Student

Essay text:

i.e_. His suit was immaculately tailored, like one of those fine Italian suits only a select few could afford. As he sat patiently waiting or his client, he ordered a bottle of Chateau Montalena, a rich red wine. His gold and diamond cufflink glittered as he raised his glass to take a sip of the divine beverage. _ QUESTIONS TO START YOU THINKING ABOUT THEME Is the central character static or does he/she learn or mature in the story? Is this a child-to-adult initiation story? What insight does the central character experience, if any? Has the insight been harmless or destructive? Does the character take a real or psychological journey? Is it symbolic? What is the destination? Is the journey successful? Is the central character a victim? If so, does she/he know it? What or who is doing the victimizing? Is escape possible? Does the central character have free will or is she/he controlled by fate? If controlled by fate, is it the fate of character? Is there a central conflict in the story? Is this a universal conflict? Are the characters or situations archetypal (universal characters we frequently encounter in life and literature)? Is the story a retelling of a traditional myth? In what way are the events of the story ironic, in the sense that they can be “looked at two ways?” How does the author feel about his characters and his narrator? Is he for them, against them, or neutral? In what way is the structure of the story a clue to what the story means? What does the author’s style tell us? What symbols or repeated details has the author used and why? What point of view is the story told from? Is this a first peron or a third person story? Is the narrator inside or outside the story? Does the narrator know everything, or is his point of view limited? Does he know what the characters are thinking and feeling, or does he just see what they doing and hear what they are saying? THE MAIN CHARACTER CARRIES THE THEME What is the theme of the story? In other words, what is the author saying about life in this story?