An Unlikely Influence
In the short stories “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry death prevails as the dominant theme. Many of the characters learn what true sacrifice looks like from the actions of those around them. Upon her husband’s death, Gwilan, from “Gwilan’s Harp” discovers the heartbreak of loss, but by the story’s end, Gwilan discovers her worth. “The Washwoman” tells the tale of a hardy, but elderly washwoman, whose death greatly affects a young Jewish boy for better. Finally, “The Last Leaf” unravels the story of unlikely hero, and how he saves a young painter from her death. Though all of these stories differ greatly in setting and in characters, they all share
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The old, but muscular Washwoman came every few weeks to the boy's home, she would then take the dirty laundry back to her house to wash and clean it. The attitude she displayed, struck the boy with interest; he had never met such a kind, but hardworking woman. The Washwoman’s son abandoned her, she lived in poverty with no friends, and her husband had died, yet she worked with zeal and kindness. “I cannot even imagine paradise without this Gentile woman,” (Singer). Even when death gripped her, she returned the boy’s family’s laundry, only to die in the following weeks. The everlasting affect the Washwoman had on the young boy changed his life, even though she never would know her affects on him. The Washwoman’s death, though deeply saddening, changed the boy’s life for …show more content…
Henry describes how Berhman, a gruff, old painter, saves a young girl's life. Johnsy, the young painter, contracted pneumonia in the colder months of fall. She watches the leaves of an ivy vine fall outside her window, and convinces herself that with the fall of the last leave, she will die. Berhman, disturbed by Johnsy's pessimistic behavior, sneaks out to paint a leaf on the vine. His plan succeeds, but due to the frigid rain, Behrman too contracts pneumonia and dies. Johnsy looks out her window to see the last leaf still clinging to the vine. “Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was,” (O. Henry). However, through Berhman's selfless actions, Johnsy realizes her foolish behavior, and matures through Behrman's
With all the similarities of the setting many differences can be found throughout all parts of the
Literature that stimulates the feeling of pity, sympathy and sorrow is Pathos. The two pieces of literature express pathos in different lights, showcasing a rollercoaster of emotions for the reader. John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men and Christie McLaren’s article “Suitcase Lady” both expose heartache and social inequalities to deduce the feeling of commiseration. The bleak hardship of life affirms the heartache through Lennie and the Suitcase Lady. Lennie is loyal to George and is terrified of upsetting his friend.
Another item that is extremely important in both stories is the use and importance of fate. Both characters rely on their fates for assistance and for achieving
Although both of these stories have many literary elements in the story, the three that are the most important are setting, irony, characterization.
In the novel The River Between Us Mama is very affected by the war her baby boy Noah goes off to war and she doesn't know what to do without him. When Noah was gone at war Mama became very depressed. She told her daughter Tili to go and get her son and don’t come back without him. One day they brought a body back and Mama thought it was her precious son. Before she found out that it wa really her husband, she already committed suicide.
By using the idea of sacrifice, Authors ‘Shirley Jackson’ and ‘Ursula LeGuin’ both express how an act of sacrifice can determine the fate of another human’s life, and how one’s sacrifice can affect another person’s life in the short stories ‘The Lottery’ and ‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’. The authors both use similar writing techniques, but the morals of the societies are different. In the short stories “The Lottery” and “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” you have two communities that both seem to be the perfect society in a way. “The Lottery” has an opening feel of kids playing and a big huge festival where everyone is having a good time.
Beginning with the individual protagonists of each story, they’re
All three of the stories start with the hero in the ordinary world. For the most part the ordinary world in all of the stories is a setting the hero is unpleased with. Katniss does not like the scarcity of food in her district, Ender gets bullied for being so smart, and Luke wants to leave the farm he lives on. All of them are not anyone you would expect to be involved in anything important. The call to adventure in all the stories are relatively similar.
Sophia was immediately flattered by their boarder, John Andre, who wrote poems, played the flute, and drew sketches for Sophia. Soon after John Andre arrived, Sophia became a printer for Mr. Gaine, a loyalist newspaper publisher, to help support her family and earn money to find her older brother, William, who was an American soldier that had been captured. Sophia finally finds William and promises that she will come back to get him released, but when inquiring about him on a ship, the Good Intent, Sophia discovers that William has died. Sophia’s feelings are expressed on page 118 where the text says, “So I trust you will completely accept it when I reveal that in my grief I vowed I would avenge William’s awful death.” The story then fast-forwards to 15 year old Sophia, who is still a strong Patriot and still is determined to avenge her brother’s death.
This story talks about a family that consists of the mother (narrator) and her two daughters’ (Dee and Maggie). In the story they never say anything about the father because he was dead. The main things that the story is revolving around is the heritage and how it is important, the relationship between the two sisters, how education makes a differences, and finally about how generations changed by time. Alice walker gave the mother an important character in the story and she tried to show us how the father has a very important part of any family.
Though the plot of the stories differs, one concept persists in both texts
As I have said, each story is alike and different in many ways, including being unique in their own
Louise’s victory in accepting her husband’s death is a feeling that she now cannot live without. The ultimate death of Louise Mallard is one that represents physical and emotional defeat. In this dramatic short story, Chopin uses imagery to sew together a tapestry of emotions all encompassed in an ill-stricken widow. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.”
Stories have always been a key part of cultures throughout time. In the last hundred and fifty years, some of today’s more influential writers published their works. Two famous writers, Kate Chopin and James Joyce, lived close to each other’s time. Chopin’s short story “Story of an Hour” has become a staple in humanity and literature courses. James Joyce, who is better known for his work Ulysses, wrote one short story titled “The Boarding House”, is also a brilliant piece of work.