Analysis Of The Short Story ' Gryphon ' By Charles Baxter

In life, people are not always who they appear to be. Today, a lot of people act like someone their not, to be “cool” or perfect. We see this demonstrated in both “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara and “Tied to Zelda” by David Rice. In “Raymond’s Run,” the fictional character Squeaky sees a common problem. All the girls never really smile. They’re too busy being someone their not. In “Tied to Zelda,” Alfonso does not like to be around Zelda because of her “rough and tough” self. In the end, he sees the truth about Zelda’s personality and becomes her friend. These stories are very different, however, if you look closely you will see a common theme. The author teaches us that one can be someone on the outside, but a whole nother person

“Gryphon” is an thrilling fiction story by the funny author Charles Baxter. The story take place in a classroom in Five Oaks, Michigan and is about an ordinary 6th grade boy, Tommy who encounters a strange sub named Ms. Ferenczi. The message that Charles Baxter is giving us is that everyone is different and nothing is wrong with that.

Richard Wagamese’ expertise in the realm of story telling unlocks a dream world where he has the ability to accurately portray the protagonist’s emotions directly to the reader. Wagamese is able to flip in between current events and past stories to ultimately immerse the reader into a world of imagination. Additionally, he perfects the order in which these stories are being told. By doing so, it allows the reader to take pity upon the protagonists at hand in an utmost flawless succession. Lastly, through effective and clever story telling, Wagamese is able to engage the reader by placing them in both the shoes and minds of his protagonist. It is the profound ability of story telling Wagemse possesses that allows him to create intriguing protagonists who drive the plot of the novel through the stories told.

Amidst the dense and desolate forests of the Stampede Trail, located in Alaska, lies an abandoned bus. In this decaying automobile lies a blue sleeping bag, containing much greater than what initially appears to be simply an unshaven beard and a pair of dark, sleep-deprived eyes, shaded temporarily by resting lids and a tangled mess of lashes. Instead, here lies an adventurous mind that would no longer have the capability to wander, a mere twenty-four year old life stolen from a brother, a son, a friend, a bundle of ideas that would never be given the opportunity to seep their way into the minds of others. Here lies: Christopher McCandless. Alongside these remains lie plenty

In the short story “Gryphon” by Charles Baxter, it starts out with Mr. Hibler, a boy named Tommy and his 4th grade class’ teacher, getting sick and needing Miss Ferenczi as a substitute. Miss Ferenczi basically abandons the lesson plan and just talks and talks about very interesting things in place of having class, even going so far as to bringing in a tarot pack to tell the class’ fortunes on the last day. Though Tommy liked Miss Ferenczi, other classmates were upset with her, so she then gets fired and the class spends the afternoon with Mrs. Mantei’s class for science.

Miss Ferenczi’s tutelage represents a breath of fresh air and a new experience for her students. Everything about her is foreign to the students yet not inaccessible. Hope and truth are connected within Miss Ferenzci; her style of dress, lunch choices, and forthright speech are prime examples. Miss Ferenczi has found her own truth, herself, as evidenced by her nonconformist attitude, elaborate dress, delightful stories, and a touch of humility. She exemplifies that all adults are not like those the children are accustomed in their community. Miss Ferenczi’s symbolism of truth is foreshadowed by Tommy when he notices his substitute’s peculiar marionette lines reminding him of Pinocchio. Pinocchio is a wooden boy who wants to be real and is a liar. Miss Ferenczi may be a real, in the flesh, person, but she is very surreal to Tommy and his classmates; they’ve never seen anything like her. Also, Miss Ferenczi bends the truth and tells stories of myths in order to provoke the students’ sense of thought, imagination, and wonder. The truths the children seek are far beyond spelling and arithmetic, but constitute the character the students will eventually mesh with and emit.

Short stories have fully developed themes but appear significantly shorter and less elaborate than novels. A similar theme found in short stories “Winter Dreams” written by Scott F. Fitzgerald and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner included the social and environmental influences that encouraged and controlled the character’s life and decisions. In “Winter Dreams”, the main protagonist-- Dexter-- fell into a fixation over a young, whimsical blueblood, Judy Jones. His obsession led him to believe that Judy Jones reciprocated his feelings for her, leaving him bare and mortal-- despite prior beliefs. Following her father’s death, Miss Emily fell into a dark obscurity due to the pressure and compulsion of having to carry on the honorable family name. While using a unique point of view (first person peripheral), “A Rose for Emily” followed a mysterious and desirable woman named Miss Emily as her hometown tried to understand her peculiar ways and began to find her disgraceful. By comparing and contrasting these two literary pieces, a similar organization-- including the writers’ purpose and themes-- should become clear. By using literary devices-- such as point of view, dramatic irony, detail, and figurative language-- Scott F. Fitzgerald and William Faulkner conducted two short stories similar in aim and reasoning, probable for contrasting and comparing elements within the parallel writings.

The short stories “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, and “Bartleby, The Scrivener” by Herman Melville, are about two outcasts and their interactions with society. Moreover the authors use common themes and similar mannerisms bringing their characters to life. Each story has different key details, and perspectives, while they communicate the same overall premise.In both “A Rose for Emily” and “Bartleby, The Scrivener”, they share many similarities, and each have key differences that conversely set them apart.

In order for a short story to have a plot that is effective, the story has to have characters that aren’t one dimensional. Throughout a story there should be evidence one or more characters having have developed since the beginning of the story. The short story “Dancer” by “Vickie Sears” does an exceptional job of using the character development of the main character to create an interesting and effective plot. The short story utilizes the character development of Clarissa, along with narrative elements to create a plot that is effecting in portraying the main theme of change and transition.. The three narrative elements that help outline the character development of Clarissa the most is the point of view the story is shown from, symbolism

The story is told from the narrator’s point of view and it contains a changing

Recently the class and I read a short story called Blue Against White, which focuses on the importance of memories during childhood and how it affects one's life. Jeannette C. Armstrong the author, uses writing techniques like symbolism through common motifs to aid the reader to have a better understanding of the the hidden morals within the story.  Literary elements that were applied in the story includes plot and character which also had immense connections towards the author itself. This can be shown through the word choice and the placement of the setting, which displayed a large significance in assisting the reader through imagery. The fact that Jeannette C. Armstrong developed such a self-discovery story helps bring attention

A narrative is constructed to elicit a particular response from its audience. In the form of a written story, authors use specific narrative strategies to position the ‘ideal reader’ to attain the intended understanding of the meanings in the text. Oliver Sacks’ short story The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is an unusual short story because it does not display conventional plot development; the story does not contain conflict or resolution of conflict. The genre of the story is also difficult to define because it reads as an autobiographical account of an experience Sacks had with a patient while working as a neurologist. Although it is arguable that the narrative is a work of non-fiction, it is nevertheless a representation, distinct

Each of the students in Ms. Gruwell class faces their own personal troubles; Eva Benitez

Throughout the autobiographical narrative written by Gary Soto, many different literary elements are used to recreate the experience of his guilty six-year old self. Different elements such as contrast, repetition, pacing, diction, and imagery. Soto narrates this story as a young boy at a time when he seems to be young and foolish, Soto foolmaking mistakes, but at the same time hoping to learn from them. Soto uses each of these devices to convey different occurrences in the narrative.

Daisy 's voice is often repeated throughout the book that is always beautiful and never ceases to die at any point throughout the story, hence why Daisy 's voice "was like a deathless song". Nick 's characterization of Daisy 's voice suggest that Gatsby