Anatomy of a Story—Breakdown. Use complete sentences – be thorough but brief. Answer “philosophically” when possible. Attached is an aspect of the story I wrote, but you need to read the story. I’m attaching it here so you have an idea of what I was thinking.
If you need access to the story, let me know asap and I’ll get it for you. It is from a short story book by of same name by author, but this story is found as a piece in the American Anthology of American Short Stories.
1) Summary – what is this story about? What makes this story distinctly American?
2) Author bio – short bio and key question: is there anything in this bio that shines light on the story?
3) Whose story is it? Narrator (describe with key details) and point of view
4) Who is the antagonist or key other characters?
5) What is the main conflict (s)?
6) What is the setting? (place and time frame of the story)
7) What is the climax?
8) Is there an epiphany in the story? If so, what is it?
9) Is there imagery (symbols, metaphors) that tell you something more? i.e. have larger ideas attached to them?
10) What stands out to you about the language used (the diction or word choice?). Or, is there a particularly compelling scene or moment? BE SPECIFIC here.
11) How does the story resolve?
12) Now look at the story through ONE of the literary lenses we have discussed (Feminist literary theory, Marxist literary theory, Critical Race Theory). Define the theory.
13) –If selecting Feminist Literary Theory – what does this story tell us about male and female gender roles? About patriarchy in our society?
–If selecting Marxist Literary Theory – what does this story tell us about class in our society?
–If selecting Critical Race Theory – what does this story tell us about race in America?
14 & 15) How did you respond to the story? Why did you choose this story? What did it make you think or feel?
Bonus: 2 points extra credit for creative execution of the
“Anatomy of A Short Story.”
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