Short Stories and Characters
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ShortStoriesReadingGuides-1Act6.pptx
Short Stories
Some Useful Information to Guide Your Reading of the Assigned Short Stories
Short Stories
"Hills like White Elephants," by Ernest Hemingway, on pages 122-126
"Recitatif," by Toni Morrison, on pages 138-155
"A & P," by John Updike, on pages 437-443
"Hills like White Elephants"
It appears on pages 122-126, and it is written by Ernest Hemingway.
It deals with a couple faced with an unplanned pregnancy in Spain in the 1920's.
The couple is considering an abortion, referred to as an "operation" in the story. Abortion was not legalized in Spain until 1985.
The couple has two options and a limited amount of time in which to discuss them and reach a decision.
There is little, if any resolution at the end of the story.
Questions
No two individuals view a subject the same way. How does the man view the unplanned pregnancy? How does the woman view it?
Which personality traits do you associate with the man? Which ones do you associate with the woman?
What does the term "white elephant" mean? How does it relate to the story?
What is the significance of setting this story at a railway station?
Spain is a predominately Catholic country. If you accept the argument that the woman is Catholic, how does her religion influence her thoughts? In the story, there are references to two strings of beads. If you accept the argument that the beads are linked to the Catholic religion, what is the link?
This story is set in the 1920's—the same decade as The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. If you are familiar with this work, what similarities are there in the characters' lifestyles portrayed in the short story and in the work by Fitzgerald?
"Recitatif" (An Interesting Title! What Does It Mean?)
It appears on pages 138-155, and it is written by Toni Morrison.
It follows the lives of Roberta and Twyla from childhood to adulthood.
The two women do not follow the same paths in life. For example, while one works as a waitress in a small town in the 1960's, the other is travelling to California to possibly meet musician Jimi Hendrix.
Each time that the paths of these two women cross, they argue to varying degrees.
There is little, if any resolution at the end of the story.
Roberta or Twyla?
Roberta or Twyla?
Questions
Some readers debate the racial identities of Roberta and Twyla. Is Roberta African American or white? Is Twyla African American or white? Which clues does the narrator provide readers with to identify the racial identities of the two women?
Does it really matter which woman is African American and which one is white? Why or why not?
Some readers contend that the narrator is subjective. Who is the narrator? Is she subjective? Why or why not? If she is subjective, how does this subjectivity affect your view of the characters and events?
Throughout the story, there are multiple references to levels of disparity within American society. How are these references shown?
What is the significance of Maggie in this story? She is mute and "sandy colored." What is the significance of these descriptors?
Of the protest signs, Twyla states, "Actually my sign didn't make sense without Roberta's." What does this comment reveal about the relationship between the two women?
Do Roberta and Twyla learn anything as a result of their life experiences?
"A & P"
It appears on pages 437-443, and it is written by John Updike.
It is set in a supermarket in Massachusetts in the late 1950's or early 1960's; it is also set on a Thursday afternoon.
A young cashier quits as a result of an encounter with three swimsuit-clad young ladies who enter the store to purchase a jar of herring snacks.
The store employees represent diverse personality traits.
There is little, if any resolution at the end of the story.
Questions
Some readers debate Sammy's decision to quit. Some argue that he quits for a foolish reason; others, for a legitimate reason. What do you think?
How would you characterize Sammy?
What differences and similarities are there between Sammy, his coworker, and his manager?
Is Sammy an objective or subjective narrator? Why?
Why do the three young ladies create such a commotion in the supermarket? After all, thousands of customers enter American supermarkets every day to purchase just one item.
Some readers contend that the young ladies are solely responsible for Sammy's decision to quit. Are they? Why or why not?
Consider the time when this story was published (1962). Use Google to view some pictures of fashions from this time. Based on these pictures, are the young ladies wearing the same type of attire? Are they wearing attire that no one expects to observe in a supermarket near the beach? What clues are given in the story to indicate if the attire was considered appropriate or inappropriate for such a setting?
Just let me know.
Anything Else?
