Interpreting "The Story of an Hour" The final paragraph of "The story of an Hour" is a short, one-line sentence, but contains the final and most important irony of this short story. ... Everyone within the story believes she would have wanted to see her husband alive. ... Chopin describes Louise as said to "not hear the story as many women have heard the same," and whispering the word "free, free, free," over and over under her breath. ... These feelings would be short-lived though, her mind soon became consumed with selfish thoughts. ...

• Word Count: 640
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

As we see in the short stories "Araby" (Joyce) and "Where are you going, where have you been?... The story also can be reminiscent of a fairytale - at the end of the story, the lead character is rewarded with a "happily ever after.... Adolescence, obsession, and irrationality are some of the first words that come to mind to describe James Joyce's short story, "Araby.... The story also has a fairytale feel to it. ... Those still in their innocence would never feel the need to work and act upon the needs that are necessary would be detrimental for humanity's s...

• Word Count: 1079
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography

As a younger naive child only a few years ago I used to think that I was much like a leaf, withstanding rain and the strongest of winds. I was invincible as did these beautiful leaves appear to me. But time would come to change much as I would. Life seemed so unbearable at times that I wanted to fall, to crack and just to give in to all around me. Why be strong? ...

• Word Count: 275
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

The short work, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,"" by Ambrose Bierce, showcases a fine example of a crux in the first of the story's three parts. ... Since the second part of the story features mainly exposition, the reader is forced to piece together information on the setting and characters during the first of the story's three parts. ... Bierce drops hints throughout the story to build suspense, and direct the reader's focus towards the plot twist coming at the very end of the story. ... This suggests that no matter what happens over the course of the short story, Farquhar...

• Word Count: 860
• Approx Pages: 3

John Updike's short story "A&P", can be interpreted in several different ways. You can look deep into every detail of the short story or take it for only what is written, possibly leaving the reader with two completely opposite conclusions. The spin put on the story by the reader is really a way to reflect on own behavior. ... The moment of suspense takes hold in a short paragraph while Sammy introduces his manager and describes his personality. ... Sammy's mind takes a sharp turn during the climax of the story. ...

• Word Count: 706
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

When I read this short book, I was in an anxious mood, for I would move off to college the next day. ... I'd seen pictures of heaps of skeletal figures, with shaven heads, and been told horrible stories of the hardships of the Jews. ... I'd seen documentaries of concentration camps, interviews of survivors, read all sorts of short stories on Nazi brutality. ...

• Word Count: 287
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

In Jack Finney's short story "Contents of A Dead Mans Pocket" the idea is presented that people should value family more then anything. ... In this short story the idea is presented that people should value family more then anything. ...

• Word Count: 263
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

Kaye Gibbonsuse of simple diction, unmarked dialogue, and a unique story structure in her first novel, Ellen Foster, allows the reader to explore the emotions and thoughts of this heroic, ten-year-old girl modeled after Gibbonsown experiences as a young girl. ... The novel is written in a short, choppy sentence structure using simple word choice, or diction, in a stream of consciousness to enable the reader to perceive the novel in the rational of an eleven-year-old girl. One short, simple sentence is followed by another , relating each in an easy flow of thoughts. ... Punctuat...

• Word Count: 637
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

How the Yellow Wall Paper Drives the Main Character Insane At the beginning of the story, the character seems fairly normal. ... As the story comes to an end she has defiantly drove herself insane by staring at the wallpaper. ... Then she seems to think that she was once trapped behind the wallpaper, and she ends up absolutely crazy, and it was all thanks to the setting of this short story. ... If not for this setting, the author wouldn't have a very productive story. ...

• Word Count: 460
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Brave New World tells the story of a futuristic earth in which thought is controlled. ... The long, flowing sentences in the passage are offset by short, direct ones. ... The short sentences are to the point so that the fact permeates quickly. ... By fluctuating long and short sentences Mond's traits is further conveyed to the reader. Aldous Huxley wrote a story about a society that has rules about what can and cannot be thought and done. ...

• Word Count: 822
• Approx Pages: 3

The short story "Reunion" by John Cheever is about a young boy named Charles who goes to visit his father in New York City. The story revolves around Charles's impression of his father and the harsh reality of his father being an alcoholic. The story starts off with Charles on a train going to New York City to meet with his father. ... I think the main message of this story is Charles's innocence versus the harsh reality of his father's alcoholism. ... He explains in the poem that he is actually afraid in the end of the story that he might end up like his father. ...

• Word Count: 542
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In the short story It's Just too Late, written by Calvin Trillin, we are presented with the story of FaNee Cooper, a troubled teenager searching to find her place in the world. ... However, when I thought about the story in its entirety, I began to see things more clearly. ...

• Word Count: 399
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

This short story Harrison Bergeron is a satire of the USA today. ... However, despite all this, they do not, and cannot make a person thoughtless, or control his thoughts, and that is why this is the most oppressive law in the story. ... Many times in the story, George Harrison is on the verge of having an independent, and possibly slightly rebellious thought, and his brain is rattled with a loud piercing sound. ...

• Word Count: 380
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The summer wore away, and autumn set in with rain and an unseasonal frost at night. When I put gloves on the baby, she chewed them and had to sit in her pram with cold, wet hands. I did not mind for myself, but I did not know how to keep her warm. She dribbled too and her chest was always damp. She resisted for some time but in the end she caught a cold. ...

• Word Count: 738
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Dom was a sad teenager for the most part. He didn't seem to fit in; he wasn't the most athletic or good-looking kid. But he was quite the intellect; of course this didnt matter to anyone else in his classic American high school with all the cliques and jocks. The thoughts didnt start until about a week ago, the dark and grimy thoughts. They sent a cool rush down his spine whenever they surfaced. ...

• Word Count: 975
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The ceiling is rugged and covered with minute balled pieces. It's like the little popcorn, and is symbolic of me. The door was a bold red and had 4B on it in gold, rusty copper numbers. I figured that it had some kind of meaning behind it, but I could never figure it out even if I tried. The lights continuously flickered on and off, as though it wasn't already dark enough. ...

• Word Count: 766
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

As I walked into the bar, I saw her sitting by herself, stirring a Long Island Ice Tea with one hand and her head resting over the other. I looked around the bar to familiarize myself with the surroundings to become more relaxed. The place looked pretty full, but why was this lady sitting alone? I have never been able to just walk right up to someone and introduce myself right off the bat. I always needed a few drinks before I was even able to give her a smile or two. ...

• Word Count: 790
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

That was a horrible day; a giant shudder convulsed my body as the wind made contact, chilling me to the bone. My eyes scanned the surroundings looking for a shape or shadow in the blinding whiteness. The trees were all white too, like monster blobs with only a touch of green color coming through the deep snow. I wanted to back home as soon as possible because I didn't want Ann to be alone in such a terrible day. However, the time seemed to be frozen along with my feet in the blizzard of white and wind. ...

• Word Count: 612
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

The characters represented in this story are characterized as either Ivy or Bean. ... This story is age appropriate because children can relate this book to their own childhood. ... The illustrations in this story portray Bean like a tomboy because she is dresses in casual clothes and has short hair. However, Ivy's illustration it this story would be viewed girly because she is wearing a dress and has long hair. The setting of this story is not in one specific spot it moves around from Bean's house to Ivy's and sometimes to the mall and even the street. ...

• Word Count: 535
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

"All The Years of Her life" is a short story in which Morley Callaghan describes that Alfred's view has changed very much. Alfred is afraid of growing up and becoming an adult at the beginning story. ... In this story, Callaghan presents an idea of change demonstrated by Alfred's epiphany due to his mother's influence, such as being more mature, growing ashamed of himself, and being aware of people's age. ... However, at the end of story, Alfred senses his mother's feeling when "he watched his mother and he never spoke, but at that moment his youth seemed to be...

• Word Count: 568
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The flashbacks that Charlie kept having during the story weren't necessary enough for the movie. ... I feel this ruined the closure needed in the story. ... Even though I believe the book was a better interpretation of this story, the movie had its own advantages. ... The movie is a condensed version of the story that still brings the point across. It is many hours shorter than reading the book. ...

• Word Count: 582
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In "The Cask Of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe, the personality of Montresor is explicitly demonstarted to the audience through numerous literary techniques employed by Poe throughout the story. ... This frame of mind carries through Poe's short story as we are taken down a road of Montresor's one track mind. ... As previously mentioned, it is obvious that Montresor dislikes Fortunado from the very opening of the story, however as we read further we see the deeply homicidal and blood lustful aspects of Montresor's thought process. ... But he wants it on his own terms, and to re...

• Word Count: 524
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the short story "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway, a girl and a man discuss weather or not she should have an abortion. Because the man and the girl have different views on this subject, they argue continually throughout the story. ... At the end of the story the man clearly says that he doesn't want the baby. ... The story Hills like white elephants is based on a decision that must be made. ...

• Word Count: 590
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

I originally heard stories and details about being stoned from people I associated with. Most stories seemed positive, therefore, I became quite interested in experiencing this sensation. ... Not only does it have harmful short-term effects, it also has harmful long-term effects. Short-term effects include altering and damaging brain cells controlling thinking, emotion, pleasure, coordination, mood and memory. ...

• Word Count: 884
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

People often fear or ridicule what they do not understand; such is the case in this short story written by Raymond Carver. It is the story of a married couple where the wife has a blind friend (Robert) the husband (our narrator) has never met. ... During the short visit to their home the husband has an enlightening experience and begins to understand, and eventually befriends the blind man. ...

• Word Count: 706
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School