The Enemy - V.S Naipaul. Self Discovery

Question: Explore the ways in which Naipaul presents Self Discovery in 'the Enemy'.

Response:
In 'The Enemy', Naipaul's presentation of a young boy who considers his "mother as the enemy", and his relationship with his father, and moving to live with his mother after his father's death as a journey of self-discovery.

Naipaul makes use of the conflict between a mother and her son to highlight the issues the boy has. The fits where he "couldn't take an order" form anyone and the fits when his "mother was anxious to be nice", are indicative of the issues the boy has with his mother moving away from his father. This element underpins the type of self discovery - that of belonging and family - that the boy experiences later.

Naipaul makes use of water as a symbol to indicate discovery or a keener sense of clarity. The water, coupled with a near-death experience serve to allow the boy to see more clearly. And while the "near-drowning" produces a well-written essay, the eventual outcome is further conflict with his mother after a brief moment of compassion. Therefore Naipaul uses the juxtaposition of the son "facing death calmly" with his father's "dying of fright" to highlight how both his father and the boy have issues with the mother and how the son's actions and reactions to his mother stem from the confrontational issue between his parents.

Eventually, when the second near-death experience reveals another revelation to the boy, after "water rushed over" his face, the boy find his mother crying and caring for him. And he realises that he cares for his mother too. Naipaul thus shows that the boy and his father are not alike, and the relationship with his mother does not have to be like the one between his parents. The boy realises this too, and the moment of clarity and self-discovery allow the boy to relinquish a sort of allegiance or childhood loyalty to his no dead father, to focus on his mother who cares for him.

Thus, Naipaul uses near-death experiences strengthened through the symbolic use of water as a catalyst, thus purveying clarity and rebirth to produce moments of the boy learning more about himself and his motives and feelings. Thus perhaps not in the traditional sense of self-discovery does Naipaul present the boy, but rather as an intricate relationship between aspects of family life, that are revealed gradually and thus awaken a keener sense of self from the boy.

Rough Mark: C+ (lacks clarity, could be more direct, yet good original attempt with some strong points raised)

The Hollow of the Three Hills - Nathaniel Hawthorne. Self Discovery

Question: Discuss ways in which the story explores self discovery.

Response:
In 'The Hollow of the Three Hills', Hawthorne presents a "lady, graceful of form and fair of feature", "yet smitten with an untimely blight", meeting an old women in a setting that is not only mysterious, but through Hawthorne's placement of it in "strange old times", as supernatural and foreboding as well. Hence, it is this plot that revolves about this lady's decent into the Hollow to gain knowledge of the repercussions of her actions and that explores self-discovery.

Hawthorne's gradual change in description of the old women to "withered hag" and eventually "evil witch", strengthens the idea of the Hollow as a place of evil and death. The use of lore as the Hollow as "once a resort as a Power of Evil" and the physical setting of "masses of decaying wood" allow Hawthorne to highlight the lady's willingness to go to any lengths to find out what she desires to know. It should be pointed out that the ideas or knowledge she seeks is not necessarily that of furthering herself -self discovery, but rather that of knowledge pertaining to her loved ones. Consequently, it is the revelation of that knowledge in the form of visions that reveal a striking amount of the lady to the reader and indeed to the younger lady herself, thus through revisiting her actions and their repercussions,  the lady discovers something about herself.

 Additionally, Hawthorne presents the discovery in groups of threes and in three visions the lady learns of the repercussions of her sinfulness. The sin of "betraying the trusting fondness of her husband", her sins against her parents and ultimately, "leaving her child to die", are presented as visions after which the lady wishes to continue until she glimpses the fate of her child.

Throughout, Hawthorne foreshadows death, and the "doling of death bells" and "the funeral procession" of the lady's child prove to be the knowledge she dreads - for after the last vision, the lady "lifted not her head". Therefore, Hawthorne ambiguously crafts the revelation of this knowledge and her subsequent apparent death to indicate that either the knowledge itself, the burden of letting her child die, killed her or that the price to pay for attaining the knowledge through an evil and esoteric right is death.

Either way, Hawthorne presents a journey or a series of revelations of repercussions and subsequent self discovery overpowering the lady and the severity of the enlightenment contributing if not causing her death.

Example Essay: Rough mark (solid B)

Click here for an approach commenting on Suspense

The Hollow of the Three Hills - Nathaniel Hawthorne. Suspense

Essay Question: Comment on the ways Hawthorne develops suspense in The Hollow of the Three Hills.

Response:
Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Hollow of the Three Hills' develops suspense in the very opening line as the "strange old times" introduces the unknown. This unknown is strengthened by Hawthorne's introduction of the concept of reality and fantasy merging into one, a setting in which "madmen's reveries" were "amongst the actual circumstances of life"; Hawthorne's use of a world of the abnormal, or rather, the supernatural is thus built. This combination of setting in time and the need for the story to be completed in "one hour" create anticipation; the time running out therefore builds suspense.

Furthermore, the use of a "decaying" and desolate setting contributes to the mystery: as "no mortal could observe them" in this place. Hawthorne creates an ominous mood through the use of negative metaphors and images referring to death. "Brown grass" and a hollow devoid of growth not only contribute to this mood but foreshadow events to come. Therefore, the dark and desolate mood not only accentuate the mystery but through the foreshadowing of the setting itself, its significance creates suspense.

This significance is strengthened by the placement of the hollow between "three hills" and thus Hawthorne develops a symbolic pattern to liken the hollow to being bellow the Holy Trinity, Heaven. This association of religion is brought about by the supernatural nature of the events unfolding, the references to an ethereal and almost otherworldly setting. The combination of Heaven and the "Power of Evil" that is felt in the hollow indicate a place between heaven and hell: a place of judgement - a purgatory of sorts. The symbolic significance of the hollow as a place of judgement of sin creates an anticipation and thus suspense as a feeling of impending judgement is strengthened.

The very style in 'The Hollow of the Three Hills' develops a sense of confusion and a feeling of being overwhelmed. Hawthorne's dense and impeccably crafted short story present various metaphors in every line, with symbolic patterns that interweave, developing a story that overwhelms just as the lady is overwhelmed.

The presence of sounds associated to visions and these associated apparitions fading into the wind of the hollow create confusion -  brought about by the suggestive nature of the associations that thus continue an ephemeral feel. The antithesis of these sounds in close position to each other strengthens the state of confusion. Hawthorne effectively juxtaposes many images and sounds to extend this feeling of confusion and thus the very style of writing therefore develops suspense through the same confusion felt by both the character and the reader.

Example Essay: rough mark (B)

Click here for an approach on  Self Discovery and Death

The Tempest - Prospero's portrayal

The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a play that presents many characters, each with different facets that are perceived differently by various readers. Some plays have cast Ariel as either male or female. Some plays more importantly have portrayed Prospero differently. This leads me to this blog post's question, how do you personally perceive Prospero? Here is an extract from an essay I wrote on how we, the reader, may perceive Prospero initially... "Prospero's initial story of how he, the rightful duke of Milan, was back-stabbed, cruelly usurped by his brother, Antonio, and his daughter, Miranda's initial carelessness of their story does draw some sympathy from the reader's part. However, once the reader recognises that Prospero is seeking revenge, the reader is left confused as to whom really does deserve sympathy as the balance of power is tipped firmly in Prosper's favour." Prospero is a complicated character, certainly an ambitious figure, harsh and demanding, certainly cruel as well as impatient and deeply troubled. He is shown to seek revenge and justice. This side of him draws no sympathy from the reader, coupled with the fact that Prospero neglected his people in Milan, giving the power to his brother, whom as all men seeking power would, realised he could have even greater power without his brother. Yet Prospero grows into a leader on the island who perhaps is seen to restore harmony and who aims to reconcile with his enemies. Shakespeare has undoubtedly created a very detailed character whom is open to interpretation. I would love to hear what you think of Prospero? Does he draw any sympathy from you?

The Fly in the Ointment by V.S Pritchett Analysis

A younger man visits his bankrupt father, who is depressed following the collapse of his business. The son is a disappointment to the father due to his choice of career. The father seems strong until, during their conversation, a fly enters the room, with the father overreacting in an attempt to get rid of this simple fly.
This overreaction is perceived as weakness by the son, and driven by pity, he offers his father some money. Immediately the passion and vigor returns to his father, and the shrewd, cunning businessman reemerges and brutally demands to know why he had not been offered this money sooner.

What does the title mean?
Firstly we should take a look at the title since it could provide some insight into why certain aspects of this story are present. 'A fly in the ointment' is a proverb or saying that basically means that something spoils a situation that could have been pleasant. This is shown in the short story literally by a fly which enters the room and causes such an overreaction by the old man that foreshadows text that shows that everything is not as they seem; things are not alright.

Why the father is such a memorable character:
The young man, the son, is shown in the first paragraph to rather walk a distance than show up in a cab in front of his father since he thinks 'The old man will wonder where I got the money'. This quote is the first sign that shows the reader that the old man is concerned with money.

The author uses two statements to show the demise of the business, firstly '...building a business out of nothing, and then, after a few years of prosperity, letting it go to pieces in chafer of rumour, idleness, quarrels, accusations and, at last, bankruptcy.' The sons questions whether 'they were telling the truth  when they said the old man was a crook and that his balance sheets were cooked?' and then secondly, later in the story the narrator shows the son's thoughts when he thinks the father will tell him the embarrassing truth which he already knows about, that of  'the people you've swindled'. These show the father in a bad light, a cheating businessman that fixed his sheets for acknowledgement and was concerned with money and the class of men it put him with.

The father's concern with social status is shown when he the author states 'A small man himself, he was proud to be bankrupt with the big ones; it made him feel rich.' This also foreshadows that despite the old man's statements about having no need for money, he is still truly concerned about it, since he has a desire to feel rich.

The use of foreshadowing and its role together with humor and irony
There are many instances of foreshadowing, a few that have been mentioned above. One that is apparent is the use of 'his father had two faces.' which shows the contrasting emotions the old man can show and his ability, like a businessman to show the face that will suite his end needs. This piece of foreshadowing should show the reader the truth behind the father but instead the reader is made to believe the old man, that he no longer has need of money.

In the old man's speech to his son on the irrelevance for money he states, 'If you came in now and offered me a thousand pounds I should laugh at you.' this shows the reader that the father has outgrown his cruel, greedy ways. The irony emerges when the son does in fact merely mention raising cash when the father, instead of refusing it, brutally demands why it had not been forthcoming. This complete 'change of face' (intended pun) is ironic since it goes against what the reader expects.

It is almost humorous in the emergence that the father has not changed, and the reader will see the amusing side behind the fly. An actual fly foreshadows the proverb, that pleasantry will be spoiled, by the fathers demands of cash after his apparent no longer need for fiscal bounds.

The Destructors by Graham Greene Analysis

This short story by Graham Greene is a critical yet humorous one in which a group of young teenagers have formed a gang in post-blitz London and plot to tear down the only symbolic house left standing after a bombing raid leveled an area. It would be wise to look at the characters and their influence in this short story and the results they have on various subsequent view-points that the reader will see.

Main Characters:
Trevor or T. is the protagonist in the story as the plot revolves around his actions and decisions. Defining the antagonist is a bit more complicated, since we can look at the Old Misery's house as an antagonist but deeper inspection could point one to recognise that the fact that society's current state is perhaps more accurate. Trevor is looking to destroy the house as it is a symbol for hope for society as it has survived the war and thus the two are working against each other; Trevor against society.

A picture from Blitzed London to show the grey despair 

The name Trevor is common and isn't anything special, whereas T. creates a sense of power and leadership. This could show that the gang might not accept society's values of a birth name and thus alter it to suite their acceptance. When Blackie calls T., Trevor, the reader can sense the shift in power between the leaders.

How Suspense is created:
Suspense is created throughout this story, perhaps most obviously when the gang questions T. of his whereabouts and T.'s responses are short and curtailed, with his eyes looking down as shown by 'He looked at the ground, as though he had thoughts to hide.' The manner of his short responses creates tension and in turn suspense, this reaches a climax when 'T raised his eyes, as grey and disturbed as the drab August day.' this sentence confirms the author's build up of tension and thus the reader focuses on the following 'We'll pull it down' which is central to the story.

Suspense is expanded upon later in the story by the premature return of Old Misery and T's breakdown and the subsequent 'He protested with the jury of the child he had never been.' is completely against T's previous way of acting and this sudden change creates suspense while also showing the uncanny or unnatural view that Trevor never had a childhood in which he behaved like a child.

Why is the setting so significant?
In many short stories there is not enough time for authors to build up a interesting setting that adds significant value to the plot. Yet, Greene uses a blitzed, grey, downcast London;  a city with little hope as a central and important focus point. The setting in turn shapes the characters and their fellow gang members and might be responsible for their willingness to destroy this beautiful house. The house stands as a symbol of hope and triumph over adversity and thus serves the community.

The humor present:
There is plenty of humor present in this short story, most notably by the Top Hat that is identified by the lorry driver and is amusing considering in is worn by a man who was locked in a loo, whose house had just fallen down and the top hat should be a symbol ironically of high society.

T. tells Old Misery 'There's nothing personal'  just before he tears his house down and after that, upon seeing the house torn up, the lorry driver coincidentally repeats the exact same line after openly laughing at Mr Thomas' predicament. One might find humor in the fact that 'There's nothing personal' shows that the destruction was not personal for T. but was deeply personal for Mr Thomas.

What does this short story show?
The author uses the story to show the underlying need for destruction present in human nature, and our ability to destroy beautiful objects for pointless reasons. The destruction of the house is seen as pointless in itself since nothing is gained.


Post-war London's changing social structure could also show the fact that the youth is no longer as connected to the past as previous generations. Thus changing social dynamics and shifting power between generations is an integral part of this story.

Sandpiper question response

This post is in response to a comment on my Analysis of the Sandpiper by Ahdaf Soueif piece.

The narrator's description of the sea and the sand shows the imagery used in the first and last paragraph to show her contrasting feelings between the two points in time, concerning both her married life and feeling towards her marriage.

The narrator's questioning tone and descriptive imagery of the juxtapositions could also indicate her husband and her's cultural differences and subsequent growing apart.

This picture could help you imagine the imagery used

“But what do the waves know of the massed, hot, still sands of the desert… and what does the beach know of the depths, the cold, the currents just there..” – a metaphor for cultural interactions, where neither culture truly understands the other’s.

Hope that helped.

The Hunting Snake by Judith Wright Analysis

The Hunting Snake by Judith Wright
Sun-warmed in this late season's grace
under the autumn's gentlest sky
we walked, and froze half through a pace.
The great black snake went reeling by.

Head-down, tongue flickering on the trail 
he quested through the parting grass;
sun glazed his curves of diamond scale, 
and we lost breath to watch him pass.

What track he followed, what small food
fled living from his fierce intent, 
we scarcely thought; still as we stood
our eyes went with him as he went.

Cold, dark and splendid he was gone
into the grass that hid his prey.
We took a deeper breath of day, 
looked at each other, and went on. 

The narrator observes a warm, tranquil environment that is perceived by the reader as calm and pleasing. The froze "half-through a pace" introduces the snake as an intruder, one that is disturbing this pristine environment.

The description of the snake as beautiful yet dangerous, its size and vicious predatory intent indicates to the reader the amazing contradictions that the snake represents. "We took a deeper breath of day" shows how close the narrator believes they came to death, yet it could simultaneously indicate their amazement, and awe of being in the presence of such a remarkable, dangerous and beautiful creature.

The portrayal of the narrator at the mercy of this magnificent reptile highlights the extended metaphor that is apparent in this poem, one that show that man is till inferior to the true might of nature due to his life being at the mercy of this cold blooded hunter. The description of the snake completely ignoring the narrator ignites a sense of relief felt by the reader but it also indicates that it is not snake that is intruding but in fact it is the narrator, the humans, that are intruding into the beauty of nature.

The Cockroach by Kevin Halligan analysis

The Cockroach by Kevin Halligan

I watched a giant cockroach start to pace,

Skirting a ball of dust that rode the floor.

At first he seemed quite satisfied to trace 

A path between the wainscot and the door,

But soon he turned to jog in crooked rings,

Circling the rusty table leg and back,

And flipping right over to scratch his wings - 

As if a victim of a mild attack

Of restlessness that worsened over time.

After a while, he climbed an open shelf

And stopped. He looked uncertain where to go.

Was this due payment for some vicious crime

A former life had led to? I don't know,

Except I though I recognised myself.

"Comment on the particular presentation and observations of the narrator."

The narrator is initially a blank narrator as he focuses purely on the events, which consists of the cockroach moving across a room. As the poem progresses, the narrator draws away from purely the event and comments on the "restlessness" and uncertainty that this insect eventually portrays. This change is observation coupled with the presentation of the cockroach as the main focus, foreshadows what is to come in the poem.

Many a poem's focus, mainly reserved for human attention, but in this poem, the cockroach, a dirty, repulsive insect takes the place as the main focus and this could foreshadow the author's projection of himself as the cockroach. This projection, defining empathy, is further reinforced by the continuous use and prevalence of "I" in the last few lines. The "I" present in this poem initially concerning a cockroach indicates that the poet is reminiscing about his life and choices.

The rhyme scheme is simple as the narrator describes his observation but changes when the narrator is reminiscing and asking rhetorical questions until the rhyme scheme is shattered by the last line. "Except I thought I recognised myself", this line shows the complex content held by the change in feeling and thought pattern of the narrator. This confusion is in turn felt by the reader as the gravity of the poet's self projection is grasped by the reader.

The reader initially assigns a repulsive idea when reading the title but the narrator's empathetic presentation of the cockroach and eventual meditative and nostalgic tendencies are present, showing the self-reflection in the closing lines, which are ironic in that it goes against what the reader expects.

This poem links very nicely in its narrator's presentation to that of the The Hunting Snake by Judith Wright, in which both poems present their main focus as natural personas, yet the underlying, extended metaphors differ.

Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins Analysis

Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Glory be to God for dappled things-

For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;

For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;

Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;

Landscape plotted and pieced - fold, fallow and plough;

And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;

Whatever is fickle, freckled (who know how?)

With swift, slow; sweet, sour; addazle, dim;

He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise Him

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Pied Beauty by Hopkins is a poem of praise to God for his creations. The title already foreshadows the content in "Pied Beauty" which could alleviate to two-tone beauty, both ends of the spectrum. This idea is reinforced by the constant contrasts between normal expected aesthetic beauty and its contrasts of dull, unaesthetic images. This juxtaposition of beauty and what we consider to be expands upon the amazing natural beauty of our surroundings and in turn of God's creations.

The natural beauty in this poem is described as beautiful purely because of its rich diversity. "Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls" firstly convey an aesthetic beauty but upon closer inspection convey a more complex image; a chestnut is hard on the outside, concealing its meaty interior similarly to a hot coal which is black or grey on the outside, concealing the hot, fiery core. Both of these indicate the contrasts persistent of the "Pied Beauty".

"With swift, slow; sweet, sour; addazle, dim;" reinforce the idea of the beauty of contrasts, opposties as each word is an antonym. The sibilance of the s displays the softness of the tone. Nature is presented as contrasting imperfections, beautiful in its diversity. 

The Woodspurge by Dante Gabriel Rossetti analysis

I have tried to focus primarily on the natural aspect in most of the IGCSE set work this year. This is just a brief analysis to give you some well rounded knowledge of the Woodspurge. 

The Woodspurge by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The wind flapp'd loose, the wind was still

Shaken out dead from the tree and hill

I had walk'd on at the wind's will , -

I sat now, for the wind was still.

Between my knees my forehead was, - 

My lips, drawn in, said not Alas!

My hair was over in the grass,

My naked ears heard the day pass. 

My eyes, wide open, had the run

Of some ten weeds to fix upon,

Among those few, out of the sun

The woodspurge flower'd , three cups in one.

From perfect grief there need not be

Wisdom or even memory:

One thing then learnt remains to me, -

The woodspurge has a cup of three.

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Rossetti does not focus on nature at all in this poem even though a natural object is the title, instead Rossetti uses the natural aspect present in this poem as tool to force the reader to acknowledge the narrator's state of mind.

The narrator is initially shown as wandering aimlessly and is passive in his movement since he is drifting on the wind, allowing the wind, this natural entity, to dictate his movements. This shows the reader the narrator's blank, aimless, almost defeated state of mind.

Nature is then later re-introduced in the form of the woodspurge, this weed, having 'three cups in one', three flowers in one. This woodspurge distracts the man from his deep emotional state of despair. The 'three cups in one' could be a metaphor of  the holy trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit and therefore show the relationship between nature and religion, as natural aspects are used to guide the narrator to and re-affirm his faith.

The woodspurge and in turn, nature, is used to draw the man away from despair and perhaps to a rekindled faith. Nature is portrayed as a tool of faith and almost entirely throughout the poem, the poet uses it to allow the reader to acknowledge the narrator's state of mind, from aimlessness and despair to hope, faith and even a cleansing of past grief. 

As always I would love to hear your thoughts, especially in the way you perceived this poem. Cheers 

The Son's Veto by Thomas Hardy analysis

The Son's Veto by Thomas Hardy essay analysis

Essay questions: "Discuss how status influenced the lives of the characters in the story, paying particular attention to the text." 
"Discuss also the relevance of the title."

Thomas Hardy places the social status and subsequent classes at the forefront of his short story, "the Son's Veto". Status and class, and therefore society's perception of one the, shape the plot and more importantly, the character's actions, reactions and thought processes in this short story.

Primarily, Mr Twycott is acutely aware of the implications of a decision and its affects on one's class in relation to society's perception. His proposal to Sophy was not the norm or status quo of the time and thus the text states "Mr Twycott knew perfectly well that he had committed social suicide by the this step..." Mr Twycott's marriage to Sophy was one of controversy since all in the village knew both people; Mr Twycott being a vicar demanding great respect and veneration while in comparison, Sophy was little more than a servant in his house.

Sophy herself is also aware of the social implication of marriage to Mr Twycott and in response to his proposal of marriage, "even if she had wished  to get away from him she hardly dared refuse a parsonage so reverend and august in her eyes." My Twycott's position and place in society and thus in her eyes refers on her ability to refuse.

Previously Sophy was courted by Sam Hobson, a villager with a similar status as herself . Hobson asked Sophy to marry him and her refusal or rather choice to marry Mr Twycott draws conclusion to the fact that Sophy could easily refuse Sam Hobson but due to MY Twycott's status and position, she could not refuse him.

Mr Twycott gives his son, Randolph, the best education money could buy since he realises the importance of education and its relationship with society. Twycott's plans for his son to go the best school, to be ordained are all testament to the fact that Twycott will want his son to be a gentleman and thus amongst the wealthy and important  in the city.

As Randolph's education improves, he is soon able to realise the faults in his mother and in turn looks upon his mother with shame and disgrace since her level of education affects his status amongst society. Sophy's grammar "which did not yet beget a respect for her among the few acquaintances she made" further reinforces Randolph's perception that his mother is to be viewed as uneducated and in retrospect as a person of little use to him in his quest to become respected amongst his peers, due to his mother's lack of friends or connections.

Sam Hobson's re-emergence and subsequent rekindled relationship with Sophy, Randolph's mother strengthens and soon his proposal of marriage to the widow Mrs Twycott becomes all Sophy can think about. Even though Sophy is Randolph's mother and she should hold her own right to make decisions, Randolph being male, well educated and socially important he has to agree whether she can marry Hobson. Randolph's idea of status shapes his decision and his refusal of Sam is directly related to his mother's marriage to a commoner like Hobson would degrade his status in the eyes of "all the gentleman of England."

Randolph's refusal is foreshadowed by the title of the story, "The Son's Veto", in which veto refers to the son's right to refuse his mother as he holds the position of authority and his masculinity is a direct representation of the common law and social interpretation that men are superior to women. The title and this point indicate that status, class and social perception play the single largest factor in shaping each character's motives and decisions.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on this short story. Any questions, please leave in the comments section below.

A Horse and Two Goats by R.K.Narayan Analysis

Question: "What do the actions and their words say about their different cultures?"

The most important and apparent theme in this short story is cultural differences and the character's inability to communicate properly shows us that the actions of each character are a direct portrayal of their respective cultures.

Both the american and the old Indian man, Muni, are ethnocentric in their approach to the other, since they have very little knowledge of the foreigner's culture they thus evaluate this person on their own cultures and standards. The language barrier and confusion that arises from the inability to communicate causes the old man to assume the American values history and religion while the American assumes the old man is concerned with monetary values.

The American is fiscally orientated and when he sees the village's statue he immediately wants to buy it for himself, sensing a deal where he could get a bargain. In his trivial attempt to communicate that he wants to buy this statue, the old man thinks he is inquiring about the history of the statue instead. The old man assumes this since that is what most people he has met in his life would ask, that is what their culture dictates. Muni therefore assumes that this is what he wants and when the money is waved around, he then thinks he wants to buy his goats, since the question of anyone wanting to buy a religiously and historically important statue is utterly preposterous.

The ethnocentrism of the story portrays the cultures of the characters effectively and their inability to understand each other allows the reader to see what each character's culture represents by their assumption of the other's motives.

The Sandpiper by Ahdaf Soueif analysis

"What role does 'place' play in forming one's identity? How does this affect the narrator in her life?"

The narrator's life and her identity is shaped by this foreign land that she has moved to. Coming from a western world, as a woman, into an Arabic country, there are certain cultural perceptions that will ultimately alter her identity.

The foreignness felt by the narrator is conveyed throughout the story. "My husband translated all this for me and said things to her which I have come to understand meant that tomorrow I would get used to their ways." This quote represents her inability to conform to the cultural and social acceptances.

"If I tried to do the shopping the prices trebled." indicates that even the local merchants tried to take advantage of her 'foreignness' as she was incapable of altering herself to meet their demands or expectations.

Perhaps the most apparent portrayal of the result of the setting on the narrator is the "fading love" experienced between her and her husband. The flashbacks present within the story, "My second summer here was the sixth of our love - and the last of our happiness." allude to the vast differences between their relationship at various times. This foreshadowing as well as an imminent doom, relationship wise, allows the reader to sense the regret and deep emotional state experienced by the narrator.

The narrator was from Europe and her marriage to an Egyptian man has cross-cultural implications. Even though "the inferior status of women" was explained to her, she still went through with this marriage. One could presume that the narrator's ethnocentrism was evident in assuming that her marriage would be more like a western one. "My foreignness, which had been so charming, began to irritate him." indicates that once he had returned home, the narrator's inability to change her to her setting, her 'place' affected their relationship. This is backed by, "He was back home, and he needed someone he could be at home with, at home." indicates that the narrator herself is aware of the implication her inability to conform is having on her relationship.

Lucy, is the daughter she gave birth to yet she refers to Lucy as 'his daughter' indicating that even though they are both her parents; the narrator identifies Lucy as belonging to him since she was born and raised in this foreign land. "My treasure, my trap" allows the reader to notice that the narrator, this woman, wants to escape, to leave, but she is held back by the maternal love she has for her daughter.

The place or setting is the biggest factor in this short story, it is a reason for the couple's fading love and growing estranged. The setting places the narrator in a foreign land, whose cultural values have a negative impact on her causing her to fade from blissful love to saddening regret and hurt. Her identity is altered to that of a foreigner as perceived by those around her and this changes her mind set, perceiving herself differently, as a different person.

I would love to hear how you understood this short story. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. 

The Rain Horse by Ted Hughes Analysis

The Rain Horse

How the author creates mystery as well as a gloomy setting. Comment on the conflict within the short story.

Ted Hughes creates a mysterious and gloomy atmosphere from the outset, by means of the description of the valley the character is gazing upon. "Utterly deserted, shallow bare fields, black and sodden" are words used to describe the setting. The reader would wonder why this man is approaching such a desolate place and thus mystery is created while gloom is built upon by the choice of dark, emotive words in description of the valley.

The rain is clearly a factor in this story and the impact it has on the man's emotional and mental state re-inforces the reader's perception that the man is clearly at conflict with a natural force, the rain. The author's negative choice of words when describing the rain and anything it touches expands upon the feeling of gloom present in this short story. "The distance had vanished in a wall of grey. All around him the fields were jumping and screaming." and words such as "icy rain on his bare skull" lacks any form of euphemism and thus creates a gloomy, if not hostile.

The sudden change of the man's mental state and his emotions over a short space of time by only rain draw comparison to a man suffering from the stress and is on the verge of a mental collapse.  "He looked back at it coldly" "felt nothing but the dullness of feeling nothing. Boredom." but the man then feels impatient and anxious and then subsequently "A wave of anger went over him: anger against himself" - "and anger against the land". These few quotes allow the reader an intimate view of this man's mental thought and the effortless influence the rain has over him. This expands on the conflict in the story and thus the reader notices the man's conflict with oneself too.

The introduction of the horse and its description of its movement as that of another animal, "... on its toes, like a cat, like a dog up to no good" creates mystery since toes refer to humans while dog-like and cat-like movements for a horse are mysterious. The apparent reference to human toes might foreshadow events to come in which the horse acts and thinks as a human. "... nightmarish leopard." is another negative, emotive word that the reader now associates the horse with a nightmare.

Ted Hughes further expands upon mystery by the use of unnatural behaviour by the horse. Describing what a horse should be doing as it cowers from the rain and then having this horse behave unnaturally is mysterious and builds up tension. The description of the horse in a calm yet intent manner is unsettling to both the reader and the man and subsequently the apparent 'stalking of the man' by the horse is downright odd. The man asks himself  "Was it clairvoyant. Maybe a mad animal can be clairvoyant?" This absurd question by this man draws suspicion to the man's state of mind yet again. 

"At the same time he was ashamed to find himself acting so insanely, ducking and creeping..." creates irony when "He tried to imagine how anybody in their senses would just walk off home." and thus we expect some sense of rationality to return to this man yet the text goes against what we expect and we find the man at conflict the man at conflict with this horse.

"The ordeal with the horse had already sunk from reality." This expands upon the mysterious feel to the story and the author's reference to the grey water being rung out of the clothes' and "as if some important part had been cut out of his brain" further draws reference to the man's mental state. The reader gets the feeling that this man has or is about to lose his mind and might have lost the ability to separate reality from his imagination. This culminates in the reader perceiving the horse as a mere figment of an insane man's imagination and the point to which the grey rain and loneliness can drive one to.

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this short story. Please leave them as a comment below.