Katherine Beattie 's Weekend, By Ann Beattie

He looked up and down Cimarron Street, the cool breeze ruffling his blond hair,”(Matheson 31). We see how the seasons change throughout the stories because the spring and summer months show us a gradual build of hope and success, but we also see how it goes through fall and winter and this is where we get the gloomy and depressing feel behind the

Within stories weather can often be personified in order to reflect and enhance the mood or tone of the story. Certain weather indicates certain moods, this can help visually enhance the story for the reader and provide extra context for analysis. In the short story The Painted Door by Sinclair Ross, the author demonstrates the idea that if both of those in a marriage are not fully committed it could lead to discontent for all, and how environmental issues could play a part in this. The storm within the story is used to represent Ann’s anxiety about whether her husband will come home or not; and as the story continues and the storm gets worse, so does her anxiety. It can also be seen as a representative of her inner conflict in deciding between

Foster’s insights about seasons and weather in literature change the story’s interpretation by clarifying their purposes. Foster’s main idea in the chapter It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow is weather always has a purpose; for example, rain, which has an “association with Spring,” can allow a “character to be cleansed symbolically” and “can bring the world back to life.” This insight is clear in the short story as outside Mrs.Mallard’s room the “trees were all aquiver with the new spring life” and “the delicious breath of rain was in the air.” The rain and spring weather may be dismissed as merely setting, but Foster’s insights allow the deeper meaning behind the inclusion of rain and spring to be clarified. The rain and spring show how Mrs.Mallard was cleansed

Analyzing different mediums can enhance an individual’s overall appreciation and understanding of a particular idea or story. While analysis of a painting can reveal the mood of the artwork, an analysis of a poem can reveal the author’s tone. Much more then that, analysis provides an opportunity to explore each work in an attempt to understand human nature through each author’s perspective. While exploring the painting “Ulysses and the Sirens” by J.W. Waterhouse and the poem “The siren song” by Margaret Atwood, a universal truth presents itself. While the painting focuses on the thematic idea of Odysseus being stubborn while his men care for his safety to get home, the poem holds a different view. In contrast, the thematic statement from the poem discusses the idea that the Siren hates singing and being in a bird suit, but is asking for help but it’s still tempting to hear the song. Although differing in point of view, both the painting and the poem explore an aspect of human nature that are relevant to society today. There are two different authors for the painting and the poem. However, the two are different when compared to each

Everyone has heard of seeing your life flash before your eyes in the moments before you die, however for old Granny Weatherall, her life trickles by like an unsteady stream that meanders back and forth from the past to the present. In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”, the author uses imagery, the character’s inner dialogue, and figurative language to show stream of consciousness and how the character feels emotions such as bitterness, wistfulness, and a little bit of desperation.

The subject of this text are the brush fires that the author views in October. The occasion of this is the particular time that she came out to see these brush fires. The audience is the readers of LInda Thomas’s works. They are also people from the wowwomen site.

The cold air is relentless and the fire can only do so much to keep a person safe in the elements, but this isn’t always the case in stories. The short story, The Outcasts of Poker Flat, written by Bret Harte entails the life changing experiences that “outcasts” have to endure in horrible weather that becomes inevitable. Albeit this story deals with the unpleasant side of nature, the short story, A White Heron, by Sarah Orne Jewett illustrates the exact opposite. Rather, nature becomes Sylvie’s one true love. The juxtaposing ideas of nature in these two short stories still manage to make the characters make extremely critical life decisions. The short stories A White Heron, by Sarah Orne Jewett and The Outcasts of Poker Flat, by Bret Harte, have key aspects that make themselves coincide and contrast with each other and assist the characters make difficult decisions mainly through the settings in which they are placed; the season that the story occurs in, and the situations in which the characters have to tackle.

Furthermore, Ann’s uncertainty flourishes when “night [comes] early” (5) and the “slow dimming of the light [clutches] her with an illogical sense of abandonment” (5). The illusion of loneliness becomes reality as night approaches and John remains absent. As the light progressively disappears, Ann begins to feel abandoned and uncertain of the truth behind John’s promise. In addition, we notice the significance of light in Ann and John’s relationship when Steven arrives and Ann “[lets] him in and [lights] the lamp” (6). Lighting the lamp for Steven elucidates Ann’s slight sense of reassurance that John will return. During her moment of uncertainty, Ann believes that if Steven is able to travel and persist through the storm then John will be capable as well. However, this feeling is momentary as “the lamp between [her and Steven] [flickers]” (7). The flickering light augments a feeling of weariness in her fidelity as well as wavering feelings towards Steven. Ann is unsure of her feelings towards John and begins to question if they should instead be directed to Steven

In Willa Cather’s novel My Ántonia, Cather uses the theme of the natural world to further expand on the persona of the character, Jim Burden, and his romantic outlook on life. Jim shows a strong bond to nature because it brings back his idyllic childhood memories and the feelings he had of absolute bliss. By connecting the theme of nature to his childhood, Jim presents the idea that he feels dissatisfied as an adult in the city and misses his life on the farm where he was in union with nature. Moreover, Jim links Ántonia, the most important person from his childhood, to the idea of nature. He recognizes that the familiar feeling of utter happiness brought to him by nature is also brought to him by Ántonia; therefore, his memories of Ántonia coincide with the natural world around him. Jim’s ability to make the most minute occurrences in the natural world hold a deeper, more profound meaning, such as his elaborate depiction of a sunset from his childhood, asserts him as a romantic character. Furthermore, Cather correlates the changes of the seasons and the development of the farmland to further illustrate Jim’s growth as a character. In particular, she uses the transition from winter to spring to highlight Jim’s character growth as a result of the impact the tragic events of winter had on him. Additionally, Cather connects the beginning of Jim’s life in Nebraska to the new, empty lands of the Nebraskan plains and ties his progression as a character with the development of the

In conjunction with the symbolic representation of Elisa’s life, the dramatic description of the environment can also be seen as a unique representation of the relationship conflict between husband and wife. Steinbeck’s foggy description demonstrates conflict through the following statement, "a time of quiet and waiting." This description is interesting because the fields are personified as waiting for rain, however, “rain and fog do not go together” therein lies the conflict just as Elisa waits for a positive change in how her husband treats her (Palmerino, Gregory J). Gregory P. further points out that, “The natural elements of the foothills ranch seem as unwilling to confront each other as the characters that inhabit its environs. Hence, fog and rain can be seen as the female and male equivalents to Elisa and Henry.” This only further solidifies the deep rooted troubles within Elisa and her relationship with her husband. The setting of the story is personified to act as a symbolic representation of the couple’s relationship (Steinbeck, John 337-338).

Throughout the passage, the author uses symbolism to create a more meaningful and emotional plot. The frame-story is set during a cold spell in November, which signifies a

Catherine decides to reveal her pregnancy, and “It turned cold that night and the next day it was raining” (320). Frederic goes back to the front, leaving Catherine behind pregnant in Milan and it is also raining. The train ride to Stresa where Frederic meets up with Catherine it is raining. This rain symbolizes abandonment. The boat trip from Italy to Switzerland it is raining. This rain means that Frederic and Catherine are scared they will not get to the Switzerland side of the river before daybreak. Frederic will be killed for abandoning the army if they do not make it. The nurse told Frederic his baby is dead during the operation on Catherine and he looks out of the window and it is raining. Catherine dies from a hemorrhage during the cesarean section and it rains. "It seems she had one hemorrhage after another. They couldn't stop it. I went into the room and stayed with Catherine until she died. She was unconscious all the time, and it did not take her very long to die (320)”. Henry leaves the hospital back to the hotel in the rain. This rain symbolizes he is devastated he lost everyone he loves and the rain is his sadness. Rain is all throughout the novel from beginning to end.

Rain, persuades, and inspires her to learn to read, to define her own feelings and write them down in a diary. She motivates Precious to discover the truth of her life. Precious wants to change her life and makes a promise not to remain on welfare like her mother. She also vows to take better care of her son, Abdul. She follows through with this despite some challenges that make it seem impossible.

wind. It was as if it was crying, almost howling for its voice to be

Roald Dahl uses various writing techniques in the horror short story, “The Landlady,” to build suspense, or the uncertainty or anxiety that a reader will feel about what may happen next in a story, novel, or drama. In this short story, the protagonist, Billy Weaver, a young, handsome seventeen-year-old, traveled from London to Bath, due to work, and looks for accommodation. Eventually, he came across a quaint bed and breakfast owned by a landlady who appeared to be generous. The landlady portrayed herself as a kind, innocent soul, but her intentions spoke otherwise. As the tale continued, Billy realizes that things are not what they initially appeared to be at the bed and breakfast. Through the use of foreshadowing and characterization, the author, Roald Dahl, of the horror short story, “The Landlady,” effectively builds suspense for the reader in the thread of the plot.