Shiloh: A Short Story

Through the years, many citizens have worked to maintain the museum. In 2012, the Drumright Historical Society began work to bring the story of The Negro American Series back to the public. At first, they began to share the story with their own city through museum exhibits, speeches to civic groups and their local newspaper. Next, they began to share with the State of Oklahoma through organizations such as the Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, the Oklahoma Museum Association and the Oklahoma Historical

But when she asks if it means anything to him, he immediately responds, "Of course it does. But I don?t want anybody but you. I don?t want anyone else. And I know it?s perfectly simple" (277).

In the short story “Shiloh”, written by Bobbie Ann Mason, symbolism is widely used. The story has several different messages behind the symbols used throughout the story. The log cabin, the Civil War battle of Shiloh, the dust ruffle and a flock of birds are all similes used to foreshadow and help readers further understand. Although the symbols have different messages, they all tie together to produce the conclusion of the whole story.

In the book, “Shiloh”, the boy Marty learns a good lesson from a dog that he found and became attached to. He found out it was Judd Travers dog and he abuses his animals. Although Marty did find out that the dog belonged to Judd Travers. Marty decided to keep the dog which is breaking the law. Marty figured that doing something just is better than doing it by the law because he knew that Judd would hurt the dog more if he had given him back. Marty found that doing something wrong for the greater good was better than just giving that poor dog a ride back to abusement. Marty also had troubles while keeping the dog. He had to lie to his whole family which Marty knew wasn't right. Then again he had to lie to everyone just to keep the dog from

Bobbie Ann Mason’s short story “Shiloh” is about a man named Leroy and his wife Norma Jean, who had a baby together that ended up dying as an infant. The story begins with Norma jean lifting weights. Then, it is revealed that Leroy had hurt his leg in a trailer incident and weight lifting was a part of his physical therapy. This caused Norma to decide to also work on herself and lift weights also. Leroy is home and not on the road because of his injury from the accident. While Leroy is close to being healed, the accident left him with fear of driving a trailer again. As a pass time Leroy builds things from craft kits such as log cabins from Popsicle sticks. Leroy hopes to one day build a real log cabin for him and his wife Norma Jean. Norma supports herself and Leroy by working in the cosmetic department at a drug store named Rexall. Leroy had been on the road for so long that him and his wife feel awkward around each other. Leroy cannot tell if his wife wants him around or not, and also, Leroy wonders if his presence brings back memories of when their baby died before he had gone on road. For Christmas Leroy buys his wife an electric organ. This results in them bonding together while Norma plays the organ and Leroy smokes a joint. Later on, Leroy purchases an ounce of weed from a guy named Stevie in a parking lot. Leroy and Norma got married when they were both eighteen and had a baby shortly after. However, the baby died at just four month and three days while he was in

But this in a way shows he is trying to protect her if it is true that she is pregnant or at least wanting a child by him. This was his way of looking out for her, even though it came off differently. So if one was listening they would think otherwise.

The book, Shiloh, is a story about how a boy got a puppy beagle that he named Shiloh. It is an interesting book that everyone should read even if it does have bad grammar.

“Shiloh” is a short story written by Bobbie Ann Mason in 1982. The story is very detailed and includes many arguments of the era’s expectations that relate to the story. Many of us may question “Was Leroy and Norma Jean’s marriage actually secure love and did it seem like love in the 1980’s anymore and why did it all change? Did Norma Jean just reject Leroy’s creativity and love? The character’s marriage is what ties everything together but is also destroyed within time. In the story Norma Jean, wife of Leroy, starts to grow but leaves Leroy behind. Due to Norma Jean’s pregnancy they were married at a young age and stayed married with fading love. It was miraculous to Leroy that there marriage was still united since the death of their first and only child 15 years ago, since most marriages had a higher risk of getting divorce upon the death of a son or daughter. However, Leroy and Norma Jean didn’t divorce because they ignored and hid reality in the deepest parts of their hearts. Norma Jean’s leaving in the marriage, was predictable but surprising. Norma Jean expressed fatigue and annoyment in her marriage with Leroy however she then felt empowerment to fulfill her life as an independent woman by basically erasing Leroy out of the picture. If Norma Jean was able to leave everything she ever had their must of have been factors to influence her decision and certainly a reason because Norma Jean knew she was the only thing Leroy had left to count on.

The short story “Shiloh” by Bobbie Ann Mason gives insight into how a tragic event can change the course of one’s life. In “Shiloh”, there is a man named Leroy married to a woman named Norma Jean. Leroy was a truck driver who was on the road for many years, however due to a devastating accident on the road he had returned home to recover from his injuries. Since Leroy had been gone for such a long period of time, Norma Jean was not entirely comfortable having him around the house. To add to the dismal reality of Leroy and Norma Jean’s situation, Leroy’s presence in the house reminded Norma of their baby that had died of SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome) before Leroy had gone on the road to work. Leroy not having much to do because of his injury, spends most of his time making replica cabins out of Popsicle sticks hoping to one day build a real cabin for him and Norma Jean. Since they got married Leroy promised he would one day build a house for Norma Jean. However, Norma Jean is not interested in living in a cabin. She wants a real house, and as a result of Leroy’s unwillingness to try anything new and productive, she eventually tells Leroy that she does not want to be with him anymore. Mason’s short story “Shiloh” uses different types of characters and well-chosen symbols to represent the theme of how tragic events can either motivate a person or completely demoralize them.

Jig's main objective throughout the story is ensuring that her partner is happy. This is apparent when she tells him that she will go through with the abortion. "Then I'll do it. Because I don't care about me." "And I'll do it and then everything will be fine." Through these comments it is evident that she truly believes if she has an abortion their relationship will be fine giving little thought to the emotional and physical trauma the procedure will cause. Jig's subservient attitude is indicative of her low self esteem throughout the story. She allows herself to be shaped by a man whose care for her is more than obviously not a reciprocation of hers for

He wondered why she had not consulted with the pastor and hoped she would so that she would be convinced carrying the baby was not in her best interest. However, she does not. Sheri knew exactly what she wanted to do even though she hadn’t spoke of it yet. She also knew that their relationship would not continue with the decision she had made just as she knew he did not love her evidently with his continuous push for her to go through with the procedure even if they had to pray about it or postpone it. Sheri comes forward with her feelings stating she knows he no longer loves her or has a love for her, but she also knows that she will go through with the pregnancy and it doesn’t feel right not to. She did not care that I was not what he wanted or that it may bother her family. She did not know if it was something she could bear on her own, but she knew it was what she wanted, what was right, and what she needed to do therefore she would go through with it.

her fear of losing him. "And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be

A quote to support this is “You’ve let me down Helen.”- Alice Pg71 this quote tells us that Alice was disappointed with Helens decision and feels like Helen wouldn’t cope with school work and everything else going on in her life. Helen failed her mum and disappointed her truly after building trust on each other. Alice probably feels betrayed as Helen didn’t listen to her and feels like she can’t trust Helens anymore as she wouldn’t do what her mum thinks best for her. Alice also doesn’t like the idea of Helen having the baby without getting married or while in school.

Today lack of communication or miscommunication presents several problems in a relationship. In “Shiloh” by Bobbie Anne Mason, just exactly that occurs. Leroy, the husband and truck driver, is involved in a terrible accident. As a result, he has a rod placed in his leg and can no longer work as he used to. He is forced to come home to his wife who he learns has changed quite a bit since he was away at work. He wants to spend time with her and build her a home, but she no longer takes interest in him or desires those things, nor does she want the same type of home he wants. Norma Jean has become more selfish and inconvincible since he had been gone. Between that and the loss of their son Randy to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Leroy struggles a lot internally. Mabel, Norma Jean’s mother, convinced them to go visit the Shiloh battleground as she once had claiming it would be a great experience and a good little break for the two of them. However, it was quite the opposite. While it was technically not bad for them, it is where Norma Jean decided to pull the plug on their relationship. In “Shiloh,” Mason uses symbols and characterization to show that lack of communication leads to broken relationships.

It is implied that Jig does not want an abortion from some of the dialogs such as when she says, “We could have all this,” “we could have everything” (par. 71). Though she does not say it clearly, it implies that she dreams of having the baby and having a future together as a family. She also describes the baby as something precious; “once they take it away, you never get it back” (par. 81). The baby is something that she will never be able to bring back after giving up. And, she does not want to let go. However, after he keeps mentioning about an abortion, she says people who get an abortion become happy; “And afterward they were all happy” (par. 54). Like previously stated, it is implied that she does not want an abortion. Yet, she still says, “Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me” (par. 64). This is an irony and sarcasm because she cares about herself and her baby, but she says the opposite. She says she will get an abortion and be happy afterward, making the conversation superficial like the man does. She tries to tell him that she wants to keep a baby; however, she does not say her opinion or her true feeling, and fails to have a communication with