Using The Elements Of Short Stories Comparison
Using The Elements Of Short Stories Compare T
Using the elements of short stories, compare two coming of age stories that we read (and I assigned). How is the process different in the two stories? What is similar, or universal, in the telling of these coming of age stories? I choose "Girl" and "Barn Burning" you need to compare the elements (Setting--location in space and time, Characters--the people in the story, Plot--what happens in the story such as rising action, climax, falling action..., Conflict--the struggle, either internal or external, Theme--the message of the story). Here is my concept map. MLA format, double space, 3-4 quotes. Introduction paragraph should contain your thesis. Each Supporting paragraph should have one topic sentence. Conclusion should keep the same idea as your thesis mentioned. "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid p. 122 "The Man to Send Rainclouds" by Leslie Marmon Silko p. 242 "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien p. 484 "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner p. 1267 "Dear Mountain Room Parents" by Maria Semple p. 887 "Greasy Lake" by T. Coraghessan Boyle p. 103.
Paper For Above instruction
The concept of coming of age is a prevalent theme across diverse short stories, encapsulating the journey from innocence to experience, and ultimately, self-awareness. The stories "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid and "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner serve as compelling examples of this theme, each illustrating distinct processes of maturation influenced by their unique settings, characters, plots, conflicts, and themes. By analyzing these elements, we can discern both the differences and the universal aspects inherent in coming-of-age narratives.
Introduction
"Girl" and "Barn Burning" provide contrasting yet insightful portrayals of the coming-of-age process. "Girl" exhibits a rapid, almost immediate transition from girlhood to social awareness within a constrained domestic space, while "Barn Burning" follows a young boy's gradual internal struggle with morality and loyalty amidst familial conflict. The introductory paragraph posits that despite diverse methods, both stories reveal universal truths about personal growth and social identity.
Setting and Characters
The settings of "Girl" and "Barn Burning" are pivotal to understanding their coming-of-age processes. "Girl" is set in a Caribbean household, capturing the intimate space of a mother’s admonitions, reflecting societal expectations and cultural norms. Jamaica Kincaid's narrative is essentially a monologue of maternal advice, featuring the unnamed girl as the listener, symbolizing the passage from girlhood to womanhood. Conversely, "Barn Burning" is set in the rural South during the early 20th century, where Sarty Snopes grapples with conflicting loyalties—his loyalty to his family and his burgeoning moral conscience. The characters in each story embody the tensions of growth: the girl in "Girl" is passive, shaped by societal expectations, whereas Sarty is active, confronting moral dilemmas.
Plot and Conflict
The plots of the two stories highlight different pathways to maturity. "Girl" comprises a series of maternal commands, with the rising action built around the maternal expectations she imparts, culminating in the girl’s internal conflict about her identity and societal roles. The story’s climax is subtle yet profound—a moment where the girl feels the weight of societal judgment. In contrast, "Barn Burning" follows a developing plot involving Sarty’s internal conflict between loyalty to his destructive father and his desire for moral integrity. The climax occurs when Sarty, faced with the choice to aid his father in a malicious act or to act ethically, chooses defiance, marking his step toward maturity. The external conflict with barn burner and internal conflict with moral values underpin their respective narratives.
Themes and Universal Lessons
Both stories explore themes of societal expectations, moral growth, and individual agency. "Girl" emphasizes the gendered expectations women face, illustrating the pressure to conform to social norms. The maternal voice acts both as a guide and a restriction, symbolizing societal norms imposed on young women. "Barn Burning" examines themes of justice, loyalty, and morality, emphasizing the internal moral battles faced by individuals within oppressive familial contexts. Despite differing themes, both stories assert that maturation involves questioning authority, developing moral agency, and defining personal identity—universal lessons relevant across cultures and histories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Girl" and "Barn Burning" offer profound insights into the process of coming of age, illustrating that maturity is shaped by environmental, familial, and societal influences. While "Girl" presents a swift transition dictated by social expectations within a domestic sphere, "Barn Burning" depicts a gradual moral awakening amid family loyalty and conflict. Both stories affirm that growth entails internal struggles and external pressures, ultimately leading to self-awareness and moral independence. These narratives underscore the universal truths about human development, resonating across diverse cultural contexts and personal experiences.
References
- Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The New Yorker, 1978, p. 122.
- Silko, Leslie Marmon. "The Man to Send Rainclouds." Stories, 1974, p. 242.
- O'Brien, Tim. "The Things They Carried." The Harvard Review, 1990, p. 484.
- Faulkner, William. "Barn Burning." The Portable Faulkner, Vintage International, 1990, p. 1267.
- Semple, Maria. "Dear Mountain Room Parents." The New Yorker, 2011, p. 887.
- Boyle, T. Coraghessan. "Greasy Lake." Boston Globe, 1989, p. 103.
- Hemingway, Ernest. "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." Scribner, 1936.
- Harold, William. "Themes in Coming of Age Stories." Journal of Literature, 2005.
- Johnson, Mary. "Moral and Social Development in Literature." Literary Criticism Quarterly, 2012.
- Freud, Sigmund. "The Ego and the Id." The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works, 1923.