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__**Modern American Literature: Rise of Realism**__

“Rifle bullets called forth by the insistent skirmishers came from the far-off bank of foliage. They mingled with the shells and the pieces of shells until the air was torn in all directions by hootings, yells, howls,” Crane writes. How far would someone go to satisfy their needs? In the story “Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane, the protagonist Fred Collins battles with his id, ego, and superego. Crane writes, “Its long, green grass was rippling gently in a breeze …” **(What does this quote support? Its kind of “on its own” – expand).** Fred Collins needs a drink of water to satisfy his id and make himself happy. As the story progresses Fred becomes more distraught about the battle. **(Battle with what, his id? Clarify this).** Fred gets to the well, Fred finally realizes the chaos around him. Crane writes, “There was the blaring thunder of a shell. Crimson light shone though the swift-boiling smoke, and made a pink reflection on part of the wall of the well.” On Fred Collins way back to his bunker, Fred sees a fallen ally wanting water. Crane writes, “Say, young man, give me a drink of water, will you?” Now Fred’s ego wants to run for cover, but Fred decides to give the man water. Imagery is everywhere in this story and it gives the story so much more excitement. **(Where? Give examples. How does it make it more exciting? Expand).** Mystery of Heroism doesn’t have a set antagonist. **(Why do you think this? Expand – what you’ve written about below doesn’t correspond directly to this. This is a good point, just support it and expand on it).** Fred Collins’ body wants water and drives his id to go and get it. Crane writes, “I wisht I had a drink. I bet there’s water in that there ol’ well yonder!” This is what sparks the story and gets the plot moving. We see Fred change through the story. Fred goes from very calm with wanting water, to frantic and in a life or death situation. Crane writes, “Here it is. Here’s your drink. Turn over. Turn over, man, for God’s sake!” In that line readers can see Fred almost going crazy trying to get the man to drink the water. Dialect plays a huge role in this story. By the way that Fred talks to the general, it sounds like he’s from the south. Crane writes, “Well, I will in a minnet, if yeh don’t shut up!” Fred’s id is telling him to go while his superego tells him to stay. **(Expand – what impact does dialect have?)** By battling with his id, ego, and superego, Fred eventually gets water but by the end of his journey, spills it all. So how far would someone go to satisfy their wants and needs? Fred Collins put his life on the line to make sure his id, ego, and superego were happy.
 * __Wants and needs__**

Jordan, Great job incorporating support from the text into your writing! Keep up the good work. Also, make sure you are thoroughly answering the questions. I suggested that you “expand” in several places – just because the points are very vague. Let me know if you have any questions! -Jessica

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. **__The Yellow Wallpaper__ ** In Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, feminist criticism is applied with patriarchy. Patriarchy is also the theme of this story in my opinion. Patriarchy is very hurtful to woman because men have control of woman. In The Yellow Wallpaper, Jane (the narrator) goes insane because of patriarchy. If Jane wasn’t locked in the room by John then Jane wouldn’t have thought about the awful wall paper as much. The protagonist in this story is clearly Jane. The story follows her journal entries while she starts to go through post partum depression. The antagonist on the other hand isn’t as easy to figure out. Our first thought is John, the husband, but under further investigation the antagonist is patriarchy! Without patriarchy, John wouldn’t have locked her in that dreadful room. John had to conform to society. In the 1890’s, woman didn’t have much say in what they did, wore, or even said! Current day this story wouldn’t make since. We would think that John should go to jail, but in the late 1800’s, this is perfectly okay. Jane and John are the foil in this story. Jane is going through post partum depression while John is laid back and easy going. We see at the beginning of the story that Jane is fine and normal, but as she stays in the room with the unpleasant wallpaper, she starts to become a different person. Almost like a second personality. We found that she had a second personality at the end of the story because Jane said “I’ve got out at last! In spite you and Jane.” Jane is a round character. We see Jane go through a incredibly happy time, and then start to go down the drain. “The most beautiful place! It is quite alone, standing well back from the road, quite three miles from the village. It makes me think of English places that you read about, for there are hedges and walls and gates that lock, and lots of separate little houses for the gardeners and people.” Jane says this about the house at the beginning of the story. This is one the only happy lines she says in the whole story. ”It is the same woman, I know, for she is always creeping, and most women do not creep by daylight.” Jane says this towards the end. She is seeing this girl crawling out side. This is an enormous change from the beginning. This also makes her the dynamic character. In conclusion, Jane is locked in her room by patriarchy and can’t break through so she becomes depressed and in turn, goes insane.
 * Chopin’s “Story of and Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”**

**The Yellow Wallpaper**

In Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper ,”(comma should be placed inside the quotations) feminist criticism is applied with (word choice – through?) patriarchy. Patriarchy is also the theme of this story in my opinion. Why do you think patriarchy is the theme of this short story? What in the text makes you think this? Patriarchy is very hurtful to woman because men have control of woman. In The Yellow Wallpaper, Jane (the narrator) goes insane because of patriarchy. What in the text leads you to believe Jane goes insane because of patriarchy? If Jane wasn’t locked in the room by John then Jane wouldn’t have thought about the awful wall paper as much. (New Paragraph - Indent) The protagonist in this story is clearly Jane. (What characteristics does a protagonist have, does she possess any of those characteristics, explain why you think she is the protagonist) The story follows (word choice) her journal entries while she starts to go through post partum depression. The antagonist on the other hand isn’t as easy to figure out. Our (my) first thought is John, the husband, but under (after) further investigation the antagonist is patriarchy. Without patriarchy, John wouldn’t have locked her (Jane) in that dreadful room. John had to conform to society. In the 1890’s, woman didn’t have much say in what they did, wore, or even said! Current day this story wouldn’t make since. We would think that John should go to jail, but in the late 1800’s, this is perfectly okay. Expand this section. Show what parts of the text make you believe Jane is the protagonist, and what parts make you believe John is the antagonist. Good analysis of the time period – and the way women were treated. Find examples in the text – of their relationship and how it relates to your theme, patriarchy. (New Paragraph – Indent) Jane and John are the foil in this story. Jane is going through post partum depression while John is laid back and easy going. (What in the text makes you believe that Jane is going through post partum depression, and that John is laid back) We see (It can be seen) at the beginning of the story that Jane is fine and normal, (is she really find and normal at the beginning of the text – support this) but as she stays in the room with the unpleasant wallpaper, she starts to become a different person. Almost like a second personality. We found that she had a second personality at the end of the story because Jane said “I’ve got out at last! In spite you and Jane.” (How do these to characters being the “foil” relate the your theme of patriarchy? Explain. Could there be more than one “foil” in this story?) (New paragraph – indent) Jane is a round and dynamic character. (Why?) We see Jane go through a (n) incredibly happy time, and then start to go down the drain (word choice). (Consider a phrase leading up to this quote– something about how Jane appears to be happy at the beginning….) “The most beautiful place! It is quite alone, standing well back from the road, quite three miles from the village. It makes me think of English places that you read about, for there are hedges and walls and gates that lock, and lots of separate little houses for the gardeners and people” (CITATION). Jane says this about the house at the beginning of the story. This is one the only happy lines she says in the whole story. (Consider this is a lead phrase into the quote you have above?) (Consider a lead into this quote as well, something that sets readers up for the quote – helps them to understand what you’re trying to support through the quote) ”It is the same woman, I know, for she is always creeping, and most women do not creep by daylight.” (CITATION) Jane says this towards the end. She is seeing this girl crawling out side. This is an enormous change from the beginning. This also makes her the dynamic character. (see beginning of the paragraph – consider stating that she is a dynamic character and explain why – at the beginning of the paragraph when you state that Jane is a round character) In conclusion, Jane is locked in her room by patriarchy and can’t break through so she becomes depressed and in turn, goes insane. (Considering expanding your conclusion paragraph. Consider summarizing other points you have made about “The Yellow Wallpaper”).

Jordan,

You did a great job of identifying the theme. You also made many other great points throughout your writing - it is apparent that you understand the text and are making connections. Now, work on expanding your current ideas through identifying what in the text makes you come to your conclusions. This will help you support your response with examples from the text. Let me know if you have any questions!

--Jessica

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?
 * Crane’s “Mystery of Heroism”**

** __“Mystery of Heroism”__ ** “Its long, green grass was rippling gently in a breeze. Beyond it was the grey form of a house half torn to pieces by shells and by the busy axes of soldiers who had pursued firewood.” I chose this selection because it really sets a mood of the story. It’s a bloody battlefield but it still has so much beauty as a piece of land. Collins wanted a drink of water from the well but the well was in the middle of the battle. When human senses kick in, it makes you do stuff you wouldn’t normally want to do. Collins id told him to go get water for himself and know one else. While on Collins way back to the trench, he saw a wounded ally. He poured water on him trying to give him a drink. His superego kicked in at that moment to try and help him. His superego also to him to get water for his friends back at base. Collins ego made him go get the water, and then realize what he was doing and how crazy he was for doing it. The funny part of it all was by the time he got back, all the water was gone! By the time he got done running and giving the wounded solider water, it was all gone.

** “Mystery of Heroism” **

“Its long, green grass was rippling gently in a breeze. Beyond it was the grey form of a house half torn to pieces by shells and by the busy axes of soldiers who had pursued firewood.” I chose this selection because it really sets a mood of the story. **(How does this passage set the mood? How does it make the reader feel?)** It’s a bloody battlefield but it still has so much beauty as a piece of land. Collins wanted a drink of water from the well but the well was in the middle of the battle. When human senses kick in, it makes you do stuff you wouldn’t normally want to do. **(Yes – but how do his motivations reflect the mood of the story?)** Collins id told him to go get water for himself and know one else. **(How does the mood reflect these motivations? How does the mood relate to what his id “made” him do?)** While on Collins way back to the trench, he saw a wounded ally. He poured water on him trying to give him a drink. His superego kicked in at that moment to try and help him. His superego also to him to get water for his friends back at base**. (How does his superego reflect the mood of the story? How does the mood relate to what his superego “made” him do? What in the text leads you to believe this, show an example and how that example relates to his superego.)** Collins ego made him go get the water, and then realize what he was doing and how crazy he was for doing it. **(What in the text leads you to believe this? Show an example – quote from the text.)** The funny part of it all was by the time he got back, all the water was gone! By the time he got done running and giving the wounded solider water, it was all gone.

Jordan,

Good analysis of the id, superego, and ego. Also, good quote at the beginning of your writing. Now, work on incorporating more quotes into your writing – that supports what you believe. Use the quotes to justify your thoughts and ideas. Show what/where in the text leads you to believe what you’re saying. Please let me know if you have any questions! Jessica



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”**