Mary Caroline Dansky

Kirschner
English II
6 December 2015

Prompt 1: Life in the Iron-Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis

Why does the authors narrator directly address the reader? What
effect does this have on the reader? Additionally, what is the effect
of the first person narration on conveying the story realistically?
Rebecca Harding Davis in Life in the Iron-Mills establishes a first
person narrator that addresses the audience. This was done so that the
audience would be intrigued and drawn in, and so that they feel like the
story is being told directly to them. It makes the connection very personal.
The author creates vivid images and settings in the readers mind when she
writes, seem to you as foul and dark as this thick vapor about us, and as
pregnant with death (3). The author speaks to the reader, and makes
them feel as if they are in the story.
Through Daviss approach at the extremely personal effect by using a
first-person narrator, she creates a unique level of realism in the story. The
narrator is easily relatable and repetitive in order for the reader to be able to
relate and connect the story to his or her own lives. She does this by
referencing class, reality, and social status especially when she writes, If
you could go into this mill where Deborah lay, and drag out from the hearts
of these men the terrible tragedy of their lives (8). She also addresses the
reader as directly as calling them out as she does here, no ghost Horror
would terrify you more (8). She writes specific situations that these
workers can connect to.

Prompt 2- The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Read and annotate the poem The Palace-Burner by Sara Piatt.
What comparisons can you draw between the narrator in the poem
and the narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper?
What do these similarities possibly
indicate about social constructs at the end of the 19th Century? Co
nsider the relationships between the narrators and the supporting c

haracters in your analysis.

The narrator in both the The Yellow Wallpaper and The Palace
Burner are first person, female narrators. This allows the story to be able to
reach the audience with a certain effect. It also allows the readers to learn
more about the society and what is going on in the 19th century. The narrator
in The Yellow Wallpaper is suffering from postpartum depression and a
controlling husband who is restricting her. She likes to write it makes her
feel at ease, and her husband will not allow it. Since she is writing in secret
we truly see her real self, which is being taken over by her insanity. The
narrator in The Palace Burner is also female. She reads the newspaper
and is jealous of the woman who burned down the palace. This sounds so
bizarre to be jealous of that, but she envies, women brave as she, she feels
that she lacks bravery and feels, much for cowards, such as I, to guess
(Piatt 3-4). She wishes that she were courageous enough to challenge and
defeat the monarchy like this woman.
In the 19th century women were not respected as highly as men were,
they were considered inferior to men. In The Yellow Wallpaper the
narrator feels controlled by her husband and her brother, and feels for all
women feeling the same way when she says, Sometimes I think there are a
great many women behind, and sometimes only one, and she crawls around
fast, and her crawling shakes it all over (Gilman 9). This shows that this
was not a unique feeling that this kind of restriction and attitude towards
women was all over the country. At this point in time women were slowly
gaining rights due to the repercussions of the Revolution. In The Palace
Burner the woman who burns the palace is not ordinary and is one the first
woman taking a stand in society. The Author shows that this is not a typical
thing when says that women have, Hands fit for flower, and eyes for tears
and dreams (Piatt 24). This was an awakening for the narrator.

PROMPT 3- The Story of an Hour

Discuss Mrs. Mallard as a sympathetic character or as a cruel and selfis
h character. How might your own gender, age, class or ethnicity influenc
e your response?
Do you think Chopin's critique of the institution of marriage, as express
ed by Louise, is applicable today?
The Story of an Hour, is a surprising story ended by the greatest of
tragedies, death. Kate Chopin, the author depicts Mrs. Mallard as a
sympathetic character through her words and actions. These depictions were
made through Mrs. Mallards reactions to the unfortunate news of her
husbands death and his surprising arrival towards the end of the story. She

may also be depicted and interpreted as being cruel and insensitive when she
felt, Free! Body and soul free! (3). Growing up in the world that I have I
must disagree. I am a teenage girl who lives and comfortable life, and people
of my age have grown up in a fairly equal world; we were taught as young
children that all human beings are equal. So if Mrs. Mallard truly felt that
she was cheated and did not feel that she was being treated the right way as
it implies, There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind
persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose
a private will upon a fellow-creature , she is entitled to her own opinions
and feelings. She was also clearly unhappy and that should be taken into
serious consideration while trying to determine whether Mrs. Mallard should
be viewed as cruel or not. I have sympathy for her for feeling like she was
inferior and for her tragic fate.
It becomes rather apparent that Mrs. Mallard felt trapped in her
marriage she did not feel free, until she thought her husband had died.
Sometimes marriage today is like that people feel trapped to the point that
something so tragic and sad as death results in joy. Mrs. Mallard felt felt
that she wasnt trapped, and she prayed that, life might be long. It was only
yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long (3). Today
in life it is much easier to feel this joy and to be free. Now if you are
unhappy women have the right and it is socially acceptable to end a marriage
or get a divorce unlike back in her time. If Mrs. Mallard were in todays age
she wouldnt of had to wait for her husband to die to feel free.
PROMPT 4- To Build a Fire by Jack London
The Naturalist writer, Frank Norris, complained that Realism was, the
dram of a broken teacup, the tragedy of a walk down the block, the
excitement of an afternoon call, the adventure of an invitation to
dinner."
Referencing the works we have previously read, do you find any truth in
this criticism? Another author of Naturalism, Edith Wharton,
said, Life is always either a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the
tightrope."
How does this sentiment contrast the Realism that Frank Norris
criticized? Use examples from, To Build a Fire to support your
claims.
Frank Norris has an interesting and well-flourished perspective of Realism. He
captures the aspect that this is real life the events that are in his writing are plausible and

could actually happen in life. Other realistic writers also use the same technique, but
Norris especially above all exemplifies the most realistic tone and Writing. Charlotte
Perkins Gilman in The Yellow Wallpaper also does a great job of capturing this aspect.
At times though, even though the narrator was suppose to be depressed it seamed as if
she was pushing the line especially when she says, The faint figure behind seemed to
shake the pattern, just as if she wanted to get out (Gilman 6). Realism is suppose to be
realistic and be what happens in life.

Wharton says that she would rather live life on the edge as oppose to taking the safe
route. She says this by stated that, Life is always either a tightrope or a feather
bed. Give me the tightrope.". This is a clever way of looking at life but creates a clear
image in the readers mind.
She does not want to stay in her comfort zone. This same idea is similar in To build a
Fire. London the main character feels the same way te author writes, He climbed the
high earth-bank where a little traveled trail led east through the pine forest. It was a high
bank, and he paused to breathe at the top(64) . This is the same idea that Wharton had.
London whats to live life to the fullest and take some risks.

PROMPT 5- A Memorandum of Sudden Death by Frank Norris

Discuss the journalistic tone of the narrator. What techniques does
Norris use in his story that are borrowed from journalism? What
impact does this have on the reader?
In A Memorandum of Sudden Death, Frank Norris has a unique
input. This was written with a great amount of realistic and journalistic
techniques, which allowed the reader to dive in and feel like they are a part
of the story. He uses language that the people understand, and he is
repetitive. He also writes in the first person especially when he says, I have
set the account down word for word to insert his thoughts and knowledge
of the manuscript (2). By using first person he can impose his own thoughts
into the readers minds and let them connect with his thoughts. Not only does
he insert his own opinion but he establishes Karslakes opinions also.
By using a journalistic tone the author lets the reader connect and
really jump inside of the story. He really makes the audience feel as if they
are a part of the story. He speaks as a whole including the readers when he
writes, All at once we find there are nine instead of eight.... He makes the
reader feel included and comfortable.