this role takes the society
Major conflict: when the prince was aware that he was dead and he knew he couldn't
do anything to help the people in need.
Climax: the climax of the story is when the swallow dies and the prince's heart breaks
Ending: the happy prince and swallow sacrifice their lives to help the poor.
f. Themes in "The Happy Prince"
- A theme in literature is a recurring idea or topic in a story that also contains the
author's views or thoughts about the subject matter.
Although a comparatively short story, ''The Happy Prince'' has many themes: judging
others, poverty versus wealth, greed, religion, sacrifice, love, and compassion. The
following will elaborate on these universal themes with specific examples from the
story.
g. Literary Devices
- Wilde’s use of literary devices in The Happy Prince is masterful.
- The anthropomorphization of the prince and the swallow allows for a deeper
emotional connection with the reader.
- The imagery of the precious stones and gold leaf creates a vivid and opulent backdrop
against which the story’s themes and motifs play out.
- The personification of the town and the weather adds to the story’s fairytale-like
quality, while the repetition of phrases such as “the winter has come” adds to the
story’s emotional weight.
h. Character
- The first protagonist in The Happy Prince is the statue of a prince who despite his
regal appearance is deeply unhappy and unfulfilled until he discovered the joy of
selfless service.
- The second protagonist of the story is the Swallow, a bird who wants to join his
companions in the sunny land of Egypt, but has delayed his trip due to his love for a
Reed.
i. The conclusion
- The conclusion of “The Happy Prince” shows the Sparrow and the prince transported
to heaven. God calls them the “most precious” objects in the city because of their good
deeds. They will spend eternity in paradise.
W.S Maugham's and “Of Human Bondage"
1. W.S Maugham's life
- Born is Paris, France & died in Nice, France
+ Mother died when he was eight
+ Father died when he was ten
=> Living with his uncle, a clergyman
→ Inspiriration for his masterpiece: of human bondge
Studied medicine in Germany and became a qualified physician
- But writing was his true vocation

Maugham met Brooks in 1890(based Hayward in " of Human Bondge" on Brooks)


- They left England to Carpi & lived there for fear of prosecution
+ After Oscar Wilde's trial.
• Avoidance of homosexual themes & gay characters in his works:
+ Moral terror of Oscar Wilde trial
+ Reputation as a gay man would have ruined his chances of continued success.
2. W.S Maugham's work:
- Significant works
+ Wrote 24 plays, 11 novels & a large number of short stories.
- A primary writer of short story & novel characterized by narrative facility simplicity
of style.
- Liza of Lambeth's - The book created a great deal controversy as it dealt with Liza, a
fun-loving factory worker, and her affair with Jim, a married man.
- Lady Freder - a comedy about money and marriage The moon and sixpence.
+ The moon and sixpence.
+ Of Human Bondage
3. William Somerset Maugham and Realism period
Realism Period Background: late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a period of
significant social, political, and technological changes
Literary Realism: aimed to depict ordinary life, often focusing on the middle and lower
classes rather than the aristocracy
William Somerset Maugham: (1874–1965) was a British playwright, novelist, and
short-story writer.
-He came of age during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, which were marked by
the dominance of Realism in literature.
-Typical works: "Of Human Bondage" (1915) and short stories like "Rain" (1921),
reflected the themes and characteristics of Realism.
Realism in Maugham's Works: stories were known for their keen observations of
human nature, detailed character development, and exploration of psychological
complexities
Influence and Legacy:
- Maugham's work was part of the broader literary movement that encompassed
Realism and its variants.
- His writings contributed to the portrayal of real-life situations, motivations, and
challenges faced by individuals in a changing world

=> In conclusion, William Somerset Maugham and the Realism period of the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were inextricably linked owing to the
literary and sociological setting of the time. Maugham's works reflected the Realist
approach of depicting life as it truly was, focusing on the complexities of human
experience during a period marked by profound social and technological changes.

3. A brife review of "Of Human Bondage"


- Of Human Bondage: novel by W. Somerset Maugham, published in 1915 and
considered his masterwork
Summary of the novel:
"This is a simple story about the life of a person, from being an orphaned child with
disabilities and insecurities, to becoming a mature man who finds inner peace. We can
see the shadow of youth in this story, with dreams, naivety, and being lost in the search
for a place to belong. A long journey has shaped the character of this person, building
their life. Perhaps through experiencing various lifetimes, expressing the raw pain
when one must surrender to fate, and knowing how to let go of things that do not
belong to them, happiness will come. "Of Human Bondage" shows us a microcosm of
society, with both good and bad people, and plenty of injustice, but also not lacking in
happiness. The core lies in attitude, choices, and resilience, which determine each
individual, The book is based on the author's own life, so it is not surprising that it can
touch the deepest corners of the reader's heart."
Greatest novel of the all a masterpiece
- Is considered to have many autobiographical elements:
+ Maughan gave Philip Carey a club foot (rather than his stammer)
+ The vicar of Back table appears derived from the vicar of Whist able
+ Carey is medic
Implication of the story:
- Philip's fate is also and the one many your people in the word.
+ The cruelty of human life
+ Pursuit of a passion: moving to Paris to learn approfciaty art the value of life and the
beauty of nature.
+ Pursuit of love
- Madly falling in love with a person certainly known to be lower than him, then
trapping himself is her bondage.
4. Overview of the work:
-"Of Human Bondage' was first published in 1915 and is one of Maugham's most
renowned works
-The novel tells the story of Philip Carey, a young man with a debilitating foot
deformity, who struggles to find meaning in life and love.
- The work explores themes such as love, personal freedom, suffering, and spiritual
liberation.
II. Main characters:
- Philip Carey: The protagonist, a young man with a physical disability, dreams of
becoming a painter and later pursues a career in medicine.
- Mildred Rogers: A callous and indifferent woman, she becomes Philip's unrequited
love interest.
Sally Athelny: A cheerful and innocent woman who becomes Philip's reliable friend.
III. Key themes:
1. Love and suffering: The novel delves into the various facets of love and the suffering
it can entail.
2. Personal freedom: Philip seeks personal freedom and explores the limitations and
constraints imposed on him by society.
3. Spiritual liberation: The work also touches upon spiritual freedom and the search for
meaning in life.
IV. Writing style:
- Maugham employs sharp language and subtle descriptions to depict the lives and
psyches of the characters.
- He also employs non-linear storytelling and time jumps to create intrigue and
complexity in the narrative.
Of Human Bondage has achieved great success and is highly acclaimed for the following
reasons:
1. Multidimensional characters: The main character, Philip Carey, is intricately and
complexly developed. Maugham portrays Philip's growth from a dreamy youth to a
mature individual with rich experiences, while delving into his psychology and inner
turmoil.
2. Vivid imagery: Maugham uses vivid and precise descriptive language to recreate
landscapes and evoke vivid imagery in the readers' minds. This enhances the reading
experience and makes the story engaging and lifelike.
3. Exploration of profound themes: 'Of Human Bondage' explores a range of
profound themes such as love, human emotions, the meaning of life, and spiritual
freedom. The novel raises questions about the meaning of existence and the search for
life's purpose, prompting readers to contemplate fundamental aspects of humanity.
4. Skillful writing techniques: Maugham employs skillful writing techniques, such as
non-linear storytelling and time jumps. This creates intrigue and complexity in the
narrative, captivating readers and keeping them engrossed in the book.
In conclusion, 'Of Human Bondage' is a famous and worthwhile novel by William
Somerset Maugham. It not only explores profound aspects of love and personal
freedom but also creates multidimensional characters and vivid portrayals. Through
his sophisticated and incisive writing, Maugham imparts messages and reflections
about life and humanity."
William Sydney Porter
1. Auther biography
- William Sydney Porter (11/9/1862 – 5/6/1910), better known by his pen name O.
Henry, was an American writer known primarily for his short stories, though he also
wrote poetry and non-fiction.
- 1877: O. Henry left school to work at his uncle's pharmacy. In five years in this tedious
and monotonous job, [Link] has read many books
- 1882: discovering symptoms of tuberculosis, O. Henry went to live on a sheep farm in
Texas for two years, hoping that the country's climate would help restore his health.
- 1884: [Link] arrived in Austin, Texas, where he wrote his first short stories and
jokes that were published in Southwest newspapers and magazines
- 1896: convicted of embezzlement of bark money lost his job at the bank and was
charged with a criminal offence
- 1898-1901: O. Henry worked as a paramedic for the prison hospital and wrote short
stories under the pseudonym. [Link] because of his good character, spent just over
three years in prison.

- 1902: [Link] moved to New York, probably in New York, making a living by
composing, writing short stories published in newspapers and magazines, he became
famous quickly and received good royalties
2. Stories
- His works include "The Gift of the Magi", "The Duplicity of Hargraves", and "The
Ransom of Red Chief", the most famous of which is "The Last Leaf". Porter's stories are
known for their naturalist observations, witty narration, and surprise endings.

- Story writing style:


+ His writing is vivid and he is good at using irony, metaphor, metonymy, and
exaggeration to make the story fun. He is a master of surprising endings, and he usually
designs story plots dramatically and makes some unexpected changes at the end.
Another writing style of his novel is tearful smile, a combination of comedy and
tragedy.
+ In a word, O. Henry's typical writing style can be concluded as follows: humorous
language, surprising endings, and tearful smile.
II. The last leaf
1. Figures of speech
Personification:
 A variety of figurative or metaphorical language in which things or ideas are
treated as if they were human beings, with human attributes and feelings is called
personification. In the very first line of this story, The Last Leaf, streets are
personified by the writer but these streets symbolize human passions and
relationships. "The streets run crazy and broken themselves into small strips
called 'places."
 Pneumonia is a serious kind of disease and may become the cause of death.
Johnsy falls ill due to the prey of pneumonia while Behrman dies of it. "Mr.
Pneumonia was not what you would call a chivalric old gentleman."
Metaphor: These deal with the relatedness of one thing to other with direct or indirect
reference. Simile is the relatedness by 'as' or 'like'. But metaphor is direct relation of
one thing to the other on behalf of some quality.
 "Johnsy was lying white and still as a fallen statue."
 "Behrman had a Michael Angelo's Moses beard curling down from the head of a
satyr along the body of an imp."
Comparison: It is a technique used by O' Henry to explain things through contrast and
comparison. It is based on the quality or quantity of something. Art and literature are
very close to each other but the writer compares them on the level of their functions.
"Young artists must pave their way to art by drawing pictures for magazine stories that
young authors write to pave their way to literature."
Symbolism:
 This story also does have the devices of symbolism and imagery. Leaf deals with
life, nutrition and growth as well. The symbol of shoes and icy cold is also used in
this story. Shoes are the symbol of oppression, tyranny and death as well. The
writer uses this symbol to show the death of Mr. Behrman. "His soes and clothing
were wet through the icy cold."
 Imagery is also very close to symbolism but it appeals to senses and feelings.
There is a lot of colour imagery in this story. "I have something to tell you, white
mouse."
 The white colour presents innocence and purity. "Johnsy was contentedly
knitting a very blue and very useless woolen shoulder scarf."
2. Sumerrize
Sue goes to visit their downstairs neighbor, an old, alcoholic, and unsuccessful artist
named Behrman who earns a small income posing as a model for artists in Greenwich
Village. Behrman, who has tried and failed his whole life to paint a masterpiece, is
fiercely protectiveof Sue and Johnsy. When Sue tells Behrman about Johnsy's fixation
on the last leaf, he is contemptuous of what he calls her "foolishness," but he agrees to
come up to their studio to pose for Sue's illustration. While Johnsy sleeps, Sue and
Behrman look solemnly at the ivy vine, and then Sue begins her work. After decades of
failure, Behrman is still trying to paint his "masterpiece." He is initially harsh to Sue,
deriding Johnsy's "foolishness" for thinking that leaves could affect her health: like Sue,
he points out that the falling of the leaves has nothing to do with whether or not Johnsy
will recover. But his willingness to come upstairs and pose, as well as his obvious
concern for Johnsy's welfare, prove that he cares deeply about his upstairs neighbors.
In this way, O. Henry suggests that underneath Behrman's gruff exterior-the product of
a long, hard life of social alienation, economic struggle, and creative disappointment-he
still can connect with others. The significance of his long, solemn look at the ivy vine is
only revealed later. perhaps Behrman had decided then to paint the illusion of a leaf on
the wall outside her window. There is a violent storm during the night. But in the
morning, when Sue pulls up the shade covering their window, the last leaf is still
clinging tenaciously to the vine. Johnsy was sure that it would have fallen during the
night, but she says that it will fall today instead, and when it does she will go, too. Sue
begs her to reconsider, but Johnsy is silent. The narrator notes how lonely it is to face
death, and says that this depression possessed Johnsy increasingly as "one by one the
ties that bound her to friendship and earth were loosed." When the last leaf (which has
been painted onto the wall by Behrman) survives the night's storm, Johnsy is surprised
but states that it will surely fall during the day, a glum prediction that demonstrates her
continuing depression. Even in the face of Sue's pleas, Johnsy is still convinced that the
pneumonia will kill her, and seems determined to sever herself from human connection
as a way of preparing for death. Paradoxically, this shows the strength of Johnsy's
attachment to Sue: her attempts to dissolve the bonds of friendship before dying
suggest that it is human intimacy that "binds" people to life. After another night of wind
and rain fails to shake the last leaf from the vine, Johnsy sits up and asks for soup and a
mirror, remarking that "something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how
wicked I was... it is a sin to want to die." A little later, Johnsy mentions her ambition to
paint the Bay of Naples. The doctor visits and gives Johnsy a good prognosis ("even
chances"), predicting that she will recover. Johnsy finally sees the error of her ways: if
the leaf that she had imagined as a symbol of her coming death can survive, then she
can, too. Her statement that "it is a sin to want to die" has religious implications,
suggesting that she may have found faith again along with hope. Her request for food
and a mirror as well as her statement that she hopes to paint the Bay of Naples
demonstrate that her hope has returned along with her health. The doctor's assessment
of her vastly improved odds of survival "even chances," wheassessment of her vastly
improved odds of survival-"even chances," when before it was "one in ten"-links her
improved medical prognosis to the redemptive hope given to her by the last leaf. This
underscores one of the story's central messages: that hope and life are inextricably
intertwined. The doctor tells the woman that he has to visit another patient-Behrman
has caught pneumonia and needs to be taken to the hospital. The next day, Sue tells
Johnsy that Behrman has died. The janitor found him sick in his room dressed in cold,
wet clothes as though he'd been out in the storm. In his room, Behrman had a ladder
and painting materials, which reveals that he had stayed out all night, painting the
image of a leaf onto the wall so that Johnsy would think the last leaf had survived the
storm. Finally, Sue remarks, that Behrman has painted his masterpiece.
3. Setting
"The Last Leaf" takes place in Greenwich Village, a bohemian neighborhood in New
York
City, sometime in the early 20th century. The story centers on Sue and Johnsy, two
young
women artists who share a studio at the top of a run-down apartment building. When
winter comes, Johnsy becomes grievously ill with a case of pneumonia. The doctor who
visits them predicts that Johnsy won't have much chance of survival if she doesn't find
the will to live, since his medicines have little effect on a patient who has decided that
she's going to die. When the doctor asks if Johnsy is depressed about something in
particular, Sue mentions Johnsy's unfulfilled ambition to paint the Bay of Naples, but
the doctor is dismissive and asks if Johnsy is troubled over a man.
An increasingly fatalistic Johnsy becomes obsessed with the leaves falling from a vine
outside her window. After the last leaf falls, she tells Sue, she will die. Sue works on an
illustration for a magazine (which she plans to sell to buy more food for Johnsy) and
tries unsuccessfully to convince Johnsy that she has something to live for. Sue goes to
visit their downstairs neighbor, Behrman-an old, unsuccessful artist who, after decades
of failure, still hopes to paint his "masterpiece." When he hears about Johnsy's illness
and her obsession with the leaves outside her window, he is initially contemptuous of
the idea that leaves could have anything to do with Johnsy's health. Ultimately,
however, Behrman stays out all night in a violent storm to paint a realistic-looking leaf
onto the wall outside Sue and Johnsy's window. Seeing that the "last leaf-which is in
fact Behrman's painting has seemingly survived the storm two nights in a row, Johnsy
takes hope and begins to recover. However, Behrman catches pneumonia from
exposure to the rain and cold, and dies a few days later. When Sue tells Johnsy this, she
remarks that Behrman had finally painted his "masterpiece."
4. Characters
Johnsy:
 Bad pneumonia, penniless, tired of live.
 Depressed, hopeless, she doesn't believe in her life anymore.
 She was fragile, lack of energy, foolish and pitiful.
➤ After the rain
 Johnsy asked for food and a looking-glass, hoped to paint the Bay of Naples.
 Love life, love art again.
 Johnsy has overcome death
Sue:
 Worried to see the small number of leaves left on the wall.
 What would she do after Johnsy gone?
 Encouraging, taking care of john very enthusiastically and thoughtfully.
Behrman:
 Looked out the window fearfully at the tree.
 Looked at Sue for a moment without speaking.
 He was thinking about drawing the last leaf to save Johnsy.
 He was a noble-minded person, he just did it quietly, even Sue didn't know his
attention.
Doctor:
 A minor character in the story
 But he has an important role in Johnsy's recovery from pneumonia.
 He encourages Sue to take care of Johnsy and to make her think positively.
 He advises Sue to guide Johnsy towards positivity and bring her back to life.
5. Themes
Hope and Hopelessness:
 The main theme of the story is hope. The author aims to highlight how important
it is for a person to have willpower and hope. Johnsy is provided with new hope
when she sees that the leaf that is supposed to decide her fate is not falling. This
shows that even a small act can light the lamp of hope in a person's heart.
Sacrifice:
 Another main theme of the story is sacrifice. Behrman sacrifices his own life in
order to give some hope to Johnsy. He is aware that Johnsy thinks when the last
leaf falls, she will die. So, he sacrifices his own life to paint the last masterpiece of
his life. The ivy leaf on the tree was painted by him so that Johnsy could live her
life and have hope.
6. Plot
➤ Exposition:
 Sue and Johnsy shared a flat on the third storey of an old house. But in the month
of November, Sue's friend Johnsy got Pneumonia
➤ Rising action
 Johnsy thought that she would die when the last ivy leaf fell. Then Sue told
Behrman about Johnsy's problem.
Climax: Johnsy learnt s lesson from the last leaf that it is sin to want to die. ➤ Falling
action: The doctor told Sue that Johnsy would recover but Behrman Got Pneumonia,
and there was no hope for him.
➤ Resolution: Sue told Johnsy that Behrman had sacrificed his life for the sake of her.
7. Style
 "The Last Leaf" is written in the naturalistic style, which emphasized social
conditions as the primary influence on human behavior, and strove to depict
those environments with a degree of realism. Naturalistic fiction often depicts
characters overcome by forces outside themselves. In "The Last Leaf," O. Henry
uses personification as a key stylistic element in expressing the relationship
between his characters and pneumonia, the most poignant outside threat to their
safety. The figure of "Mr. Pneumonia" is invested with tremendous power, he is
described at the story's inception:
 "In November, a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia,
stalked about the colony, touching one here and there with his icy finger."
8. Point of view
Most of O. Henry's stories were set in his own time, the early years of the 20th century.
Critical analysis of his stories often focused on his strong sense of place and how he
portrayed realistic details and evoked the atmosphere of his chosen settings. Many of
the sights of New York City and the local hangouts that O. Henry frequented had
reappeared in a fictional guise in his stories, adding to their realism: 'Sherkey's Saloon'
on 'Fourteenth Street' was central to the action of "Past One at Rooney" and "The Guilty
Party", "Gramercy Park was the site of "The Trimmed Lamp" and "Delmonico's' on the
Eight Street was the café where Sue and Johnsy met in "The Last Leaf". His scenes of
Central America and the American South and West were crafted with the same careful
detail. Critics have extolled the accuracy of O. Henry's Western tales, claiming that his
description of the ranch houses and their furnishings were exact down to the water jars
and that he captured and reproduced the customs relating to hospitality, smoking,
holidays, entertainment, and law enforcement. In his detailed description of the locales
of his tales, O. Henry reflected the contemporary emphasis on realism.
Much as the settings of O. Henry, life was transformed in his fiction, so too were the
people he had known recreated as his most famous characters. The characters
regarded by the readers as most unlikely were often based on real people. The ex-
cowboy bank examiner and his informal procedures in "Friends in San Rosario" had
innumerable real-life counterparts, perhaps, of course, in O. Henry's own life. Both the
"Cisco Kid', an O. Henry creation who became an American folk legend, and another
character, King James, had their prototypes in such genuine desperadoes as John
Wesley Hardin and King Fisher. Criticism has also focused on O. Henry's immense
vocabulary and his acute sensitivity to word usage. According to one critic "not even
(American realistic novelist), Henry James could choose words more fastidiously or use
them more accurately." O. Henry's careful use of words was especially evident in his
descriptive passages which were "cunningly fitted into the structure of his narrative so
that they are made to appear not simply gratuitous lingual ornaments but integral parts
of the tale."
9. Conflict
 There are both internal and external conflicts in O. Henry's story "The Last Leaf."
 External conflicts: These are conflicts between characters and external forces.
 Johnsy, who is from California, contracts pneumonia from the bitterly cold winter
of New York:
Mr. Pneumonia was not what you would call a chivalric old gentleman. A mite of a little
woman with blood thinned by California zephyrs was hardly fair game for the red-
fisted, short-breathed old duffer. Old Behrman, a curmudgeon who lives below Johnsy
and Sue, is very upset when Sue comes to ask him to pose because she informs him that
Johnsy is giving up her fight to overcome pneumonia. Behrman "Is dere people in de
world milder foolishness to die because leafs day drop off from a confounded vine?"
Further, Behrman refuses to model for Sue "No I will not bose as a model for your fool
hermit-dunderhead" and he scolds Sue for letting Johnsy despair, "Vy do you allow dot
silly pusiness to come in der brain of her?"
Another external conflict that Mr. Behrman experiences involves his struggle to paint
the ivy on the wall opposite Johnsy's window in order to make her think that the last
leaf has not fallen, a leaf that can perhaps restore Johnsy's spirit.
Internal conflicts: These are struggles within a character.
 Johnsy wants to die when the last leaf falls; she does not feel that she can
overcome pneumonia, but she tells Sue that if the last leaf hangs on, she, too, will
persevere.
 Sue is worried about her friend Johnsy, who wants to die when the last leaf falls
outside her window.
 Mr. Behrman is very upset that Johnsy wants to give up on life. He struggles to
think of a way to save her.
 Behrman also struggles to fight the winter storm as he paints.
 The main conflict in the story is less of a conflict between characters, and more
the suspense created through Johnsy's declaration that as soon as the last leaf
falls off of the vine, she too will fall away, fade, and die. She states ominously,
"When the last one falls I must go, too." So, the main conflict is the tension created
as we wait, and wait, and wait to see what that leaf is going to do. Other minor
conflicts occur as we first find out that Johnsy is sick, and as she continues to get
worse. Sue insists that she will get better, and Johnsy is more morbid in her
opinion of the matter, so there is conflict between the two on that issue. When
Behrmen enters the scene, there is a bit of conflict as he, after Sue tells him of
Johny's declaration, expresses his disdain for the silly fancies of women.
Earnest Hemingway
[Link] author biography
1.1 Life
-Ernest Hemingway, (born July 21, 1899, Cicero [now in Oak Park], Ill., U.S.—died July
2, 1961, Ketchum, Idaho), American novelist and short-story write and journalist
-He began work as a journalist after high school. He was wounded while serving as an
ambulance driver in World War I.
-His economical and understated style—which included his iceberg theory—had a
strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his adventurous lifestyle and public
image brought him admiration from later generations
- Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s
- One of a well-known group of expatriate writers in Paris, he soon embarked on a life
of travel, skiing, fishing, and hunting that would be reflected in his work.
- He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
- He left Cuba shortly after its 1959 revolution; a year later, depressed and ill, he shot
himself.
- He was noted both for the intense masculinity of his writing and for his adventurous
and widely publicized life.
1.2 Work
-In Paris—F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound—he began to see his
nonjournalistic work appear in print there, and in 1925 his first important book, a
collection of stories called In Our Time, was published in New York City; it was
originally released in Paris in 1924.
-In 1926 he published The Sun Also Rises, a novel with which he scored his first solid
success
-Hemingway’s The Torrents of Spring, a parody of the American writer Sherwood
Anderson’s book Dark Laughter, also appeared in 1926.
-His position as a master of short fiction had been advanced by Men Without Women
in 1927 and thoroughly established with the stories in Winner Take Nothing in 1933.
Among his finest stories are “The Killers,” “The Short Happy Life of Francis
Macomber,” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.”
-At least in the public view, the novel A Farewell to Arms (1929) overshadowed such
works.
- Green Hills of Africa was written (in 1935) when he had an account of big-game
hunting in the big-game region of Tanganyika
[Link] theory of Omission
2.1 Ernest Hemingway’s writing style
1. Essentially, Hemingway has a direct, simple, and unadorned style, which is most
probably resulted from his journalism and newspaper training. He does not use an
unnecessary adjective , skillfully describes his emotions without using the flowery
language
2. Hemingway is considered to be a master of writing dialogues.
3. He consider his writing to be more suggestive than direct; constantly revising and
trimming them; he cares for his works from his heart; he cut them with endless care,
and polish them until they appear to be brilliant.
The following are the detailed descriptions of the writing style of hemingway.
A truly simple sentence:
- Truth and simplicity are the milestones of Hemingway’s style.
-Hemingway asserts that the writer must write about what he has experienced and
express them in the most simple way possible.
-There are three different types of truth in Hemingway’s writing
The complexity of simplicity:
 The writing of Hemingway may appear to be simple; however, the apparent
simplicity of Hemingway’s style is sustained by an extraordinary complexity of
different levels.
 Hemingway asserts that “prose is architecture, not interior decoration,” and
writing prose is the hardest thing to do.
 The genius of Hemingway lies in the selection of objects and their simple
presentation.
*Poetry is written into prose:
-Another striking quality of Hemingway’s prose is its rhythm.
-The monosyllabic words assist the rhythmical distribution of stressed and unstressed
syllables in the sentences.
- To conclude, the style of Hemingway can be described in three words: simplicity,
truth, and poetry.

2.2 Earnest Hemingway’s Iceberg principle


* Definition “Iceberg principle”
An “iceberg” is an iceberg that floats freely in the ocean. The model of an iceberg always
has a floating part and many hidden parts.
+ A floating part of the iceberg model is what the writer observes and reproduces in his
work that readers can easily see and read right away.
+ Many parts of that model are hidden in the layers of words that readers can freely
discover many different meanings according to their own experiences and inspiration
+In the field of literature, writer [Link] introduced the concept of the principle
of "Iceberg" for the first time when composing the story "The Old Man and the Sea"
(1951), considering the "hidden" of the work as where its primary value resides
* Role
+ The principle of "Iceberg" opens the reader to a suitable approach to the text, opening
up many opportunities for readers to discover many interesting layers of meaning from
the writer's original text.
+ It is this principle of composition that helps literature eliminate the common flaw,
which, as Hemingway once shared: If the writer misses something because he doesn't
know, there will be a hole in it. story. That "hole" will be filled by readers when
receiving the work according to the "Iceberg" principle
2. Theory omission
Ernest Hemingway's theory of omission, often referred to as the iceberg theory or the
theory of omission, revolves around the idea that much of the story's depth and
meaning lies beneath the surface, much like the larger part of an iceberg remains
unseen underwater. Hemingway believed in minimalism and understatement, using
this approach to allow readers to infer emotions, relationships, and deeper themes
rather than spelling everything out explicitly. In his writing, Hemingway employed
short, simple sentences and sparse descriptions, leaving out certain details
intentionally. He trusted his readers to fill in the gaps, engaging their imagination and
enabling them to become active participants in the story. By omitting specifics, he
aimed to create a more immersive and impactful reading experience, where the unsaid
elements often carried as much weight as what was explicitly stated. This technique
gave his works a sense of depth and resonance, compelling readers to contemplate and
interpret the underlying emotions and themes. Hemingway's mastery of omission
allowed for a more profound and nuanced storytelling style that continues to resonate
with readers today.
3. Hills like White Elephants
 It was first published in August 1927, in the literary magazine transition, then
later in the 1927 short story collection Men Without Women.
 Later the story was adapted for film in 2002. "Hills Like White Elephants" is a
short 38-minute film
3.1 Figures of speech
- Symbolism: The hills, described as "white elephants," symbolize the looming,
burdensome issue that the couple faces. This metaphor implies something unusual,
unwanted, and burdensome paralleling the unwanted pregnancy. "The hills across the
valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side, there was no shade and no trees
and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun.
- Imagery: Hemingway uses vivid imagery to describe the landscape, creating a sense
of barrenness and desolation that mirrors the emotional tension between the
characters. "The girl stood up and walked to the end of the station. Across, on the other
side, were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro."
- Metonymy: The usage of "the operation" as a metonymy represents the abortion that
the characters are discussing. Hemingway uses this term rather than explicitly stating
"abortion," adding a layer of subtlety to the conversation. "It's really an awfully simple
operation, Jig."
- Hyperbole: 'Who is the greatest manager, really, Luque of Mike Gonzalez?' 'I think
they are equal. "And the best fisherman is you." 'No. I know others better. "Que Va, 'the
boy said. "There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you."
-Irony: Throughout the story, there's an underlying irony in the couple's conversation.
They discuss the beauty of the landscape while avoiding addressing the difficult
decision they face, highlighting the disconnection between their external dialogue and
their internal struggle. "I know you wouldn't mind it, Jig. It's really not anything. It's just
to let the air in."
-Metaphor: Hemingway employs repetition at certain points in the dialogue,
emphasizing the importance of certain phrases and intensifying the emotional impact
of those moments. "Would you do something for me now?... Please please please please
please please please stop talking."
-Repetition: Hemingway employs the repetition of certain phrases or words to
emphasize meaning and evoke deep emotions in specific passages.
-Personification: 'The old man always thought of her as feminine and as something
that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because
she could not help them. The wind is our friend, anyway, he thought.
-Simile: 'Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as
the sea and were cheerful and undefeated." "His hope and his confidence had never
gone. But now they were freshening as when the breeze rises."
3.2. Summary of hills like white elephants
Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway that revolves around
a conversation between a man and a woman at a train station in Spain. They discuss a
significant but unspoken issue an unwanted pregnancy and their differing perspectives
on whether to undergo an abortion. Throughout the dialogue, Hemingway subtly
explores themes of commmication breakdown, the complexity of relationships, and the
weight of difficult decisions. The story is characterized by its sparse dialogue, rich
symbolism, and the tension created by what is left unsaid. inviting readers to interpret
the underlying emotions and the complexities within the characters relationship
3.3. Setting
In "Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway sets the stage primarily at a train
station situated in Spain, specifically in the Ebro Valley. The setting is sparse,
emphasizing the desolation and isolation felt by the characters. The station itself is
described as basic and exposed, lacking in shade or significant amenities. This
barrenness symbolizes the emotional distance and the weighty. unresolved issue
looming between the couple. The absence of trees and the harsh sunlight further
contribute to the story's tension and discomfort. The contrasting landscapes visible
from the station are also crucial to the story's setting. On one side, there are barren hills
that resemble white elephants, symbolizing the burden of the unspoken topic
(presumahly an unwanted pregnancy) that the couple is grappling with. On the other
side, there are fields of grain and trees by the banks of the Ebro River, perhaps
suggesting the possibility of a different, more fertile path. Overall, Hemingway's choice
of a remote, desolate train station amid contrasting landscapes helps create a palpable
sense of isolation, tension, and the weight of the unspoken issue within the story.
3.4. Characters
The man:
In accordance with Hemingway's characteristically sparse style, this main character is
identified only as the man and occasionally the Americans without any identifying
descriptors or background information. The man is clearly the one who holds the most
power in this relationship, believing that he knows what is best for both of them.
The girl: The girl who's name is Jig. The girl is the female companion of the story's
other main character, the man. She seems to be younger than the waitress, who is
identified as the woman as opposed to a girl.

The woman (The waitress): Throughout the story the girl and the man sit drinking
outside the train station bar where the woman is their waitress. When the woman
commented that the hills looked like white elephants, the man said «l've never seen
one, He also seems to have given up hope at his insistence.
3.5. Themes
Communication Breakdown: The story highlights the struggle in communication
between the couple. They dance around a crucial issue, unable to openly discuss their
feelings, desires, and fears. The unspoken tension reflects the breakdown in their
ability to communicate effectively.
Choices and Consequences: The story revolves around a significant decision the
couple faces-presumably, whether to undergo an abortion. It delves into the weighty
consequences of choices, the complexities of decision-making, and the impact of choices
on relationships.
Power Dynamics in Relationships: There's an underlying power imbalance in the
relationship. The man seems to have a more dominant role, pressuring the woman and
subtly influencing her decision, which adds to the tension and complexities of their
dynamic.
Isolation and Alienation: The desolate setting of the train station and the emotional
distance between the characters create a sense of isolation and alienation. This
isolation mirrors the characters' internal struggles and the inability to truly connect or
understand each other.
Ambiguity and Unresolved Issues: Hemingway leaves much unsaid, inviting readers
to interpret the story's meaning and the characters' emotions. The unresolved nature of
the story leaves space for multiple interpretations, reflecting the complexity of human
relationships and the inability to neatly resolve deep-seated issues
These themes intertwine, inviting readers to contemplate the intricacies of human
connections, the difficulty in addressing sensitive topics, and the impact of unspoken
emotions on relationships.
3.6. Plot
Exposition: The story's exposition occurs as the couple, an American man and a
woman named Jig, wait at a train station in Spain. Their conversation begins, initially
discussing the landscape and then subtly hinting at an unspoken and weighty issue
between them.
Rising Action: The rising action unfolds as their conversation progresses, gradually
revealing the underlying tension and the unspoken topic-an unwanted pregnancy and
the decision regarding it. Their differing perspectives and emotions become more
apparent as they navigate the delicate subject
Climax: The climax occurs in the heated exchange between the couple where the
tension peaks. It's the moment where the man indirectly pressures Jig to agree to the
procedure, emphasizing his desires and minimizing the significance of the decision.

Falling Action: The falling action in this story is less defined, but it can be seen as the
resolution of the heated exchange, leading to a momentary lull in the conversation. It's
a moment where the weight of their unspoken emotions lingers, and they momentarily
reflect on their situation.
Resolution: The story concludes without a definitive resolution. The train's arrival
signals a potential change or decision, but Hemingway deliberately leaves the outcome
open-ended. The ultimate decision regarding the pregnancy and its impact on their
relationship remains unresolved, allowing readers to contemplate the uncertain future
of the couple.
3.7. Style
"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway is written in a minimalistic style.
Except for a few very brief descriptive passages, the text is mostly in the form of
dialogue, with very short sentences. It is as if the reader is overhearing a conversation
between two people.
3.8. Point of view
"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway is narrated from an objective, third-
person point of view. The narrative is not deeply embedded in the thoughts or feelings
of the characters; instead, it maintains a certain distance, providing an observational
perspective. The narrator presents the events, setting, and dialogue without explicitly
delving into the characters' emotions or thoughts. The focus is primarily on the external
actions and dialogue between the American man and the woman named Jig at the train
station. The narration does not offer direct access to the characters' inner thoughts or
feelings, leaving much to the reader's interpretation. This detached and objective
narrative style contributes to the story's sense of ambiguity and invites readers to
engage actively, interpreting the nuances of the conversation and the unspoken
tensions between the characters without being explicitly guided through their internal
perspectives.
The conflict in "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway is primarily internal
and relational, revolving around the couple's differing perspectives on a significant,
unspoken issue the potential decision regarding an unwanted pregnancy. The conflict
arises from the tension between the American man and the woman named Jig
regarding their differing viewpoints on the issue. While the man appears to push for the
procedure (presumably an abortion), emphasizing its simplicity and dismissing its
gravity, Jig displays uncertainty, fear, and a desire for a deeper connection and
understanding with the man. Their conflict isn't overtly stated but is inferred through
their dialogue, gestures, and the underlying tension. It's a conflict of perspectives,
desires, and the struggle to communicate openly about a significant decision that could
profoundly impact their relationship and their futures. The story's conflict is
characterized by the struggle to address the unspoken issue and the difficulty in
reaching a mutual understanding or resolution, adding to the emotional weight and
complexity of their situation.
Hemingway's short stories differ in lenght, but each one presents a separate and vivid
art world.

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA


1. Summary
The central character is an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago, who has not caught a
fish for 84 days. The family of his apprentice, Manolin, has forced the boy to leave the
old fisherman, though Manolin continues to support him with food and bait. Santiago is
a mentor to the boy, who cherishes the old man and the life lessons he imparts.
Convinced that his luck must change, Santiago takes his skiff far out into the deep
waters of the Gulf Stream, where he soon hooks a giant marlin. With all his great
experience and strength, he struggles with the fish for three days, admiring its strength,
dignity, and faithfulness to its identity; its destiny is as true as Santiago's as a
fisherman. He finally reels the marlin in and lashes it to his boat.
2. Characters
Santiago:
Santiago is the protagonist of the novella. He is an old fisherman in Cuba who, at the
beginning of the book, has not caught anything for eighty-four days. The novella follows
Santiago's quest for the great catch that will save his career. Santiago endures a great
struggle with an uncommonly large and noble marlin only to lose the fish to rapacious
sharks on his way back to land. Despite this loss, Santiago ends the novel with his spirit
undefeated. Depending on your reading of the novel, Santiago represents Hemingway
himself, searching for his next great book; an Everyman, heroic in the face of human
tragedy, or the Oedipal male unconscious trying to slay his father, the marlin, in order
to sexually possess his mother, the sea.
Manolin:
Manolin is Santiago's only friend and companion. Santiago taught Manolin to fish, and
the boy used to go out to sea with the old man until his parents objected to Santiago's
bad luck. Manolin still helps Santiago pull in his boat in the evenings and provides the
old man with food and bait when he needs it. Manolin is the reader's surrogate in the
novel, appreciating Santiago's heroic spirit and skill despite his outward lack of success.
The Marlin:
Although he does not speak and we do not have access to his thoughts, the marlin is
certainly an important character in the novella. The marlin is the fish Santiago spends
the majority of the novel tracking, killing, and attempting to bring to shore. The marlin
is larger and more spirited than any Santiago has ever seen. Santiago idealizes the
marlin, ascribing to it traits of great nobility, a fish to which he must prove his own
nobility if he is to be worthy to catch it. Again, depending on your reading, the marlin
can represent the great book Hemingway is trying to write, the threatened father of
Santiago's Oedipus, or merely the dramatic foil to Santiago's heroism.
The Sea:
As its title suggests, the sea is a central character in the novella. Most of the story takes
place on the sea, and Santiago is constantly identified with it and its creatures; his sea-
colored eyes reflect both the sea's tranquillity and power, and its inhabitants are his
brothers. Santiago refers to the sea as a woman, and the sea seems to represent the
feminine complement to Santiago's masculinity. The sea might also be seen as the
unconscious from which creative ideas are drawn.
3. Setting
"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway is set in a small fishing village near
Havana, Cuba. The story primarily takes place in the Gulf Stream waters of the
Caribbean Sea. The old fisherman, Santiago, lives in a simple shack and sets out to sea
in his small skiff, battling the elements and his own inner struggles as he tries to catch a
giant marlin. The novella vividly portrays the vastness and power of the sea while also
delving into the internal strength and resilience of the human spirit. Hemingway's
descriptions of the sea, the fishing experience, and the Cuban coastal landscape create a
rich and immersive setting for the story's narrative.
4. Themes
Determination: Battle with the marlin was not only brute force but also willpower.
The old man has immense amounts of endurance, as can be derived from how he
withstood physical pain, hunger, and isolation.
Strength: Physical strength is a part of this as well as his strength in knowledge for
fishing. As he is not young, Santiago uses as much of his strength as possible but later
depends on his vast experience with fishing.
Pride: In the beginning Santiago was prideful and wanted to prove himself as a
fisherman to his village. Later on, after the marlin experience, Santiago became more
humble and realized that proof is not really need but rather the thrill of the experience
itself. "You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You
killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive
and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?"
Respect: What made the battle with the marlin that intense was because the stakes
were so high. The old man wants respect from others for catching such a huge fish and
likewise the old man respects the marlin as he fights against the marlin with strength
and willpower. Even in the story. Santiago clearly says his respects for the marlin's own
strength and will to escape. "Fish," he said, "I love you and respect you very much. But I
will kill you dead before this day ends."
Friendship: The old man's relationship with Manolin can be described with this.
Manolin cares and worries for Santiago while Santiago accepts Manolin's company and
sentiments. Manolin could have easily forgotten about Santiago but chose to stay as
Santiago's apprentice.
5. Plot
Santiago is an elderly fisherman who has not caught a fish in eighty-four days and is
considered salao (very unlucky). Manolin, who had been trained by Santiago, has been
forced by his parents to work on a different, luckier boat; Manolin still helps Santiago
prepare his gear every morning and evening and brings him food. They talk about
baseball and Joe DiMaggio before the boy leaves and Santiago sleeps. He dreams of the
sights and experiences of his youth.

On the eighty-fifth day of his streak, Santiago takes his skiff out early, intending to row
far into the Gulf Stream. He catches nothing except a small albacore in the morning
before hooking a huge marlin. The fish is too heavy to haul in and begins to tow the skiff
further out to sea. Santiago holds on through the night, eating the albacore after
sunrise. He sees the marlin for the first time it is longer than the boat. Santiago
increasingly appreciates the fish, showing respect and compassion towards his
adversary. Sunset arrives for a second time and the fisherman manages some sleep; he
is awoken by the fish panicking but manages to recover his equilibrium. On the third
morning, the marlin begins to circle. Almost delirious, Santiago draws the marlin in and
harpoons it. He lashes the fish to his boat.
A mako shark smells blood in the water and takes a forty-pound bite of the marlin.
Killing the shark but losing his harpoon, Santiago lashes his knife to an oar as a
makeshift spear and kills three more sharks before the knife blade snaps. Cursing
himself for going out too far, he apologizes to the mutilated carcass of the marlin. He
clubs two more sharks at sunset, but the marlin is now half-eaten. On the third night,
the sharks come as a pack and leave only bones behind them. Santiago reaches shore
and sleeps in his shack, leaving the skeleton tied to his skiff. In the morning Manolin
cries when he sees Santiago's state. He brings coffee and sits with Santiago until he
wakes. He insists on accompanying Santiago in the future. A fisherman measures the
marlin at eighteen feet long, and a pair of tourists mistake its skeleton for that of a
shark. Santiago goes back to sleep and dreams of lions on an African beach.
6. Style
Hemingway's writing style in "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA" are especially remarkable.
It is possible to assume that his journalistic career had a great influence on his writing.
The author describes everything in great detail. It makes his works very realistic and
the characters he created are very lively. At the same time, his descriptions are also full
of literary devices (such as metaphors, allusions and so on).
 Journalistic
 Minimum amount of words but maximum meaning and effect.
 Simple narration yet powerful, pithy, and direct.
7. Point of view
The novel The Old Man and the Sea is told from the point of view of the protagonist, the
old man Santiago. This point of view allows the reader to understand the thoughts,
feelings, and experiences of the old man in a real and profound way. Through the old
man's point of view, the reader can see the old man's strength, courage, and never-give-
up attitude. The old man fought with a giant marlin for three days and nights, despite
the challenges and difficulties. He also faced disappointment and bitterness when the
marlin was eaten by a school of sharks. However, the old man never gave up, and he
continued to go fishing, continuing to pursue his dream.
8. Conflict

 The struggle between the old man and the marlin is a struggle between man and
nature. It is a symbol of the struggle between the small and the great, between
the weak and the strong.
 This struggle is not only taking place between the old man and the marlin, but
also between the old man and the sharks. The sharks symbolize the cruel and
violent forces in life. They stole the old man's marlin, causing the old man to fail.
 This struggle is also an internal struggle for the old man. The old man had to face
feelings like disappointment and bitterness, but in the end he still kept his
optimistic spirit and belief in himself.
 The struggle between the old man and the sea is a dramatic and exciting struggle.
It brings many profound lessons to life for readers.
9. Figures of speech
The passage vividly depicts the distinct characterization of the old man and the marlin.
The image of the marlin is described as colossal and majestic, initially revealed through
its large circular swirls in the water, indirectly allowing the old man to perceive the
fish. The depiction of the varying sizes of the swirls throughout the battle with the old
man indicates the marlin's diminishing strength over time. Santiago only sees the fish
when it swims close to the surface: "The tail alone was as long as the skiff and he could
not see the fish's head. He loved green." The marlin appears immense, with a colossal
body and massive fins along its flank. It surpasses Santiago's imagination and signals an
impending daunting battle ahead. Parallel to these swirls is Santiago's strategic act of
reeling in the line to exhaust the fish. Santiago concentrates on understanding the fish's
movements, putting forth immense effort while continuously encouraging and
consoling himself, striving for victory. These details are repeatedly emphasized by
Hemingway throughout Santiago's conquest of the marlin. This narrative structure
emphasizes the description of strength, resilience, and determination of both man and
fish. The marlin embodies the grandeur and might of nature, yet it is also a testament to
human fortitude. Despite the marlin's intelligence, strength, and enormity, it succumbs
to the smaller yet extraordinary strength of a human, showcasing human courage,
intelligence, and the refusal to be subdued. The triumph over the opponent
demonstrates the bravery, intellect, and pride of the working man, providing a
foundation for greater confidence in conquering nature.
The passage is artistically unique for several reasons:
 The narrative style seamlessly combines storytelling with vivid scene
descriptions, dialogues, and internal monologues.
 The vivid descriptive language creates a vibrant depiction, transforming a
realistic portrayal into a multi-layered, metaphorical representation.
 The hidden allegorical meanings and the multifaceted nature of the language
convey deeper implications and complexities.
A BRIEF REVIEW OF “THE MOON AND SIXPENCE”
1. Introducing the work "The Moon and sixpence" The Moon and Sixpence is based on
the life of Paul Gauguin, the artist who rejected France and civilization to live in Tahiti.

2. The plot summary


 It is told by a first-person narrator, in a series of glimpses into the mind and soul
of the central character Charles Strickland, a middle-aged English stockbroker,
who abandons his wife and children abruptly to pursue his desire to become an
artist. The story is in part based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin.
 Early in the novel, he leaves his wife and children and goes to Paris. He lives a
destitute but content life there as an artist.
 Strickland, in his drive to express himself through art, cares nothing for physical
discomfort and is indifferent to his surroundings.
 After the Paris episode, the story continues in Tahiti.
 Strickland has already died, and the narrator attempts to piece together his life
there from recollections of others. He finds that Strickland had taken up a native
woman, had two children by her and started painting profusely.
 He finally died of leprosy, leaving behind numerous paintings, but his magnum
opus, which he painted on the walls of his hut before losing his sight to leprosy,
was burnt after his death by his wife per his dying orders.
=> The meaning of the work "The Moon and Sixpence"
 According to some sources, the title, the meaning of which is not explicitly
revealed in the book, was taken from a review of Of Human Bondage in which the
novel's protagonist, Philip Carey, is described as "so busy yearning for the moon
that he never saw the sixpence at his feet". According to a 1956 letter from
Maugham, "If you look on the ground in search of a sixpence, you don't look up,
and so miss the moon".
III. The short story "the escape"
1. Introducing the work "The Escape"
- In the literal work "The escape" written by [Link], irony plays the inevitable
part in the success of the story.
- The narrator recites how his friend, Roger Charing, tries to get rid of a woman, Ruth
Barlow, through the process in which he escapes from the little lady, the author
expresses his severe irony towards Ruth Balow and her scheming deeds.
2. Character
-The Escape is a story revolving around two characters Roger Charing and Ruth Barlow,
about the love between the two.
-Roger was no longer young, experienced enough, and must have been an experienced,
wise, prudent man. He is a strong, strong man with a lot of money. Yet he fell right from
the first round of bullets before the thunderbolt of love of Ruth Barlow.
-She must be a beautiful, charming woman to be able to make Roger Charing secretly
love her and lose all common sense and the vigilance required of a man. Her eyes were
always filled with tears, they conveyed the meaning that this life was too much for her
to bear. Her pain and suffering are truly incomparable.

a. Roger Charing
 Roger is no longer young or experienced, and is certainly experienced, wise, and
cautious. He is a strong, healthy man with a lot of money.
 He fell from the first volley of bullets before Ruth Barlow's love at first sight.
b. Ruth Barlow
- Ruth Barlow is a person with a God-given talent, which is a melancholy and
sentimental personality that makes most men defenseless. She was a widow of two
husbands.
-Her eyes were always filled with tears, they expressed the meaning that this life was
too much for her to bear.
-Ruth Barlow's inner nature is a cunning and devious person. Ruth Barlow does not live
by her own abilities, she only knows how to rely on others and take advantage of
others.
3. Setting
- The short story "The Escape" by Qaisar Shahraz takes place in Manchester, England
and Pakistan, where Samir goes to Lahore and the village where his parents are buried.
- In Manchester, Samir lives in a "large detached house with five bedrooms". - However,
after his wife's death, his universe shrank mainly to a single room along with old age
and the grief of losing his wife.
4. Plot
The story revolves around two characters Roger Charing and Ruth Barlow, about the
love between the two. Roger Charing was no longer young, experienced enough, and
must have been experienced, healthy, wealthy, wise, prudent. Ruth Barlow is quite a
beautiful woman, but has two faces and has been widowed twice. Roger Charing fell in
love with Ruth Barlow at first sight and was determined to marry her. But one day he
realizes her true nature and falls out of love with her. He decided to avoid the wedding
and find a way to let her leave him the way he wanted. In the end, with his hundreds of
methods, he made her leave him voluntarily and not bring a bad reputation to the
world.
5. Art
- S.W Maugham aims to portray a phenomenon, a discovery, an essential feature in
human relationships and in the life of the human soul.
- The plot has a beginning and an end.
+ At the beginning, the author asserts: When a woman decides to marry a man,
nothing can save him but giving up her possessions and running for him. Emphasize the
seriousness of fleeing immediately without delay. Besides, the author gives an example:
the man does not always escape.
+ The end of the story: The end of the story is Roger's victory. A dramatic, cunning and
deceitful escape. On the outside it is Ruth Barlow running away from Roger, but inside
it is actually Roger's escape from Ruth Barlow.

6. Meaning
The short story 'The Escape' is a social-psychological novel written in prose revolving
around the love story of the two main characters Roger Charming and Ruth Barlow. It
presents objectively and comprehensively a love story full of calculations and lies of the
bourgeois society and people at that time. →The story exposes contemporary society
with its evils and depravities such as: the worship of money, hypocrisy, self-interest,
and hypocrisy in people's way of life.
7. Conflict
The conflict in the given text is at first inner, within Roger when he understands he is
not into Ruth anymore. From this very moment, he starts to find a way to get rid of her
not in a rude way but gently and politely. Anyway, during their house-hunting there
appears one more conflict, an external one, between the main characters and their
interests: Ruth wants to have a long relationship, on the contrary, Roger wants to
escape it with no loss.
8. Theme
In The Escape by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of pity, dishonesty, escape,
selfishness, dignity and freedom.
9. Style
The short story "The Escape' is a social-psychological novel written in prose revolving
around the love story of the two main characters Roger Charming and Ruth Barlow. It
presents objectively and comprehensively a love story full of calculations and lies of the
bourgeois society and people at that time.
10. Point of view
-First person narration
-It presents the relationship between men and women in bourgeois society, portrays
the psychological portraits of the characters, and describes their feelings, emotions, and
thoughts as well.
-With a humorous narrative tone, the short story gives readers a lot of reflection on the
values of love and life.

Margaret Mitchell
1. Biography
- Margaret Mitchell was born in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), the child of Eugene Mitchell and
Mary Isabelle. She had two brothers who were four years older than her. Her childhood
was influenced by veterans of the American Civil War and by relatives on her mother's
side. People sometimes know her as Peggy.
- After graduating from Washington Seminary (now Westminster Schools), she studied
at Smith College but left school shortly after her final exams in 1918. She returned to
Atlanta to take care of things after her mother passed away. died at the beginning of the
year from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic (and Scarlett's mother's death from typhoid
in the story also stems from this)
- Mitchell married Red Upshaw in 1922, but divorced when she learned he was a
bootlegger. She later married Upshaw's friend John Marsh on July 4, 1925. Marsh was
the best man at her wedding to Upshaw and some say both men courted her, at the
same time in 1921 and 1922, but Upshaw proposed first.
b. Work
Was an American novelist and journalist.
- From 1922 to 1926, Mitchell wrote numerous articles, several commentaries, and
conducted interviews. Among them was an interview with silent film star Rudolph
Valentino, as well as an interview about a Georgia prisoner who made fake flowers and
sold them from his cell to provide for his family.
- She also wrote biographies of several important Georgia generals during the Civil
War. The first biography became very popular in Atlanta, so her editors asked her to
write more. Some scholars believe that biographical research on these people
motivated her to write Gone With the Wind
- Mitchell wrote only one novel, published during her lifetime, the American Civil War-
era novel Gone with the Wind, for which she won the National Book Award for Fiction
for Most Distinguished Novel of 1936 and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937.
- Long after her death, a collection of Mitchell's girlhood writings and a novella she
wrote as a teenager, titled Lost Laysen, were published.
- A collection of newspaper articles written by Mitchell for The Atlanta Journal was
republished in book form.
2. Writing style
-Margaret Mitchell writes only for her own amusement.
-Unusual writing style, chapters are not arranged in order.
-Building storylines and characters based on her and those around her during the
American Civil War
-The writing style tends to be strongly realistic with delicate language and the ability to
build ingenious characters. Truly depicting the lives of ordinary people during an
important event in life and history; thereby highlighting the characters' intense
emotions, difficulties during turbulent times and theirnresilience to cope with their
fate.
B. The novel "Gone with the wind"
1. Summary
The central figure of the story is Scarlett O'Hara, a beautiful, charming, and determined
woman living at Tara plantation in Georgia. Scarlett becomes enamored with Ashley
Wilkes, who chooses to marry Melanie Hamilton instead. This unrequited love marks
the beginning of Scarlett's tumultuous journey through the highs and lows of the Civil
War and its aftermath.

As the Civil War erupts, Scarlett undergoes painful changes in her life. Tara plantation
is ravaged, her family suffers losses, and she faces economic hardships. Scarlett
transforms into a resilient woman, determined to protect her family and property.
While striving to uphold family traditions, Scarlett encounters Rhett Butler, a man with
a free and unconventional spirit. They develop a complex relationship, filled with
conflict and, ultimately, love. However, both carry emotional baggage and awareness of
their pasts, complicating their connection.
Scarlett's marriages prove unsuccessful, and though she realizes her feelings for Rhett,
it is too late. Rhett leaves Scarlett, leaving her alone with the iconic line, "I'll think about
it tomorrow." The conclusion depicts a picture of recovery alongside the pain and loss.
"Gone with the Wind" is not just a romantic tale but a profound portrayal of individuals
and society during one of America's most challenging historical periods.
2. Character
Main characters
The main character in the story is Scarlett O'Hara. She is a strong, charming and
ambitious woman, with a soul full of contradictions
Rhett Butler: A complex, charming, rich character with a strong personality. He has a
very special relationship with Scarlett.
* Supporting characters
Ashley Wilkes: Scarlett's ex from childhood, is aristocratic, conscious and full of
idealism.
Melanie Hamilton: Ashley Wilkes' wife is a gentle, kind woman.
Gerald O'Hara: Scarlett's father
Ellen O'Hara: Scarlett's mother
Mammy: The loyal and devoted female servant of the O'Hara family.
Prissy: An Innocent Slave
Belle Watling: A charming and wealthy woman, and has a relationship with Rhett
Butler.
Frank Kennedy: A successful businessman who married Scarlett after war.
3. Setting
Gone with the wind focuses on the South, mainly in the state of Georgia. The setting is
mainly four-way camp stations and small towns in rural areas, along with the city of
Atlanta.
4. Plot
It focuses on Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy planter. The novel
follows Scarlett through the Civil War and the Reconstruction period in the South.
Scarlett's foolish longing for the love of Ashley Wilkes is central to the plot as well.
Rising action:

• Part One: Scarlett sees the man she loves married to another woman and
escapes to Atlanta, where she is forced to confront the horrors of the rising tide of
the Civil War.
• Part Two: Left with nothing by Yankee looters, Scarlett fights to rebuild Tara and
her fortunes while negotiating a troubled relationship with Rhett Butler.
Climax:
• Part Two: After Melanie collapses, Scarlett realizes she and Ashley were never
meant to be together and rushes home to tell Rhett how much she loves him.
• Part Two: After Melanie collapses, Scarlett realizes she and Ashley were never
meant to be together and rushes home to tell Rhett how much she loves him.
Falling action:
• Part One: After seeing the full extent of the destruction, Scarlett swears she will
do whatever she has to in order to never go hungry again.
• Part Two: Rhett says that Scarlett's love has come far too late and walks out,
leaving Scarlett determined to think of a way to get him back.
5. Conflict
Major Conflict:
Scarlett O'Hara could marry any man in Georgia but she has set her sights on Ashley
Wilkes. She confesses her love to Ashley, but he informs her he has decided to marry
his cousin, Melanie Hamilton. Even after Ashley is married, Scarlett continues to pursue
him, even through three marriages of her own.
• Person vs person - Scarlett O'Hara and the "old guard" or members of the south
as it was.
• Person vs self - Rhett himself is in love with Scarlett, but cannot tell her,
although Scarlett loves Rhett, but she sees him primarily as a critic and a
desperado entirely lacking in gentility before the war and between Scarlett and
Rhett Butler.
• Person vs society - Scarlett antagonizes her community with her own
determination and lack of scruples in her drive to acquire money.
6. Figure of speech
Metonymy:
Scarlett O'Hara is referring to the government and citizens of Georgia. By using
"Georgia" instead of "Georgia's government, politicians, and all the voting citizens" the
author provides brevity and color.
"I'm mighty glad Georgia waited till after Christmas before it secedes or it would have
ruined the Christmas parties."
Hyperbole:
"As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again"

Metaphor:
Scarlett O'Hara uses the title phrase when she wonders if her home on a plantation
called "Tara" is still standing, or if it had "gone with the wind which had swept through
Georgia". In a general sense, the title is a metaphor for the demise of a way of life in the
South before the Civil War.
Simile:
• "She had on her bonnet, shawl, and mittens, and behind her was Mammy, her face
like a thundercloud, holding in her hand the black leather bag in which Ellen
O'Hara always carried the bandages and medicines she used in doctoring the
slaves."
• When Scarlett meets her mother and Mammy, her face is compared with the
thunder, it means that she is angry and snappish at this time.
Personification:
• Mitchell often uses personification when describing the Georgian land. She
depicts the land after rain as, "moist hungry earth, waiting upturned for the
cotton seeds, showed pinkish on the sandy tops of furrows, vermilion and scarlet
and maroon where shadows lay along the sides of the trenches." While earth
itself cannot be hungry, the personification illustrates how fertile the land is after
a storm. Similarly, the land is also often depicted as having feelings of its own.
• For example, "the plantation clearings and miles of cotton fields smiled up to a
warm sun, placid, complacent."
Irony:
• "A cat's a better mother than you?"
When Rhett leaves Scarlett, he decides to take their daughter. He tells her that she isn't
a caring and good mother, but a selfish and self-loving one.
• "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"
Rhett says these last words to Scarlett, and their relationship is ironically finished.
Imagery:
Mitchell's lively and evocative descriptions of Georgia's landscape are prominent
throughout the novel. She relies heavily on imagery to bring the land to life. Through
descriptions like, "the whitewashed brick plantation house seemed an island set in a
wild red sea, a sea of spiraling, curving, crescent billows petrified suddenly at the
moment when the pink-tipped waves were breaking into surf.
7. Style
Gone with the Wind is narrated in simple language from a third-person perspective.
The tone of the narrator is sometimes dispassionate and sometimes very opinionated
in the story. The narrator is omniscient and can tell the thoughts of characters or
sometimes tells a background story about characters.
8. Key themes in "Gone with the wind"
Love of money: money cannot buy either happiness or respect.
Fantasy versus reality: Scarlett's love life is based in fantasy. However, she faces
reality with brutality.
Loss and change: the Civil War brings devastating loss and life changes to the people
of the South.
Survival: Margaret Mitchell wrote, "If a novel has a theme it is that of survival.... I only
know that survivors used to call that quality "gumption". So I wrote about people who
had gumption and people who didn't".
Power. Scarlett overcomes the myriad challenges, rebuild a life and Tara after war and
become a businesswoman.
Slavery: two groups of slavery: the Negro slaves of plantation and farm owners of the
South, convicts of the state leased out to do hard labor for individual business owners.
9. Point of view
The novel is written in an omniscient viewpoint, primarily from Scarlett's perspective,
but switching to the view of Rhett, Melanie, or Ashley whenever a part of the story
where Scarlett is absent needs explaining.
The sections about the war are in an objective third point, clearly the voice of the
narrator as she explains things the characters would not have known.

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