The Painted Door
responding personally
1. Throughout the story, right up to the nextto-last paragraph, Ann repeats, "If you
knew him, though - John would try," Does
she know him? Then, if so, was her act
with Steven committed on purpose, as a
clear statement of defiance after seven
years of "ever-lurking silence"? Respond
to your instincts: what do they tell you?
2. "John is a victim - not of the snow, but of
his wife's betrayal." Support or refute the
statement.
responding critically / analytically
3. The story is told from a third-person
omniscient point of view, Initially, there is a
shared omniscience wherein both John's
and Ann's perspectives are given. Once
John leaves, Ann continues through the end
of the story. Steven is never permitted a
"voice," Why does the writer do this? Why
does the writer shift from a fully omniscient
narration at the beginning to a limited
omniscience at the end? How does the
writer's choice serve the story best?
4. Examine the extensive use of
foreshadowing in the story. Identify some of
the signs of the inevitability of the tragic
resolution to the story.
critical / analytical response
continued
5. Explore the imagery of nature in the story.
• a) The imagery of the winter landscape is
vast, harsh, bleak, and lonely. In what way
does the natural landscape serve as a
metaphor for Ann's emotional "landscape"?
Identify some examples of the metaphor one description that represents both the
outer and inner landscapes simultaneously.
• b) In what way is the storm in nature a
metaphor of the inner storm that Ann is
living? Identify some examples of the
metaphor of both storms striking
simultaneously.
responding
creatively
6. "She would try to make
amends." Had John not
returned that night as he
did, and the story were to
continue, would Ann have
made amends? Or might
she have continued to
some extent with Steven?
7. Was John's death
accidental or intentional?
What might be the "right"
way for an adult to
respond to a partner's
infidelity?
a skeleton essay
• Write a skeleton essay which will answer the
question "In his short story, "The Painted
Door", what idea does Sinclair Ross
develop about the significance of an
individual's attempt to live unconstrained
by convention or circumstance?” Write this
skeleton essay in the document provided.
• Formulate a thesis statement that will answer
the question.
• As you work through the skeleton essay, your
statements, topic sentences, and explanations
must be complete sentences, but the evidence
may be provided in point form.
• “principle of thirds”
principle of thirds - NEXT
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New Idea - provide a statement of theme (thesis) for the paragraph
Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or paraphrase
from the story to support your statement
eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves your thesis to be
true
Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or paraphrase
from the story to support your statement
eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves your thesis to be
true
Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or paraphrase
from the story to support your statement
eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves your thesis to be
true
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Transition - provide a transition from this paragraph to the next
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Your paragraphs will follow the "principle of thirds" - you create a statement,
and then provide three pieces of evidence to support it, evidence for which you
provide explanations.
"In his short story, "The Painted Door", what
idea does Sinclair Ross develop regarding
regarding the significance of an
individual's attempt to live unconstrained
by convention or circumstance?"