Werewolf, Harrison Bergeron, and a Continuity of Parks
When considered together, seemingly disparate stories can sometimes actually serve to illuminate each other better than a discrete reading of any given text. With that in mind, this essay will examine the short stories "Harrison Bergeron," "The Werewolf," and "A Continuity of Parks" in conjunction with each other, specifically looking at how each story challenges the reader's assumptions with a kind of "surprise" twist at the end. In particular, the unique way in which each story reveals the reality of the situation demonstrates how different stories may accomplish the same goal using means especially relevant to that particular story, because where "Harrison Bergeron" uses the bluntness of language to shock its reader out of a reverie, "The Werewolf" adapts a well-known fairy tale as a means of subverting the reader's assumptions, and "A Continuity of Parks" uses the structure of the narrative itself to actually threaten the reader. Considering each of these stories together will serve to highlight the almost confrontational relationship between reader and text and demonstrate how texts are able to subtly or explicitly challenge the reader.
Of the three stories to be considered here, Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" is the least likely to be described as having a "twist," because unlike the other two, the facts of the story are relatively straightforward and there is no grand reveal at the end. Instead, the twist is a kind of thematic and linguistic shift that occurs when Diana Moon Glampers kills Harrison and the ballerina he has chosen to be his "empress." Immediately before the Handicapper General kills Harrison and the ballerina, the two of them had been dancing, and that language used to describe their dance is carefree and ample. The...
Fictional Elements in Selected Works from Kate Chopin and Anton Chekhov In both of Kate Chopin's works, "The Story of an Hour" and "Desiree's Baby," the most important element of fiction which the author invokes is plot and conflict, for the simple fact that this element is the most effective way of imparting the powerful irony which grips both of these tales. "The Story of an Hour" in particular is
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Fiction: Four Stories and their Elements A person reads fiction for many reasons. Often times, as Richard Wright suggests, one chooses to escape one's life, and discover new realities and states of being. Fiction is perhaps the most powerful medium that can transport a person outside of everything previously known, as fiction challenges not only one's intelligence, but also one's imagination. Due to this reason, fiction is here to say, so
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The central focus of the book is the search for self and identity and an attempt to answer the question of what happens when men leave the protective normative and restraining influence of society. The central figure of Kurtz is a man who has broken free of the constraints of a sick society. However the novel also questions whether Kurtz too has become evil and lost his own sense
Large size is a primary expressing symptom of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. The authors also used imaging analysis hardware and software, as well as using the patented CpGenome DNA modification kit for further testing. Explain how the article relates to genetics topics addressed in lecture. The article relates to a wide range of genetics topics including chromosomal abnormalities, alleles, the use of fluorescence in chromosomal analysis testing, cytogenetic abnormalities, genotypes, phenotypes, karyotypes, and
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