Week 4 discussion

Question

please read carefully and see bottom for the week’s reading Reading short stories can provide us an opportunity to explore the structure of prose writing. For instance, a writer of prose may use elements of plot, character, or setting to create a compelling insight into the human condition. To prepare for this discussion, be sure to complete all of the readings.

What do the plots and characters of these stories reveal to us about the human condition?And, following up on your thoughts in question 1, how do we as readers relate or not relate to that part of the human condition? Class READING How Do We Read and Understand Short Stories? Short stories have three main elements: plot, characters, and setting. We bring a set of expectations about the arrangement of these elements when we read stories. We expect the plot to have a clear beginning, middle, and end. We expect setting details and background information on the characters to be introduced in the beginning, the main character to be engaged in a conflict in the middle, and the conflict to be resolved in some way by the end. Traditionally stories have followed this pattern. Contemporary authors, however, often diverge from tradition and experiment with ways to make story construction more closely reflect their individual points of view. Their fiction challenges our expectations by beginning a story in the middle (in medias res), avoiding a clear resolution of the conflict, or disrupting convention in other ways. Whether authors follow or diverge from traditional story and character development, they must carefully arrange the elements of the story into a unified whole in order to convey meaning. Literary Terms for Week 4: Fiction (see also "setting" and "tone" in Learning Resources for poetry in week 2) fictionshort storyplotexpositionantagonist:the character or force (nature, society, self) that creates conflict with the main characterprotagonist:the main characterconflict:a problem that arises for the main characterrising action:the point in the story when conflict is introducedclimax:the turning point in the story when the tension from the conflict is at its peakfalling action:the action that occurs after the climax as tensions lessenresolution/denouement:an outcome that ends the conflict, either finally or temporarilyin medias rescharacterizationnarratornarrationnarrativepoint of viewstyle Reading "The Yellow Wallpaper" Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" Self Study Questions Before you read the student's responses below, note your own reaction to the story. How would you characterize the relationship between the narrator and her husband? What happens to the narrator? After a second reading, start to examine the elements of the story as you think about its meaning. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper and then click on the link to see possible responses.

Does the plot follow or challenge our expectations about story development? AnswerWould you define the narrator and her husband as dynamic, static, round, or flat? AnswerIs the narrator reliable? Answer A Student's Response Let's take a look at how one student recorded her thoughts about the story and discovered a thesis. Note that the student responses are real and have not been edited for grammar or word choice. The responses represent stages that good writers take to ensure that their final essay is thoughtful and well developed. First Reading, Student Response I really liked this story! I felt sorry for the narrator, but wondered why she just didn't stand up to her husband and tell him off. After thinking about it some more, I realized that most women let their husbands rule their lives during that period. And her husband is a doctor, so she thought he knew the right thing to do. I'm not sure what happens at the end of the story though. It's obvious she has lost touch with reality, but why is she crawling around the room? Faculty Comments I'm glad you liked the story, Theresa. It's one of my favorites! You are right to point out that attitudes toward male and female roles were different in 1892 when the story was written. Knowing the historical background of the work helps us come to a better understanding of character motivation. Reread the story, noting the narrator's response to the wallpaper to see if you can determine what happens to her at the end of the story—why she acts the way that she does. Second Reading, Student Response Her husband thinks he knows what is best for her, but he's contributing to her depression by not allowing her any creative outlets. On the surface, she goes along with what he says, but she rebels by writing in her journal, which he has forbidden. She hides the journal from him though. She slowly goes crazy in that room. She begins to see trapped women in the wallpaper, women like her who have been imprisoned by gender roles. The wallpaper becomes symbolic in that way. The color yellow is probably also symbolic. The narration is very limited. We only get her point of view, which actually works well because we get to see inside of her head as she slowly loses her sanity. The ending is ironic. In one way she is free now. She has pulled off the wallpaper, liberated the women inside of it along with herself. She no longer obeys John's orders anymore. But she had to lose her mind to gain her freedom. Faculty Comments You've made insightful points about the narrator's rebellion through her writing and her vision of the wallpaper. Think about what actually causes the narrator to lose her sanity. How does the yellow wallpaper tie into her descent into madness? Does her rebellion have an effect on her sanity? Once you have completed reviewing and studying the learning resources for Week 4, proceed to the discussion where you will complete an activity on it. Read: Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Answer

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week 4 discussion
  
the human condition which deals with control and freedom together with psychological conflict gets revealed through the yellow wallpaper and the story of an hour and the tell-tale heart. the yellow wallpaper shows how social oppression with insufficient personal freedom leads to mental health deterioration through the narrator's descent into madness. john her husband serves dual roles by acting as her caregiver while he uses his authority to restrict her creative expression and personal freedom, which results in her increased psychological instability (gilman, 1892/2013). the story of an hour shows that louise mallard needs to identify herself as an individual because social marriage norms force her to live a restricted life, which she reveals through her response to her husband's fake death (chopin, 1894/2013). the tell-tale heart shows internal conflict because the narrator becomes mentally unstable through his obsessive guilt which proves how irrational thoughts can make people go insane (poe, 1843/2013).
  
the stories show how external and internal conflicts lead to different patterns of human behavior. the yellow wallpaper shows its main conflict through the narrator's battle against societal norms which her husband represents through his authority. the researcher uses her secret writing and later identification with the woman who gets confined inside the wallpaper to show her need for self-expression together with her fight for personal autonomy. the story of an hour shows internal conflict through louise who experiences both grief and the sensation of freedom (gilman, 2013). her emotional transformation shows how people experience complicated emotions while they handle the conflict between their social responsibilities and their individual wants. the tell-tale heart shows a psychological struggle that the narrator experiences because his mind remains trapped between his paranoid thoughts and his guilty feelings (chopin, 2013). he tries to prove his sanity through his behavior which shows his mental instability because people often choose to hide their most dangerous inner fears. the extreme situations in the text extend to all people because they demonstrate the basic human nature of the characters. the yellow wallpaper narrator shows how people everywhere experience the need to be free while their voices go unheard in places where those in power control their right to speak (poe, 2013). the story of an hour shows louise mallard's need for independence which creates a strong connection between people and their need to develop their personal identities in close relationships. the tell-tale heart narrator shows extreme guilt and anxiety which become common reader experiences that people face in their daily lives. the two stories lead readers to study their personal experiences because they show that people develop their human nature through processes of control and identity formation and emotional conflict.

references
  
chopin, k. (2013). the story of an hour. in m. kennedy & d. gioia (eds.), literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing (12th ed.). pearson.
  
gilman, c. p. (2013). the yellow wallpaper. in m. kennedy & d. gioia (eds.), literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing (12th ed.). pearson.
  
poe, e. a. (2013). the tell-tale heart. in m. kennedy & d. gioia (eds.), literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing (12th ed.). pearson.

Answer

the plots and characters in “the yellow wallpaper” by charlotte perkins gilman, “the story of an hour” by kate chopin, and “the tell-tale heart” by edgar allan poe reveal important truths about the human condition, especially related to freedom, control, and the human mind.
in “the yellow wallpaper,” the narrator’s gradual descent into madness shows how lack of freedom and forced control can damage a person’s mental health. her husband, who believes he is helping her, actually suppresses her voice and independence. this reflects how societal expectations, especially on women, can lead to emotional suffering and loss of identity.
similarly, “the story of an hour” explores the theme of freedom within marriage. mrs. mallard initially reacts to her husband’s death with grief, but soon realizes a sense of relief and independence. this reveals that even loving relationships can feel restrictive. her sudden death at the end highlights the shock of losing that freedom again, suggesting how deeply humans desire autonomy.
in contrast, “the tell-tale heart” focuses on guilt and the psychological effects of crime. the narrator insists on his sanity, yet his actions and paranoia reveal the opposite. his overwhelming guilt eventually forces him to confess. this story shows that the human mind cannot easily escape conscience and inner truth.
as readers, we can relate to these aspects of the human condition in different ways. many people understand the desire for independence and self-expression, making the experiences in “the yellow wallpaper” and “the story of an hour” relatable, even if the situations are extreme. the feeling of being controlled or restricted is something most individuals have experienced at some point.
on the other hand, while most readers may not relate directly to committing a crime like in “the tell-tale heart,” they can still connect to the feeling of guilt or anxiety. the narrator’s inner turmoil reflects a universal human experience&mdash;the inability to hide from one’s own conscience.
in conclusion, these stories use plot and character to explore deep psychological and emotional truths about human life. they show that the need for freedom, the effects of control, and the power of the human mind are central to the human condition, making them meaningful and relatable to readers even today.

Answer

question 1: what do the plots and characters of these stories reveal about the human condition?
the plots and characters in these short stories reveal deep truths about the human condition, especially related to freedom, control, guilt, and mental health.
in the yellow wallpaper, the narrator’s gradual descent into madness shows how lack of freedom and forced control can damage a person’s mind. her husband’s authority and the isolation she experiences reflect how society can suppress individuals, especially women, leading to psychological suffering.
in the story of an hour, the main character experiences a brief moment of freedom after believing her husband is dead. this reveals that even in loving relationships, individuals may feel trapped. it shows the human desire for independence and how powerful that feeling can be.
in the tell-tale heart, the narrator’s actions reveal guilt and paranoia. even though he tries to prove he is sane, his obsession and eventual confession show that humans cannot easily escape their conscience.
overall, these stories show that the human condition includes inner struggles, desire for freedom, emotional conflict, and the impact of society on individual behavior.
question 2: how do we as readers relate (or not relate) to that part of the human condition?
as readers, we can relate to these stories because they reflect emotions and experiences that are universal, even if the situations are extreme.
for example, we may not experience madness like the narrator in the yellow wallpaper, but we can understand feelings of pressure, lack of control, or wanting to express ourselves freely. many people have felt restricted or misunderstood at some point.
in the story of an hour, readers can relate to the desire for independence and personal space. even if we do not share the same situation, we understand the need to have control over our own lives.
in the tell-tale heart, while most readers would not commit a crime, we can still relate to feelings of guilt or anxiety. everyone has experienced moments where their conscience makes them uncomfortable.
however, some readers may not fully relate to the extreme behaviors in these stories, such as madness or murder. despite this, the emotions behind those actions&mdash;fear, pressure, guilt, and desire&mdash;remain relatable.
conclusion (optional if needed)
these stories connect with readers because they explore real human emotions and struggles. even when the situations are unusual, the feelings behind them help us better understand ourselves and others.

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Week 4 discussion

How Do We Read and Understand Short Stories?

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