Short Story Analysis: A Haunted House

I. A Haunted House
by Virginia Woolf

II. SYNOPSIS

         Two ghosts, a male and a female, a couple, go around their former house searching for some buried treasure. In the end, they realize that the real treasure is actually "the light in the heart," the love of a certain partner for the other partner.

III. SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

A. CHARACTERS

          There are only two characters in this short story (although there is mention about the living couple who currently occupies the house), the male and the female ghosts, both protagonists, both flat and static.

B. PLOT

a) Introduction

          This short story takes place in a house where two ghosts, a couple, used to live.

b) Rising Action

           The couple-ghosts think that the present living occupants of their former house have already found the buried treasure that they are looking for.

c) Climax

           The ghosts are still searching for their treasure and they are wondering whether it is in the garden.

d) Falling action

           Realizing that the treasure was not found by the house’s present occupants, the ghosts are relieved that it is safe, and such treasure is really theirs.

e) Denouement

           Finally, the ghosts know that the treasure is really safe, and theirs, and such treasure is not tangible things, but intangible, found in the light in the heart.

C. SETTING

a) place – in a house formerly owned by a ghost couple

b) time- a long time ago

c) weather conditions- fine

d) social conditions- the ghosts led a comfortable life when they were still alive

e) mood or atmosphere- light

D. POINT OF VIEW

         The Point of View used in this short story is the Omniscient Limited - The author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We know only what the character knows and what the author allows him/her to tell us. We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author chooses to reveal them to us.

E. LITERARY DEVICES

         In my opinion, the literary devices used in this story are Symbolism and Irony. The treasure mentioned by the ghosts here is not tangible, it is just a symbol. Irony because the title sounds scary, but the actual story is not.

F. THEME

         For me, the theme Things are not always as they appear to be is applicable to this story.

G. CONFLICT

         The conflict here is Internal, that of Man (or ghost, to that matter)vs. Himself, as each of the ghosts here is frantically searching for the said treasure around their former house, afraid that the new occupants have found it. --ARV

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Short Story Analysis: A Telephone Call by Dorothy Parker

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I. A Telephone Call

By Dorothy Parker

II. SYNOPSIS

         An infatuated, obsessed woman is eagerly waiting for her boyfriend to call her up at 5:00. Now it is 7:10 but he has not called up yet. She thinks that this is God’s way of punishing her for being bad. She promises to be good and sweet to her boyfriend if he calls up now. She keeps on calling God’s attention, frantically waiting for her boyfriend to call up. She thinks that perhaps he is on his way to her place, and this is the reason for his not calling up yet. On one hand, she thinks of calling him up, but hesitates. She counts anxiously while waiting for that telephone call.

III. SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

    A. CHARACTERS

         There is only one main character in this short story, and is flat and static, the persona of this short story, the “I.” The minor character, though not formally having a direct role here, is the “he,” also flat and static.

    B. PLOT

            a) Introduction

                The characters, the persona “I” and the minor character “he,”  are introduced.

     b) Rising Action

    The complication of the short story starts when a woman, the persona, recalls that her boyfriend told her he would call her up at 5:00, but still has not, at 7:10.

      c)  Climax

         The climax is when frantic thoughts run across the persona’s mind, just because of her boyfriend’s not calling her up at the promised time.

      d) Falling action

          The events and complications start to resolve when she decides not to call him up.

       e) Denouement

          The final outcome happens at the end of this short story when she decides to wait further, by doing her counting again.

           C. SETTING

       a)  place – in the living room

b)  time- late afternoon towards early evening

c)  weather conditions-  fine

d)  social conditions- middle-class

     e)  mood or atmosphere-  the female persona is very anxious; frantic, waiting for his call

      D. POINT OF VIEW 

         The Point of View used in this short story is the First Person - The story is told  by the protagonist or one of the characters who interacts closely with the protagonist or other characters (using pronouns I, me, we, etc).  The reader sees the story through this person's eyes as he/she experiences it and only knows what he/she knows or feels, focusing on the thoughts and agitations of the crazed woman. This short story is a monologue.

        E. LITERARY DEVICES

          In my opinion, the literary devices used in this story are first and foremost Irony; the title is A Telephone Call, but there is no telephone call in this short story, and then Symbols; the telephone unit itself symbolizes something deeper, it is the center of the persona’s crazed antics and thoughts.

         F. THEME

          For me, the theme Being in love with someone brings not only happiness but also pain is appropriate for this short story.

        G. CONFLICT

          The conflict here is Internal, that of Person vs. Himself, as the persona is a crazed, obsessed, anxious woman who waits for a telephone call from her boyfriend, and in the process of doing so, comes in psychological conflict with herself. --ARV

Short Story Analysis : The Dowry

I. The Dowry                                                                
by Guy de Maupassant

II. SYNOPSIS

Maitre Simon Lebrument and Mademoiselle Jeanne Cordier got married recently, and people knew  it was for money because Mademoiselle Jeanne Cordier was rich and Maitre Simon Lebrument needed money to pay for the firm of Maitre Papillon which he bought. On their trip to Paris, right after she handed him a big amount of money intended to be a dowry, he left her on an omnibus—left her for good.

III. SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

A. CHARACTERS

1. Mademoiselle Jeanne Cordier - Protagonist, Dynamic, and Round
2. Maitre Simon Lebrument - Antagonist, Dynamic, and Round
3. Mademoiselle Jeanne Cordier’s parents - Static and Flat
4. The omnibus conductor - Static and Flat
5. The omnibus inspector - Static and Flat
6. Henry, Mademoiselle Jeanne Cordier’s cousin - Static and Flat

B. PLOT - Linear

a) Exposition

The major characters and the short story’s setting were introduced as the two major characters were getting married.

b) Complication

The start of the major conflict was when the male major character had just taken in his motto.

c) Crisis

Tension started when the new husband invited his new wife to eat nearby but instead of taking the cab, he wanted to ride the omnibus.

d) Climax

The peak of this short story was when the new husband was revealed to have just left her.

C. SETTING

a) place –in Boutigny-le-Rebours

b) time- a long time ago

c) weather conditions- fine

d) social condition- the female major character belonged to a well-off family, the male major character was poor

e) mood or atmosphere- fine at first, then it became gloomy when the female major character was left by her husband

D. POINT OF VIEW

The Point of View used in this short story is Omniscient Objective – The author tells the story in the third person. It appears as though a camera is following the characters, going anywhere, and recording only what is seen and heard. There is no comment on the characters or their thoughts. No interpretations are offered. The reader is placed in the position of spectator without the author there to explain. The reader has to interpret events on his own.

E. LITERARY DEVICES

In my opinion, the literary devices used in this story are Foreshadowing and Irony. Foreshadowing when the marriage was clear to be a “forced” one for the husband because of his financial needs, and the wife’s wealth. There was Irony when the marriage was described as a “forced” one, an “ironic” one because unlike most marriages, this one was clearly because of the man’s financial needs.

F. THEME

For me, the theme "Some people don’t appear as what or who they really are" is appropriate for this short story.

G. CONFLICT

The conflict here is Internal, that of Man vs. Man - that of the wife vs. the husband, because it was clear to everybody that their marriage was because of the husband’s financial needs. --ARV