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Modern American Literature: Rise of Realism

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”**

“Story of an hour” Danielle Hughes p.3 Imagine being trapped for your whole life, knowing that you will never be completely independent. Marriage can be portrayed in good ways and in bad ways. On one hand, you could be excited to share your life with someone, and work as a team. But in teams you cannot make all the decisions, you have to consult your team member. Chopin’s “Story of an hour” shows a woman who just recently lost her husband. First she showed the usual response after a loss, she was very sad. Then she realized all the possibilities she had for her life ahead. Louise Mallard went through a very quick but intense realization after her husband’s death. She was extremely upset after her sister told her the terrible news, but as she thought about things, she began to calm down. As she pondered about all of the expectations that are put on a woman in a marriage, especially in 1800’s where this was set, she was overwhelmed with hope… hope for the future and all of the things she would be able to do with her new found freedom. All of these things lead to the fact that no matter what, relationships can restrict you. Louise Mallard is so excited about her future of freedom, that when her husband walks through the door, she has a heart attack and dies. This story shows you how stressful marriage can be, and even if you may have loved someone, if you’re set on your freedom, the thought of that being taken away again is enough to kill you.

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? Everyone has tried to show off in their life, whether it’s by doing a dare that is dumb, or risking something to prove a point. In “Mystery of Heroism” by Steven Crane, Fred Collins shows us how people in war, can do things most would find extremely dangerous. Water is something needed for all life to exist, but when it isn’t a life or death situation, risking your life for a canteen of water is unnecessary and downright stupid. Based in a Civil War battle “Mystery of Heroism,” tells a story of a man who‘s Id takes over. In a battlefield was once a meadow that now is destroyed, with lines of smoke rising above them, and the screams and howls of soldier’s all around you, your decision making skills can be altered. Collins sets out on his mission to get canteens of water from well that is based in the middle of the entire battle. Risking his life just to say he could do it, is an example of his Id. Because his fellow soldiers were ridiculing him when he wanted water, he felt he needed to do something to make himself happy, and to get them to stop making fun of him. Previously in the story we were told about a man whose horse was killed, and fell on top of him. Though he was injured as well, he could not get up to get help. Collin’s miraculously managed to get water in a bucket and began his journey back to his men, while walking he heard the man making groans, and crying. When the man asked for water Collins once again listened to his Id and kept running, but his super-ego counter acted it and he returned back to help him. Although he risked his life to give the man a drink of water, his ego wanted to get the job done and leave. Collin’s splashed the water on his face and continued on his way. Collin’s wanted to help the man but he didn’t feel he had enough time to do it with respect and kindness. Things may seem important at times, but when you think about life you may realize that proving a point may not be the smartest way to do things. Collin’s risked his life and he showed how your Id, Ego, and Super-ego can all work together, almost at the same time. In everyone’s life they make decisions that involve those three things, and you may not choose to listen to your super-ego, but things can often work out, very unexpectedly.
 * Crane’s “Mystery of Heroism”**

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”**

Walking down the street you may hear many different people talking in many different ways. You can tell very easily where a person is from specifically because of the way they speak. Wharton’s “April Showers” and Mark Twain’s “The Invalid Story” both show great examples of different dialects, including a very intellectual, and sophisticated talk, and a down home, southern accent. In the story “April Showers” it shows a woman named Theodora in the 1800’s trying to pursue a love, a love of writing. Although her id lead her to write, her superego partly influenced by her father, was to take care of her family and mother. If she were to make it big she was going to give her money to her parents. The love she has for her parents, and the respect she gives when she speaks is also type of dialect. When she speaks to her parents, one way that tells us she is upper class is the use of the word father, rather than dad. Nowadays you don’t hear many people speaking of their parents with the words father or mother. The quote “Hasn’t mother’s tray gone up yet?” is another example of the way she talks as an upper class woman in the 1800’s, while in the 2000’s you may still hear people saying father or mother but most would likely say “Has anyone brought mom her food yet?”, which is noticeably different. In Mark Twain’s “The Invalid story” there is a man on a journey to return his recently deceased childhood friend back to Wisconsin. In the midst of his journey, he met a man named Thompson who had a very distinct and noticeable accent. While thinking that the coffin had his deceased friend in it, it was actually mixed up and an awful spell that they endured throughout the entire trip was actually just some Limburger cheese. Although they could have dumped the coffin and follow their id, they endured the stench so they could do the right thing, and follow their superego. While most people would say general, Thompson would say Gen’rul or cur’us instead of curious. By shortening his words he created a dialect that is very original, but as in “April Showers” her accent showed she was sophisticated, educated and wealthy, Thompson’s way of speaking would lead most to think he was lower class, and probably uneducated. Although they both show completely different ways of speaking, from different areas in the country they are still good people. Many could think that Theodora could be stuck up if they heard the way she spoke now, and some may think that Thompson is dumb, or uneducated. Though in reality that doesn’t show anything about us, we could definitely prove the stereotypes wrong.