The Storyteller Short Story Summary

In this passage from Kiss and Tell, comic effect is achieved through the author, Alain de Botton’s, irony, point of view, setting, and embarrassment of the main character, Isabel. Botton’s description of the stereotypical reaction of the narrator’s date’s parents help provide readers with a sense of relatability that seems funny to an outsider, but sad when you are on the other end of the embarrassment that children may face by their parents.

Johnson provides a brief account of the novella 's plot, together with his own perspective on the fact that so much of literature and literary analysis concentrates on the relationships that the characters have. In this case, the author examines the family as composed of children of ineffectual parents. While this writer does not know this with certainty, it is possible that many cases requiring family therapy are due to this very cause. The author then goes on to discuss the family in the context of the greater social system.

Characterization showed the true personality of Miss Emily and how her father’s death shaped her. The many issues in this short story all started at how Miss Emily was raised. She was raised to only rely on her father, who was very protective over her. When

The reader is almost forced to look at the actions of the grandmother as being similar to that of a young child. There's not a quiet moment with her around and she never sits still. The reader tends to have a negative perception of the grandmother due to these personality traits. However, these traits are expressed in a comical way causing the reader to be annoyed by the grandmother, but also entertained.

The other reading of the story might be based on the maturing of a young woman. As it is probably the most important period in every adolescent's life, when they keep searching for their own identity, it should by strongly influenced by their parents. If it is not, a teenager starts looking for directions outside their home, and sometimes has difficulties with distinguishing what is good and evil. They are very often affected by

The narrator of Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl, who is implied to be a mother, reveals much of her worldview through the story’s dialogue. In this dialogue, she both instructs and scolds her a girl who is implied to be her daughter. The instructions that the mother imparts to her daughter in Girl offer a deep insight into what the mother believes is good for her. In teaching these lessons, the mother is preparing her daughter for what she believes is her daughter’s future. Thus, these lessons are setting the expectations that she has for her daughter within her world.

The narrator is totally crushed by the gender discrimination. She longed to be seen by her mother and her grandma. The narrator is heartbroken that her mother loved her brother more than her and failed to notice her. “When she went into Nonso’s room to say good night, she always came out laughing that laugh. Most times, you pressed your palms to your ears to keep the sound out, and kept your palms pressed to your ears, even when she came into your room to say Good night, darling, sleep well. She never left your room with that laugh” (190). Her agony can be easily seen by the way of her narrating. She does not get the affection that she deserves. She really needs the affection from her own mother, but she is not getting it. She compares the love which her mother shows to his brother and herself. This is gender discrimination can be seen with her grandmother too. She hated her grandma as she would always support her brother and find fault with her. Even though what the brother did, no matter what crime. Her mother and grandmother always supported her brother and never supported or showed interest towards

The story begins with an epigraph “Once upon a time there was a wife and a mother one too many times,” (Godwin, 39). The epigraph gives a clue on the theme of the message. In addition to that, it also sets the tone of the entire story. The qualities of the husband, the kid and the girl are ideal in a way. They depict a family that is flawless. Cooperation and love is of paramount importance in any relationship. Godwin outlines that disaster in marriages are brought by the clashing between societal demands and individual differences. However, the sorrowful woman is fed with love and understanding from the husband and the kid but she fails to appreciate their efforts. The husband does all that is within his reach but all the efforts end up fruitless. Cooperation in marriage stands out as one of the main themes in the story. Cases of cooperation and lack of it are discussed

In the story the author portrays the protagonist differently from the other characters because she talks about the physical appearance of other characters and when it comes to the narrator we have no idea what she looks like but she is developed partially through her relationship with other characters, although we the readers do come the find out that the narrator is around the age of 15-17 years old and we can assume that she has a bad relationship with her parents because first of all she talks about them maybe once or twice in the whole story and second of all we know that they sent her to boarding school so that alone proves that her relationship with them is lacking. As readers we also know that she has trouble opening up in the story she say “To open your heart. You open your legs but can’t, or don’t dare anyone, to open your heart” (237). This is a prime example of how author characterizes the protagonist as broken and emotionally damaged. And as the story progress the author becomes more honest with us the readers and herself, she starts the reveal the pain she is in and how lonely she feels. The narrator gives us an example of how she feels after sex by saying “After sex, you curl up like a shrimp, something deep inside you ruined, slammed in a place that sickness at

In the essay, “The Storyteller,” Sandra Cisneros describes different aspects that happened throughout her life. For example, she talks about family traditions, her independence, how her father didn’t agree with her decision to become a writer. Cisneros also describes about how passionate she is about her writing and how she was a teacher. Her father wanted her to be a weather girl on television or get married and have babies. Even with all the criticism of her father Cisneros still managed to live her life as she wanted. Cisneros also emphasizes how important it was for her to have her own space and privacy. Cisneros didn’t let anyone make choices you don’t want to do, always do what you want to make yourself happy and not anyone else.

       As the tale begins we immediately can sympathize with the repressive plight of the protagonist.  Her romantic imagination is obvious as she describes the "hereditary estate" (Gilman, Wallpaper 170) or the "haunted house" (170) as she would like it to be.  She tells us of her husband, John, who "scoffs" (170) at her romantic sentiments and is "practical to the extreme" (170).  However, in a time

Many events through the history began due to a boast, and a man too proud to take it back. Murders and wars, marriages and elections, hinged on the delicacy of a man's pride. So too with this story. This is the story of a gentleman born and bred (because where pride is concerned gentlemen are the worst offenders) with a silver spoon in his mouth and a gentleman who currently and had always resided in the gutters of society, yet was a gentleman all the same. This is the story of transformation. This is a story of how kindness can be cruel. This is a story about love.

The short story is written in a colloquial tone and reads similarly to an unfocused train of thought, conveying simplicity and realism within the piece. The narrator frequently drifts from a complete statement to an aside throughout the narrative; for example, while discussing the poem his wife composed about her friend Robert he offhandedly recalls, “...I didn’t think much of the poem. Of course, I didn’t tell her that. Maybe I just don’t understand poetry,” (Carver 356). This passage, and others similar to it, cause the flow of the plot to meander, rather than adhere to a strict linear format. Additionally, while the abrupt and nonchalant remarks hold little substance to the narrator, they give the reader a window to the substantial disconnect between the narrator and his peers.

Condren also points out the tales’ formulaic approach. This seemingly identical structure cements the notion that the two tales are thematic brothers (despite the animosity held between their respective tellers.) Condren rightly notices the repeated structure that the two tales share: a brief ad hominem, a description of each teller’s adversary, a sudden interruption by the target of the tale, moral/theological dialogue between the central character and a supporting character, an act devoted to terms and conditions, and a concluding act presenting the consequences of agreement. (115). According to Condren, this framework reinforces the idea that the two tales were designed as tightly structured “footnotes” to the larger tale told by the Wife

Wouldn’t it be odd if you met your best friend at grief counseling? Psychologically, it’s not as odd as you may think. For example, The Storytellers is a book about two unlikely friends that connect through their losses and further their friendship by using each other as filters to talk to someone that will listen when you are willing to tell. The characterization aspect will be done on Sage, her past and how it has affected her. Predicting what will happen next is the part that will show inside the mind of the reader thus far. Lastly, evaluating both Sage and Josef’s situations at the moment.