Theme Of Suspense In Hunters In The Snow

1. Write a precise, well-developed sentence that states as fully as possible the theme of the story. Remember to avoid clichés or oversimplification.

The short story demonstrates that terror can transform a person from educated to savage. Rainsford starts off as an educated man prior to the hunting, then experiences fear throughout the hunt. The story explores some many techniques like imagery, theme, foreshadowing and fear.

Literary elements and writer’s craft are essential to a well written story that gives understanding and meaning to the readers. Authors use these elements to add deeper meaning to a story that otherwise is as dull and same as the rest. The short story Lamb to the Slaughter is about a wife who kills her husband and then tries to cover it up. The Leap, another short story, is about a girl who is telling stories about her mother’s life. Both short stories portray and utilize literary elements and writer’s craft but Lamb to the Slaughter uses them more effectively and clearly.

In both the excerpts "Jams" and "Swimming with Nightmares" by Peter Benchley, the author creates suspense in many ways. The author utilizes descriptive words, character's choices, and dangerous situations for creating suspense.

Suspense is a detail that many horror writer use to catch the attention of many readers and keep them holding on till the end. Just as W.F. Harvey does when creating suspense in his story August Heat. Mr. Harvey used three methods to create his suspense for his story, foreshadowing, withholding information, and reversal. With these three methods he is able to make the reader feel like, “ We may even hold our breath without realizing it as we read on eagerly to find out how the story ends”(Source 1).

The short story, “The Interlopers” by Saki, tells of Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym, Two hunters who were destined to be enemies since `before they were born. Three generations ago, the Gradwitz family won a strip of precipitous woodland in a lawsuit against their neighbors, the Znaeym family. The Znaeym’s, in return, have held a grudge ever since. On a stormy winter night, Ulrich and his foresters are out on the land keeping watch for thieves, when Ulrich comes face to face with Georg. Before either man has time to move, a tree comes crashing down, both injuring and trapping them. At first both Ulrich and Georg claim that their men will be the first to find them and when they do, the other will die. But as more time passes, both find their hatred for each other decreasing and they decide to become friends. Sadly, after this miraculous event, both Ulrich and Georg are killed by wolves. Throughout the story, Saki uses irony, foreshadowing, and characterization to hold the reader’s interest.

Tension and uncertainty caused by the unknown is the meaning of suspense. In “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs suspense is found. During “The Monkey’s Paw” by Jacobs suspense is created through setting, irony, and foreshadowing. Much suspense is caused by these story elements.

The short story Hunters in the Snow by Tobias Wolff depicts three men that go on a hunting trip that changes the course of their lives. Each character lies to himself to accept his actions in his life. Kenny, Frank, and Tub need to successfully fool themselves before they can deceive anyone else. Each of the men are immature and selfish. They don't realize how their decisions impact other people's lives. They justify their lies with their own insecurities about their lifestyles. Their lies impact the situations they encounter and change their lives forever.

As I read the short story Hunters in the Snow, I was very intrigued in finding out what was going to happen next. One thing I didn’t understand was why Tobias Wolff did not provide information as to how the three men met. It kind of throws off the story in the beginning because we don’t know any information about any of the men. I was very disappointed in the ending of the story because the author didn’t let readers know whether or not Kenny made it to the hospital. Tobias Wolff’s Hunters in the Snow was surprisingly a very compelling story, I also love the outdoors and hunting is one of my hobbies so it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Tobias Wolff gives all of the characters in Hunters in the Snow different characteristics and personalities. Yet the characters are still alike in the way that they all fall under common male roles and stereotypes. Common roles like being the tough guy that can handle anything and does not complain about anything or saying rude things to one another. Wolff Shows this whether it be from the way the characters communicate to one another or their actions. Most males will agree that while reading the dialogue in the story, they can relate to the interaction the characters have. The dialogue between has an unfiltered sense to it where they swear profusely and talk down to one another. The entire story has a masculine theme,

One of the factors that decide whether the fiction is literary or commercial is the plot of the story. The distinction of the plot of commercial fiction is that the story is unconventional the ending is not really clear, rather ambiguous. In this story especially, there is a lot to discuss the

The purpose of this essay is to correlate the theme of three different stories that had been read. I decided to choose the stories “Good Country People”, “Hills Like White Elephants”, and “The Storm.” I believe that the theme across these stories is to beware of the wolf in sheep clothing. In these stories, there was an antagonist that posed as a protagonist who even though their intentions may have looked well skin deep, the underlying intentions against the main character were not of good intent. I will describe certain situations in each of the three stories that show the theme I have noted.

“‘Watch out!” screamed Maggie. Suddenly the road took a sharp turn, and a huge oak tree loomed in my headlights”(Shusterman 39). When Neal Shusterman uses suspense it’s usually in a way that would probably end badly. He loves to try and hook the reader with suspense, so then the readers would want to keep reading that same book. As evidence in Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman and “The Abandoned Farmhouse” by Ted Kooser, suspense can be effectively created through the use of imagery.

never find those things because they are too ignorant or selfish to look in the

This displays how against humanity’s nature and survival instincts, he will eventually be pushed back and dealt a hand by karma for all the bad deeds he has done. However, as the story progresses the reader discovers that the elderly man who owned the dog was aware of the fact that Kenny killed the dog since he actually requested for it, as interpreted by the following quote, “He was old and sick. Couldn’t chew his food anymore” (Wolff 93). After knowing that Kenny had justification for putting the dog down, both the readers and story’s characters now have a clearer understanding of Kenny’s decision, albeit disapproving on how he had executed it. Yet when it comes down to driving Kenny to the hospital for some required help, despite it being life threatening, both Tub and Frank appear negligent and put off the task to instead converse about their own problems, even heading off into “a tavern” (Wolff 95) in the midst of it all. Such a dulled reaction of nonchalance portrayed by the two men reveals that despite being the victims of Kenny’s misgivings, it does not mean that they themselves are without negative qualities. The two men end up discussing about Frank’s immoral love for a much younger woman and Tub’s complaint about his weight despite ironically eating heartily at the pub, as if it were a more important occasion to get