Blind as a Bat

During small group discussion, one of my groupmates brought up a point that interested me and stuck in my mind. She had brought the point up that she thought Phoenix in A Worn Path was blind. This is an interesting point because it is never mentioned directly in the story but I can see how it is alluded to. The main character, Phoenix, is a very old lady. She has a bad memory and is getting on in years. Also, at the beginning she is using a walking stick. She is afraid of the dog and this might be because she can't see it. The journey takes a long time, but she knows the way because she has taken it so many times. This is how she can still find her way even if she is blind. I'm not sure if she is in fact blind but it was an interesting point nevertheless.

Once Upon a Time

This was one of the most ironic stories that I have read in an english book. This family lives in a country and area that is notorious for violence. Alarms and security crises are a normal for their area. They spend their lives putting up so much protection around their house I was afraid that they were going to worry themselves to death. The irony in this story comes when the boy is killed trying to climb the wall over the security. He was imitating something he read out of a children's book. The family spent their time protecting themselves, and this protection caused more danger and violence than the vandals and murderers in their country.

A Worn Path

One of the questions in the book addressed if the boy was really alive still or not. The question provided a response from the author, she said that Phoenix was alive still. This can be taken more than one way. One way, is that the boy is still alive and Phoenix is taking care of him. Another way, is that Phoenix is old and can't remember much, and her memory is going in and out. This means that she believes he is still alive and doesn't want to accept the fact that he isn't. These trips are a regular occurrence for her and that is what she is used to doing. Her memory is getting so bad that she forgets where she is at the doctor's office and why she came. I believe that the boy is alive still through her spirit and memory.

Eveline

Eveline was a story about the struggles of a girl. She had a father who had a history of violence and she was afraid of this past. She has a hard life and realizes that its a struggle for herself. However, there is something holding her back from leaving her life. She is used to this and is accustomed to it. Many people don't like change and like to keep going even through bad times. This is apparent at the end of the story when she has a ticket to a new life and she just can't let go of her own.

Negligence or on Purpose?

In Hunters in the Snow, was the wrong turn at the end negligent or was it done with a purpose? Tub and Frank had  new sense of bonding. I think it was a conspiracy ending to this story. Frank had seen this new sense of brotherhood and didn't want to share Tub's friendship with Kenny. Tub was also enjoying not being made fun of so he too liked it. The two "forgot" about Kenny in the back, and in my opinion, purposely took a different turn than the one needed for the hospital. My final point, when Tub told Frank that he had left the directions at the table, Frank didn't seem concerned at all. Now I have revealed the Hunters in the Snow conspiracy and found out that Kenny's sure death was no accident.

Name Changes and Fires

The reader finds the most relatability and likeablity with Maggie in this story. Dee, however, was obsessed with nicer things. She wanted to look good and be the best.She is lighter than Maggie and has a nicer figure, according to the story. This is not a picture book, however, so we can not see if she really does or not. Maggie was burned in a fire, and this is mentioned several times throughout the story. One time it was mentioned is, "She stood there with her scarred hands hidden in the folds of her skirt."

The Three Stooges

The Three Hunters really reminded me of the three stooges. Unintelligent characters, and a funny/grave situation. The character Tub is treated differently throughout the story. At the beginning, he is ridiculed and made fun of. However, towards the end when there really is only two characters, he bonds with his friend and they find a new friendship. This story is the characterization of three friends and their not so smart decisions. They all three have their own family/personal life problems, but two find friendship in the end. Unfortunately, the third finds a cold ending to the story.

Bartleby and the Frustrated Reader

Bartleby is a story of a boss who has hired the perfect people. One person works fine in the morning, and one works fine in the afternoon. However, there is also Bartleby. He is a person who would just rather not do anything. His characterization really shows the traits of the boss also. The boss doesn't want to fire Bartleby and wants to keep his office the same as always. The boss is also the narrator. He tells the story through his eyes, and his own frustration with Bartleby.

Importance of Structure

All three of these stories revolve around structure. Structure is the thing that determines how a reader will read the story. If facts are given straightforward and consecutively, we try to guess the ending. However, in How I Met my Husband, there was a twist ending. We also saw this sort of irregular ending in the story Interpreter of Maladies. Surprise endings are normally not expected by a reader, hence the name. These flip the rules of structure and leave the reader thinking, "I didn't see that coming." It was very effective in these two stories and compeltely changed my outlook towards them.

A Rose for Emily

This story includes just another town wrought with gossip. EVeryone has their own opinions and stories about Emily. However, no one really knows the truth. We also never get to hear the story from her point of view, so we too take part in believing the gossip. This story structure is very confusing. It takes twists and turns throughout decades of her life. We also find out that she has a VERY hard time with letting people go. This is revealed through the two bodies that she has kept after they died. One was seized from her home, and the other was a skeleton on the bed that they discovered at her own death. With the talk of the town and feelings towards her, it's safe to say that no one kept her body in their house.

Interpreter of Maladies

In this story, an Indian family is taking a tour of India. While there, the not so loving wife falls in love with the tour guide. This isn't the first time this has happened. She also had an affair with a man and her husband thinks it is his kid. This story too has a sad and disappointing ending. Throughout details and the way the story is told, a feeling of these two people should be together is brought up in the reader's mind. However, the paper that is holding his message and number flies out of her pocket and she never realizes it. I guess short story writers are really negative towards true love.

How I met my Disappointing Ending

In the short story How I Met My Husband, the structure is a straightforward story. This story builds up the suspense of Edie waiting for her boy to write a letter back after he left town. She waits and waits by the mailbox, but he never writes. Now everyone is expecting a romantic, Hollywood ending. However, this is not one of those. She ends up with the mailman and all the romantic thoughts and attachment towards the man who left are now just as gone as he is. This drifter made the story take a twist ending and definitely was not expected, or wanted.