A Good Man Is Hard To Find And Good Country People Choose Tw

A Good Man Is Hard To Find And Good Country Peoplechoose Two Of The

A good man is hard to find†and “good country people†Choose two of the three Flannery O'Connor stories from the Lesson 4 reading assignment and create a thesis comparing the way the stories are narrated (see the excerpts from Pollack's essay in the Norton textbook, pp. ). Pay close attention to passages in which the narrator relates the voice, vision, thoughts, or perspective of a focal character. To reiterate, the focus of the thesis is to compare the narrative voice in each of the stories, not to compare and/or point out the presence of irony and tone in the stories; rather, present and prove a claim regarding the way or ways in which the narrative voice as a literary device influences the presence of other literary devices, like tone and irony, and so on, in the stories.

Thus, when creating the thesis and corresponding topic sentences, think in terms of answering the question: How does the treatment of each character (by the narrator) contribute to tone, irony, or other effects (i.e., literary devices used) in the story?

1. Essay Thesis. In line with the writing prompt above, compose a thesis and type it below.

2. Topic Sentence 1 and Supporting Text. Using the thesis created in question 1, compose a topic sentence and type it below. Next, identify text from the short story that supports and illustrates the claim of the topic sentence, and using MLA format, type it beneath the topic sentence. (In short, post two separate sentences, but please limit your response to only one topic sentence and one text citation, no more and no less.)

3. Topic Sentence 2 and Supporting Text. Using the thesis created in question 1, compose a topic sentence and type it below. Next, identify text from the short story that supports and illustrates the claim of the topic sentence, and using MLA format, type it beneath the topic sentence. (In short, post two separate sentences, but please limit your response to only one topic sentence and one text citation, no more and no less.)

4. Topic Sentence 3 and Supporting Text. Using the thesis created in question 1, compose a topic sentence and type it below. Next, identify text from the short story that supports and illustrates the claim of the topic sentence, and using MLA format, type it beneath the topic sentence. (In short, post two separate sentences, but please limit your response to only one topic sentence and one text citation, no more and no less.)

5. Body Paragraph 1. Compose a body paragraph for an essay using one of the topic sentences created in questions 2-4. Identify and, using MLA format, include text citation in support of the claim of the topic sentence. Maintain focus on discussing and proving the particular claim made in the topic sentence throughout the body of the essay without drifting into plot summary. Paragraph length: 5-10 sentences.

6. Body Paragraph 2. Compose a body paragraph for an essay using one of the topic sentences created in questions 2-4. Identify and, using MLA format, include text citation in support of the claim of the topic sentence. Maintain focus on discussing and proving the particular claim made in the topic sentence throughout the body of the essay without drifting into plot summary. Paragraph length: 5-10 sentences.

7. Works Cited Entries. Choose two of the three Flannery O'Connor stories on the Lesson 4 reading assignment list and compose a works cited entry for each item--so two works cited entries total. Assume the source is the ENG 102 Norton textbook.

Paper For Above instruction

The narrative voice in Flannery O'Connor's stories "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People" plays a crucial role in shaping the reader's understanding of the characters and themes. In both stories, the narrator's treatment of the focal characters reveals distinct attitudes and perspectives that influence the tone and irony present in the narratives. By analyzing how the narrator relates the inner thoughts, visions, and voices of the characters, we can see how O'Connor uses narrative voice as a tool to enhance the stories’ moral and philosophical commentary.

In "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," the narrator's perspective often provides a sermonic tone that emphasizes the moral failings of characters like the grandmother. This narrative approach allows the reader to observe her superficial morals and self-righteousness, which build a tone of moral critique throughout the story. For example, the narrator describes her fixation on appearances and her superficial religiosity, stating, "The grandmother didn’t want to go to Florida. She wanted to go to East Tennessee" (O'Connor 251). This revealing description underscores her self-centeredness and implies the irony of her moral pretensions, making her downfall more poignant.

In contrast, "Good Country People" employs a narrative voice that delves deeply into the perspectives of its characters, particularly Mrs. Hopewell and Hulga. The narrator’s close relation of Hulga's cynical thoughts and her worldview constructs a tone tinged with irony, highlighting her intellectual arrogance. The story’s tone reflects the narrator's subtle critique of Hulga’s nihilism, exemplified when Hulga considers her philosophical superiority: "God knows what I am anyway. I’m a girl who doesn’t believe in anything" (O'Connor 265). This insight into Hulga’s mind allows the reader to perceive her vulnerability beneath her confident façade, intensifying the story’s ironic effect.

References

• O'Connor, Flannery. "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Robert Levine, 8th ed., W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp. 250-262.
• O'Connor, Flannery. "Good Country People." The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Robert Levine, 8th ed., W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp. 263-271.