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Modern American Literature: Rise of Realism Everyone in some point in life loses a loved one. Dealing with loss can be a catastrophic experience. In Invalid’s story by Mark Twain, the protagonist, the main character who is named Invalid, suffers a terrible loss with the death of his friend. Now he faces a great moral struggle about what to do about his deceased friend. Invalid was an overall round character. He visualized himself as a strong athletic person but in the end mentally stripped of his health and mind. In a sense, Invalid, before the incident could be considered a foil of what he is now. He learned a slight bit more than before the incident but now is a shell of him. In the text, Mark wrote” I was a greatly shock and grieved” referring to the death of his friend. It quickly converted to “But the news was too late to save me” which refers to a person finally accepting death. Those broad range of emotions means that he could be considered a round character. Also, he learns a lesson in the end so he can be considered a dynamic character. One thing to keep in mind, the imagery in the story also can act out a role in the struggle. The imagery played off a sense of smell. Mark Twain wrote, “The original smell stood up out of it as sublime as ever,- fact is, the others smells just seemed to give it a better hold, how rich it was!” That smell can be considered the main thing that causes the protagonist problems. In other words, that smell acted as the antagonist in the story. A horrid stench created the mood of suspense. In addition to imagery, the society played into the struggle. The time period: late 1800’s. Back then a person made a promise with the intention of it being kept despite the many hardships it may cause. Also, the story played out on a train. However, if this story happened during today’s time period, Invalid would have flown on a plane. He would have avoided the stench that took out his health.

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Everyone in some point in life loses a loved one. Dealing with loss can be a catastrophic experience. **Great way to get the reader hooked. Everyone can relate to this and it immediately gets the reader interested.** In Invalid’s story by Mark Twain, the protagonist, the main character who is named Invalid, suffers a terrible loss with the death of his friend. Now he faces a great moral struggle about what to do about his deceased friend. **Perfect brief summary. You give the reader what they need to know without giving away too much.** Invalid was an overall round character. He visualized himself as a strong athletic person but in the end mentally stripped of his health and mind. In a sense, Invalid, before the incident could be considered a foil of what he is now. He learned a slight bit more than before the incident but now is a shell of him. In the text, Mark wrote” I was a greatly shock and grieved” referring to the death of his friend. It quickly converted to “But the news was too late to save me” which refers to a person finally accepting death. **Wow. Fantastic reading.** Those broad range of emotions means that he could be considered a round character. Also, he learns a lesson in the end so he can be considered a dynamic character. One thing to keep in mind, the imagery in the story also can act out a role in the struggle. **Very good. This would work well as a transition in the next paragraph.** The imagery played off a sense of smell. Mark Twain wrote, “The original smell stood up out of it as sublime as ever,- fact is, the others smells just seemed to give it a better hold, how rich it was!” That smell can be considered the main thing that causes the protagonist problems. In other words, that smell acted as the antagonist in the story. A horrid stench created the mood of suspense. In addition to imagery, the society played into the struggle. **I read “society” as being a group of people who affect the protagonist. In your next paragraph you discuss time period and place. By “society” did you mean “setting?” It’s not a huge issue, just something I struggled with.** The time period: late 1800’s. Back then a person made a promise with the intention of it being kept despite the many hardships it may cause. **You say “back then…” Is this only relevant to the 1800s?** Also, the story played out on a train. However, if this story happened during today’s time period, Invalid would have flown on a plane. He would have avoided the stench that took out his health. **Interesting. This leaves the reader with something to think about.** ======

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// Wow! I’m really impressed with this essay. You did a great job of describing the protagonist and explaining why he is a round and dynamic character. I’m interested in your thoughts on how the story would be different if it were set in modern times. //======

// -Erin //
Choose one of the stories to apply feminist criticism to the reading. Identify the protagonist and antagonist and describe their relationship as it relates to the theme. How does the relationship to the foil, if there is one, reflect the theme? Identify whether the protagonist is round or flat, dynamic or static. Support your response with examples from the text.
 * Chopin’s “Story of and Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”**

The story “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a good example on how the gender of people can determine how they are represented in the text. For example, the narrator was a woman commonly seen as a weak, helpless person. Her husband however, as most men are seen in stories, was a strong, controlling, arrogant person. The Narrator was the protagonist the entire story follows her while John (her husband) and his patriarchate ways are the antagonists in this story. There are three main things that relate to the theme. The antagonist, protagonist, and their foil all relate solely to the theme. John, let his arrogance get in the way and in the end, his wife went crazy. She wasn’t able to fulfill herself and therefore kept her from being who she was… a human. That was the theme of the story. As stated above, they were a foil, in other words opposites because she was weak but he was strong. The narrator, at the end of the story did not learn any lesson which would make her a dynamic character. She also had a broad range of sides and emotions which would make her a round character. In conclusion, that is how gender can determine how they are represented in the text.

__Response:__

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The story “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a good example on how the gender of people can determine how they are represented in the text. For example, the narrator was a woman commonly seen as a weak, helpless person. Her husband however, as most men are seen in stories, was a strong, controlling, arrogant person. **You make a great point about the woman’s weakness and John’s strength. What are some examples from the text that show this?** The Narrator was the protagonist the entire story follows her **What else shows that she is the protagonist? Is this the only reason?** while John (her husband) and his patriarchate ways are the antagonists in this story. There are three main things that relate to the theme. The antagonist, protagonist, and their foil all relate solely to the theme. John, let his arrogance get in the way and in the end, his wife went crazy. **Good point. Did he mean for her to go crazy? Did he do anything to help?** She wasn’t able to fulfill herself and therefore kept her from being who she was… a human. That was the theme of the story. **I think you’re saying that the theme of the story is that the narrator is never able to truly be herself or be human. Excellent! To strengthen your argument, it might help to expand your thinking here. What are some examples from the text? Why isn’t she allowed to be herself?** As stated above, they were a foil, in other words opposites because she was weak but he was strong. **Are there any other reasons that they are a foil? Try to look at all the dimensions of the characters.** The narrator, at the end of the story did not learn any lesson which would make her a dynamic character. **You’re saying here that the narrator is not dynamic, so she is therefore a static character. Is she static because she doesn’t learn a lesson or are there other ways she is static? Does she remain the same throughout the story or does she change?** She also had a broad range of sides and emotions which would make her a round character. **Good! What emotions does she show throughout the text?** In conclusion, that is how gender can determine how they are represented in the text. ======

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// You seem to understand the vocabulary terms you’ve been using in your class fairly well (antagonist, protagonist, foil, etc.) and your reading of the theme is excellent: the narrator goes crazy because she cannot be herself or be human. Throughout your paper you raise many great arguments. To strengthen them, find some parts of the text that support your point. //======

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// Also, at the end of your paper, you mention that the narrator is not a dynamic character, yet she is a round character. Is it possible to be both? Add some points from the text to convince your reader. //======

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// You do a great job restating your first sentence, or thesis, with your last one. However, in the second paragraph, you rarely mention gender. Try to discuss your thesis throughout the entire paper. //======

// -Erin //
Select an example of imagery that creates the mood of the story? How does the mood of the setting reflect the character’s motivations driven by their id, ego, and superego? The story “Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane is good example of how imagery creates the mood of the story. Mood which is the feeling a reader’s get in the story can be easily affected by what you see. So how exactly does that mood reflect the character’s motivation? Motivation is driven by the id (primitive instincts), the superego (wanting to do right) and ego (getting the id want it wants while doing right therefore keeping the superego happy). The mood was suspense and horror because war is horrible. For example,
 * Crane’s “Mystery of Heroism”**

__Response:__

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The story “Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane is good example of how imagery creates the mood of the story. **What are some examples of imagery that you foun in the story? What is the mood of “Mystery of Heroism”?** Mood which is the feeling a reader’s get in the story can be easily affected by what you see. **Good definition, but what are some examples?** So how exactly does that mood reflect the character’s motivation? **Before you move on to this question, you need to describe the mood of the story.** Motivation is driven by the id (primitive instincts), the superego (wanting to do right) and ego (getting the id want it wants while doing right therefore keeping the superego happy). **Good descriptions of these! How do they relate to the story?** The mood was suspense and horror because war is horrible. **Great reading of the mood of the story. Where in the story do you get the notion that war is horrible? Is this your own personal thought, or are there examples? (Not that I don’t agree that war is horrible, but I’d like to know where you’re coming from!)** For example, ======

// -Erin //
How does the author indirectly characterize the protagonist through the use of dialect? What does this tell us about the character? How are they influenced by their id, ego, or superego?
 * Wharton’s “April Showers” and Twain’s “The Invalid’s Story”**