The Catbird Seat : Study Questions

Along the way Martin meets Wallumudulla and learns they are all on the journey but for different reasons they know this because in wallumudullas time the property dose not exist yet wallumandulla believes the journey to “be a journey of my feet and if my spirit, I have to go alone” (pg 116) by now Martin has been though so much and his perspective of the land has changed dramatically, Martin now agrees with ted that “this isn't my place, or yours, or megs no more mine than draculers. I just look after it that's what we are human care-takers” (pg186). For the rest of the journey Martin realised how selfish he was and he now wants to become a care taker and care for the

Mrs. May views Mrs. Greenleaf, the wife of her hand around the farm, as one of the lowest members of society. Mrs. May not only sees her as less of a woman than she is, but is resentful of the manner in which she lives her life. From Mrs. May’s first introduction to the woman of the Greenleaf family, when Mrs. Greenleaf and her five daughters pulled up to her farm in a “pieced-together truck” (26), she has resented the mangy manner in that the Greenleaf woman, lead by Mrs. Greenleaf, live their life. Because they do not necessarily care about being the stately woman Mrs. May thinks they should be, Mrs. May views them as less than her and not as true woman. Further, Mrs. May has an incident when she runs into Mrs. Greenleaf observing her religious practices in the woods. This involved Mrs. Greenleaf, after she cut out horrible stories from newspapers digging a hole in the woods, burying them and falling to the group and moaning for an hour or so. Mrs. May describes the experience as Mrs. Greenleaf, “moving her huge arms back and

Mrs. Barrows on the other hand was almost the complete opposite of Mr. Erwin Martin’s character. She the antagonist was a large, boisterous woman who got what she wanted. She used a lot of colloquialisms that were used by sports fans of that

According to Ann Charters in The Short Story and its Writer, "conflict is the opposition presented to the main Character of a narrative by another character, by events or situations, by fate, or by some aspect of the protagonist's own personality or nature. The conflict is introduced by means of a complication that sets in motion the rising action, usually toward a climax and eventual resolution" (Charters 1782).

Meeting the old man is the first time in "The Hounds of Fate" in which power and authority shift, changing hands from a nebulous Fate to the concrete reality of Martin's ability to make a decision. His decision to allow the old man to believe his is Uncle Tom is sadly a passive decision, but it is a decision nonetheless. Martin's looks alone something that fate did provided him with becomes the basis of hope. For a brief moment, Stoner seems ironically in control of his life. He for the first time feels empowered enough to ask for what he wants in an assertive manner: "All this empowers him: ""Hot, with onions," said Stoner. It was the only time in his life that he had made a rapid

He is in love with his wife's’ cousin and is haunted by the decision he must make between his happiness and his duties. “The Hint of an Explanation” deals with young Martin’s inability to understand religious values. Throughout the story he contemplates giving up a seemingly insignificant wafer in exchange for a train set. “The Stamp Collection” is the story a young boy, Karas, who wishes to collect stamps against his father's will. When his stamp collection is stolen, he assumes his life long friend is the thief.

For example, he has a loving family who would always be there to support him. In conclusion, the conflicts in the story, person versus society and person versus self, show the need to be optimistic during tough times.

Martin adds these last few lines to add sort of a bigger meaning to the

He is a nuisance to them, as he causes them to look at themselves. He is disruptive, sarcastic and unwilling to respect the birlings just because they have money. – he is not intimidated by the threats, and his key motive is to help the Birling’s understand their role in her death.

While he is bothered, disturbed and almost "haunted" by this curious employee there is no proof that the narrator is a changed man as a result of his experiences with Bartleby. The narrator does not even appear to see himself clearly, claiming to be a "man of peace" while practicing harsh and aggressive mannerisms and expressions such as: "I should have violently thrown him out" and words like "thrust", "advance" and "gorge".  If the narrator fails to recognize who he is in the first place then there is little hope that he will be changed by the events relating to Bartleby. The narrator's willingness to tell his story, in my opinion, is not substantial evidence that there has been a deep conversion of social attitudes in this man so that he is affected by the lessons and the reality of humanity that was brought to his attention as a result of Bartleby.

For Martin, Samson is a “normal guy” whom he has known for six years. Although they last talked four months ago, he would see the suspect every day as they live in the same neighborhood.

Mr. Jaggers' silent and terrifying ambiguity conjures mystery and enigma all around him. We find that very little is mentioned of his background and that he has no family.

omniscient, limited omniscient, or first person. The purpose of the narrator is to give facts

Although Martin’s family faces dilemmas, the love in the family remains evident. Initially, the devotion that Martin shows towards his children illustrates his good nature. Martin views his children’s faces as “radiant as flower petals, equally loved” (103). Moreover illustrating his love for his children, Martin “kissed the tiny hand that lay palm-upward” (103). Furthermore, Martin’s hope to hold his family together exhibits his affection for his family. Martin constantly attempts to calm his wife in order to avoid displays of anger(101). “Please go upstairs,”(101) Martin begs of his wife so the children do not get upset seeing their mother frustrated. Lastly, the physical and emotional desire for Emily that Martin has, further shows how he cares for his family. Comforting his wife, Martin exhibits his love for her(104). Martin watched Emily as she slept and his “old anger vanished”(104).

Martin is searching for a solution to his problems that will keep all his loved ones safe. Martin Meadows is an ideal husband. He works hard in his office and his home. Martin is amazingly efficient, tending to the garden, decorating for Christmas, cooking for his children, and pulling their lose teeth. He longs for the days back in Alabama when his family was happy and alcohol was not a part of their lives. From the start of the story Martin is weary from the disappointment he has encountered in the changes seen in his wife.