An Analysis of Nine Aspects of Literature
You will choose two short stories to compare, one from Ernest Hemingway’s collection, titled
The Short Stories, and the other from Isabel Allende’s collection, titled The Stories of Eva Luna.
Following are the short stories that you may compare:
Hemingway
Allende
Big Two-Hearted River (both parts)
Indian Camp
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Wine of Wyoming
Two Words
If You Touched My Heart
Clarisa
The Judge’s Wife
Your job is to compare one short story from each of the above lists.
1)
Start by writing an introductory paragraph in which you include the titles and names of
the authors of the short stories you choose to compare. Add a sentence or two that reveals
your general response to this literature. Finally, end with a thesis sentence in which you reveal
the main connection or difference that you observed between these two stories that you will
compare.
2)
Discuss the authors’ clarity and ease of understanding. You may focus on the sentence
structure (syntax), choice of specific vocabulary (diction), or any other factor that conveys
differences in your understanding of the texts. You must introduce quotations from each text as
a point of reference and comparison, followed by your explanation of the authors’ clarity in these
examples.
3)
Examine the degree to which these short stories create an emotional escape, as you
(the reader) escape from the present as you read. You must introduce and examine quotations
to compare the texts (as above), and may focus on any elements that “got you into” the text,
including surprises, humor and/or descriptive imagery.
4)
Now you will explore to what degree these texts reflect real life. Are the events true to
human nature? Is the dialogue realistic? Are the characters and settings believable? Are
complications in the plot realistic and the characters’ choices not too easy? Is there a realistic
change in the characters? Again, introduce and analyze the effect of the quotations from each
text for comparison.
5)
Next, you will analyze differences in artistry between these two authors. Make a
comparison between figurative details, plot patterns, allusions, and point of view. You must
introduce quotations from each text as a point of reference and comparison, followed by your
explanation of the authors’ style in these examples.
6)
In this section, you will compare the internal consistency of each author’s plot structure.
Are all parts necessary to create an organic whole? Could the author leave any parts out? You
must introduce quotations from each text as a point of reference and comparison, followed by
your explanation of the authors’ plot structure in these examples.
7)
At this point, you need to analyze each author’s tone. How are attitudes and emotions
reflected in the authors’ choices of diction, grammar and structure? You must introduce
quotations from each text as a point of reference and comparison, followed by your explanation
of the authors’ choice of tone in these examples.
Note:
Tone is expressed by an author through choices made when writing.
Mood is experienced by a reader as a result of the author’s choices.
8)
Next, compare the emotional impact of these two short stories. Is the psychological
impact powerful, and why? Years from now, what will you remember about these texts? Is there
a powerful universal meaning? You must introduce quotations from each text as a point of
reference and comparison, followed by your explanation of the authors’ emotional impact in
these examples.
9)
In this section, you will compare the underlying personal beliefs of these two authors.
What are his and her morals, attitudes about religion, politics? and outlook about economics
(choose at least one to explore)? You must introduce quotations from each text as a point of
reference and comparison, followed by your explanation of the authors’ values in these
examples.
10)
End with a paragraph about significant insights that you gained. Did you look at any of
the following concepts in a new way?
Relationship of humans to nature/God?
New psychological perspective?
How humans operate under difficult circumstances?
Folkways and traditions?
You must introduce quotations from each text as a point of reference and comparison, followed
by your explanation of these texts’ significance in these examples.
These texts are available for check out in our school library and the short stories are available
on-line for free.