ipl-logo

August Heat Literary Analysis

469 Words2 Pages

Literary Analysis Suspense. It's what makes us sit on the edge of our seats at movies, or has us biting our nails as we read. It’s the backbone behind any classic horror film where the babysitter keeps getting unknown phone calls about checking the children and she asks the police to trace the call only to get a call back saying it's coming from upstairs. Suspense is used in literature to give off a feeling of uncertainty. In W.F. Harvey’s story “August Heat”, he writes about our protagonist James and how he meets a bizarre character named Mr.Atkinson who he feels is an unnatural person and feels uneasy with him. Later when he is invited to stay the night, Harvey finished the story off with James saying he will “be gone in less than an …show more content…

Harvey foreshadows that Mr.Atkinson isn't an honest man because when James realizes he’s the same man from the dock, he feels uneasy. The word ¨dock¨ has a different meaning in this story because dock means where people are released from county jails. Later on in the story he speaks to Mr.Atkinson if is arrest was just a misunderstanding because when James was drawing him he had a sad expression on his face. When James sees that the name is his own name on the gravestone carved by Mr.Atkinson he has shudders down his spine. This makes the reader wonder if Mr. Atkinson will hurt our protagonist or if he's on trial for murder. Also since the title of the story is called ¨August Heat¨ and the date of death on the gravestone is August 20th, one can only assume that James could possible be murdered. At the end of the story it says ẗhat James will leave in an hour and we're left wondering what he means by that. Will he be killed or will he say goodbye then leave Mr.Atkinson´s house unharmed? This makes the reader wonder the fate our protagonist as well as keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end. By withholding information on our possible antagonist, it makes the reader feel like Mr. Atkinson isn't a reliable character. As James questions him as to why he was seen at the dock with a defeated look on his face, Mr. Atkinson responds with a very vague answer. This raises suspicion on Mr. Atkinson since he was seen at the dock by James looking disheartened, it wouldn't

Show More
Related

  • How Does Loloe Build Suspense In Harper's Island

    392 Words  | 2 Pages

    Suspense, it's that slow quiet moment building up fear or suspicion in your mind while watching a movie or reading a book right before something important happens. The T.V. series Harper's Island demonstrates this perfectly when a couple, and their group of friends go to an island to get married, but an old killer lives on the island and he’s looking to spill blood once again. Three ways Harper's Island builds suspense is very close up shots where you can only see a small movement or only one thing in frame, very far away quiet shots, and when you have to wait a second for something to happen but you know it's going to happen. Firstly they use really close up shots.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Return Of Martin Guerre

    488 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the trial, “Martin” is declared innocent, but then immediately after a man walks in to the court claiming to be the real Martin. The story behind the imposter is exposed; Martin and the imposter were at war together and he was able to learn everything about Martin’s

    Read More

  • James King Guilty

    108 Words  | 1 Pages

    James King is guilty because of the witness, Lorelle Henry’s testify. Sandra Petrocelli asks witness, Lorelle Henry, what had happened that day and what she overheard. Lorelle replies with, “The gentleman sitting at that table was one of the men arguing [points to King]” pg 164. Mrs. Henry- who had only gone to the store to get medicine for her sick granddaughter- had seen an argument between 2 men, one of them being identified as Mr.King, with the store owner. She left before anything got out of hand.

    Read More

  • Use Of Foreshadowing In The Catbird Seat And The Lottery

    1025 Words  | 5 Pages

    Believing the fact that Mr. Martin never smokes and drinks, and having a reputation as a “cautious and painstaking hand”, Mr. Martin justifies his ridiculous action by himself. The use of foreshadowing makes the audience believes that there is more to

    Read More

  • W. Jacob's Use Of Foreshadowing In The Landlady

    459 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the author uses other forms of tone, suspense is used more than anything else. In the short story, “The Landlady,” Billy Weaver is looking to become a successful business man in a small town but he goes to a hotel that was not recommended so the reader can infer that the landlady kills him through poisonous tea. In the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” the Wight family gets three wishes and want to wish for some money. However, in the end it ended up killing their son, so the mother wishes for her son back then Mr. Wight decides that it is not a good idea and finally, the reader can infer that he wishes his son away. Suspense is used in many texts which brings out a certain judgment in the reader on whether characters are “good guys” or “bad guys.”

    Read More

  • Crooks In John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice And Men'

    726 Words  | 3 Pages

    2b. The old man states that Crooks has ‘books in his room (20)” and we can infer that Crooks is a man

    Read More

  • Symbols In Paul's Case By Willa Cather

    1298 Words  | 6 Pages

    The neighbors’ use of the word “suspicious” begs for readers’ attention. This particular adjective causes readers to ask questions like “What purpose could Cather have to call the color of a lemonade pitcher suspicious?” or “How could such a thing mean anything more than just a color?” The word “suspicious” usually has a negative connotation, and it is frequently taken to mean something awful might happen. Accordingly, the reader could assume that the conclusion of “Paul’s Case” may be unfavorable for the main character.

    Read More

  • And Summer Is Gone Literary Analysis

    963 Words  | 4 Pages

    Have you ever been left by a so called “friend”? When I say left, I am referring to all sorts of different ways of being excluded at some point by someone you call a friend. This of course includes them no longer acknowledging you, them slowly drifting away from you but closer to someone else, and them leaving you hanging both physically and mentally. The theme of “people drifting apart brings one person closer to themself” is used in many novels and short stories as it is a very relatable topic and can get the reader to feel closer to a character and feel more emotion toward them.

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis Of All Summer In A Day

    873 Words  | 4 Pages

    All Summer in A Day by Ray Bradbury is about how a little jealousy can turn into rage and reveals that children, along with adults, can be blinded by something so simple. The author of All Summer in A Day believes jealousy and bullying are the key emotions played in this short story. Bradbury claims that the main characters, Margot, is being bullied because she was Earth longer. Whereas, the other students don’t even remember Earth because of how early they all moved to Venus. When Margot arrives, she was four.

    Read More

  • The Judge Pyncheon Character Analysis

    975 Words  | 4 Pages

    The suggestion that the Judge’s life contains “splendid rubbish [...] to cover up and paralyze a more active and subtle conscience” displays the duality of the characterization which the narrator creates. The juxtaposition of “splendid” and “rubbish” serve to expose the Judge’s deteriorating morals, while crafting the surface of respectability. This subtle use of contrasting opinions aids to establish the narrator’s sarcastic tone, simultaneously displaying the judge’s desired character and then undermining that character with suggestions of his true nature. The choice of the word “rubbish” especially highlights the sarcastic tone, equating the sequence of Judge Pyncheon’s life to that of trash, worthy of nothing. This carefully placed, critical diction reveals the true feelings of the narrator, bolstering his sarcasm.

    Read More

  • Gentlemen Of The Jury Analysis

    561 Words  | 3 Pages

    He is guilty for this crime and guilty because he has the responsibility for Miss Ewell’s discomfort which will take her many years to be able to trust a man

    Read More

  • Analysis Of All Summer In A Day By Ray Bradbury

    324 Words  | 2 Pages

    The short story All Summer in a Day, by Ray Bradbury is about the benefits of the sun and reveals that individuals don’t realize the worth of something, until it’s gone. These characters did not realize the many benefits of the sun. In the text it states, “the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair”, demonstrating that without the sun, these children were colourless and pale (Bradbury 1-2). As well, without having the sun, these children did not have a positive mindset, and were always complaining with the environment. When, “(t)he sun came out ... and the jungle burned with sunlight as the children, released from their spell, rushed out, yelling into the springtime...

    Read More

  • Film Suspense Analysis

    742 Words  | 3 Pages

    Peter Bogdanovich once said,” suspense is guided by an audience’s sympathy for its characters and an intense need for something dramatic to happen.” The six fundamentals of Good suspense: 1. Subjectivity. 2.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Hi-Yo Void

    1017 Words  | 5 Pages

    As an illustration, Holmes began this adventure by explaining his in-depth knowledge of the case before even stepping foot, in Dartmoor. Already the reader is given the sense that there was more to this case than just Simpson being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The evidence against Simpson was, “having

    Read More

  • How To Write A Brief Summary Of James R. Benn's Novel

    745 Words  | 3 Pages

    But as soon as he gets back he is saddled with two of the toughest cases of his investigations career. The first is a request from Sergeant Eugene Jackson a longtime friend who he grew up with and served with in the military that is now facing racism as well as conspiracy in his unit. Even as he is now on vacation, it will not be so easy to help his friend, as Major Cosgrove of British Intelligence wants his expertise on a delicate and bizarre case of the murder of a British accountant that may be linked to some higher ups in the US Army. Cosgrove gives him very scanty information about the murder, which makes him think that maybe the army major has something to hide. But with the mysterious murder set in the village near Sergeant Eugene’s regiment, Billy Boyle may just have the opportunity to resolve both murder

    Read More

More about August Heat Literary Analysis

Open Document