Group Short Story Analysis
(Odd Semester 2012/2013)
Dear attendees of Prose Class,
Please post your group short story analysis into the reply section below.
Make sure you use the suggested outline and format, and don’t forget to list the name and student registered number on the bottom of the work. Therefore, the analysis should run as follow.
Title
Introduction
Analysis
a. Synopsis
b. Discussion
Conclusion
References
Group members:
1. ……………………. (10121570..)
2. ……………………. (10121570..)
3. ……………………. (10121570..)
4. ……………………. (10121570..)
Good luck!
Universitas Kristen Indonesia 
Introduction
Considering that story is processed in the fiction author’s imagination which is the result of observation and experience of this life. So that the reader feels fictions is real though somewhat much different to the reality faced by the reader. This causes a lot of fiction favored by many people that most telling about the physical aspects of human life.
The presence of literary work must be enjoyed by the reader. To be able to enjoy a work seriously and both needed a set of literary knowledge. Without sufficient knowledge will be a work enjoyment is merely superficial and cursory because of the lack of proper understanding.
This paper is an attempt to help the reader understand the story in general, and in particular Gold Mounted Guns. The story is very interesting because it was written by famed novelist F.R. Buckley. This story describes the young people today who are obsessed with someone who are known to many people despite the bad guy. The discussion in this paper focuses on the main charater analysis. This analysis is done only based on the contents of stories. So the reader better understand the content of story Gold Mounted Guns.
Analysis
A. Synopsis of Gold Mounted Guns
Gold Mounted Guns is set in cowboy’s life western. Will is young man who has an ambition to be Pecos Tommy, the man who has gold-monted guns. Will is an admirer of Pecos Tommy, he adore Tommy’s reputation. To make the hard-faced man interested, he propeses both of them to steal has just been taken from the bank by an old man named Sanderson as a starting point. After make a deal, they go to Sanderson’s house which located outside of the town. They easily find money, it because there is nobody there. After handing the money to the hard-faced man. Will asks him to leave that house, but the hard-faced man replies they will stay and hide there to see Sanderson’s reaction when he realizes his money his gone.
Sanderson and his daughter have arrived; they are
so shock realizes that their money is gone. Sanderson is very sorry to realize that his daughter’s teo year salary working in the store is gone. His daughter started to cry but she tried to make her father feel comfort. Hearing it, Will feels guilty, wondering how the Sanderson’s feel. He approached Sanderson by pointing hid gun to the hard-faced man to return the money to Sanderson. Will finally realizes that the hard-faced man is not Pacos Tommy but he is a sheriff who killed the bandit one day ago.
B. Discussion (Characterization)
In the story of Gold Mounted Guns, there are four characters. They are divided into 3 parts; major, minor, and figurant. Based on the story, the minor character in this story is Will and the sheriff is a minor character who support the major character, Will. The rest of the characters are figurant that they can make the situation in the story become more realistic.
1. Will
Will is young man who rejoices the life of bandits. He was ambitious to be a robber. Like a boy, doesn’t want to know which thing is good or bad. As we can see, when he saw the har man faced look alike Tommy (The Robber), he implors the hard faced man to let him to join.
“Put ‘em down. Wht do you want?”
“I want to join you.” (p. 62).
Without realizing that was a very bad thing to do, he confidently ask the hard faced man to tok him along. He thinks, it would be an amazing experience to him.
Will finally realized that his game was stupid to do. When he saw Sanderson cried out, he felt guilty and innocently want to took the money back.
“Ain’t you comin’?” he asked.
“Don’t know as ever I figured what this game meant,” he said. “Always seemed to me that all the hardships was on the stick-up man’s side getting’ shot and chased and so on. Kind of fun, at that. Never thought ‘bout old man cryin’.”
As you can see, we can say that Will has a dynamic character. Because at the first time he decide to do a bad thing, then after he saw the old man cryin’, he change his mind and felt guilty.
2. Sheriff
Sheriff is a fierce man, we can see it from his physical description that given by Buckley,
Sheriff in this story has a role as a major character. in this story the author write that he is
a hard-face man with mustache. And he is very cautios with another man since when Will
call him, He reflectively show a muzzle to Will’s face.
“ So it was from a dusky void that the hard-faced man herd himself called by name “Tomy”, the hard faced man made, it seemed, a very slightly movement – a mere flick of the hand of the hand at his low-slung belt; but it was a movement perfectly appraised by the man in the shadows.”
He is smart person too, after they robbed Sandersson’s house, sheriff ask Will to wait for Sandersson until he get home to see his reaction when he knows that his wad’s gone. We can see it when he said. “ Figure this old guy’ll be back pretty soon. I’d like to see what he does when he finds his wad’s gone. Ought to be amusin!”
When Sandersson came home and realize that his Wad’s was gone he cried, and the idea from the sheriff was succeed. Will realize his fault, he never thought about the effect of what he has done.
3. In this story, we know that sanderson’s daughter as a minor character. She is a tough and mature girl since she could accept that her wad’s was gone. Otherwise, she tries to take care of his father. She loves her father in all time. She just like a gently mother with a little child.
“don’t daddy,” she chocked. “It only makes it worse. Come and lie down on your bed, and I’ll make you some coffee.”
“Don’t cry daddy darling. Please.”
“gently, like mother with a little child, she led the heratbroken old man out of the watcher’s line of vision.”
4. Sanderson
The story of Gold Mounted Guns by Buckley. In this story Sanderson’s role as a minor character. The development of characteristic is dynamic. It shows when his daughter’s money lost “Gone!” he cried in his cracked voice, “Gone!”. And he gets the reader’s emphaty by his statement “It’s gone! Two years yo’ve slaved in a store; and now I’ve—-“
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the characterization for the story of Gold Mounted Guns which written by F.R. Buckley. The author uses the characters to describe the infamous rubber who has the Gold Mounted Guns. In the story, the sheriff is as Pacos Tommy who is cruel, bad, and criminal. He has killed the Pacos Tommy a day before. Will were as a teens who admire at Pacos Tommy and he wanted to be like him. As young person, he taught Pacos Tommy is a cool, brave, and great person even he did many crimes and bed things. However, the sheriff wanted to educate will that he did not follow the Tommy’s way. He agreed with Will’s idea to steal money from Sanderson. After they did it, the sheriff let will to see the Sanderson’s reaction when he knew his money was gone. When he saw that, he felt guilty and force the sheriff to give back the money. Will realized that doing crime is just hurt someone.
Based on this situation, Buckley wants to emphasize that adults should guide the teens to find the right way. Teens are a person who can be easily influenced by something or someone that they thought it is good and cool. In that age, teens want to looking for their identity so, they do what they think well.
The interesting part of this story is the way of the sheriff makes will realize that effect of doing crime just hurt someone. It makes Will to think over become a rubber like Pacos Tommy.
Reference
Buckley, F.R. Gold Mounted Gun. (in Pardede, Parlindungan. 2006. An introduction to the study of fiction. Jakarta: FKIP-UKI)
Pardede, P. (2011, oktober 1). Element of fiction. Retrieved november 28, 2013, from https://parlindunganpardede.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/4-elements-of-fiction/
GROUP MEMBERS:
ROKY LINAWATY P(1012150015)
CALEDIN SIADARI (1012150022)
KRISTIANTO BUDIMAN (1012150019)
FEDDYANCE (1012150029)
ADRI BUDI S (1012150030)
KRISTI INTAN (1012150013)
ALMIRA KOMALA P (1012150012)
A Plot Analysis of Gerald Durrell’s “The Talking Flower”
Introduction
In general, we can say that the short story is similar to the novel, in all characteristics except that is limit itself to a single, complete episode and makes up in compression and intensity for what its lack in scope and breadth of vision. The short story is an outgrowth of the modern concern for the examination.
Analysis is a trial to find truth. The process of analysis is divided s problem into various parts, which may then be examined more easily; their natures function, and interrelationships may be more fully understood when they examined one by one. In this story, we will analyze the plot of “The Talking Flower.”
According to Pardede (2008), plot refers to the arrangement of the events in the story to what the author tells first, second, third and etc. There are four stages: Exposition, Complication, Climax and resolution. The Exposition introduces character and interrelationship to environment. On the other side, Complication is the action that reaches the climax. Climax is the point of greatest emotional impact. The last, Resolution is final proportion of the story.
The Talking Flower has plot actually. It is interesting thing to analyze plot of the story. Discussions are focused on type and the stages on the plot and how Durrell presents it.
Analysis
1. Synopsis
Gerry has worked with Kralefsky for some weeks before he discovers that Kralefsky doesn’t live alone. He knows it when Kralefsky says that he must go to see his mother. It makes Gerry confused, since mother of an old man like Kralefsky is still alive. Gerry thinks that it’s just a polite manner of Kralesfky in order to use toilet. Since Gerry thinks that the mother that Kralefsky means is a toilet. One morning, Gerry wants to use the toilet. Because he thinks that Kralefsky is finicky about lavatory, he decides to use polite manner too. He says to Kralefsky that he wants to visit his mother. Although at first Kralefsky seems to be doubtful, he lets Gerry visit his mother after getting permission from his mother. Gerry feels surprised because Kralefsky brings him into a large shadowy bedroom which is like a forest of flowers and there is an old woman who is lying on a bed at one end of the room. She is Kralefsky’s mother. She is tiny and has the richest and most beautiful auburn hair. She converses with Gerry. She tells Gerry about her opinion for being old then she asks Gerry whether he has ever heard flowers talking or not. Gerry just nods his head and feels curious about it. She tells Gerry that flowers do talk to each other naturally, but she doesn’t understand what they’re saying. After Gerry and Kralefsky’s mother finish talking, Gerry leaves the room and when he looks back, he sees the flowers move closer to Kralefsky’s mother in the gloom as if they wait for her to tell them about something.
2. Types of Plot
The Talking Flower is a story written by utilizing a chronological plot that shows the sequence of event on the story. Starting from the beginning up to the end of the story the events are arranged using the order of a time. It starts from Kralefsky who allows his friend named Gerry to meet his mother, and Gerry feels strange when he knows Kralefsky’s mother was can speak with flowers, and in the end of story Gerry can see and believe that all of flower on Kralefsky’s mother room can talk to her.
3. Stages and Element of Plot
The plot of The Talking Flower has a regular structure so that it can be neatly divided into four stages: exposition, complication, climax and resolution. Pardede (2008) claimed “Exposition, or the beginning of the story, introduces characters and their interrelationship to their environment” (p. 30). Therefore, the exposition of The Talking Flower consists of setting including place, time and the three major characters. The place is at Kralefsky’s mother’s room, and the time is in the morning. The characters are Gerry who is a polite and respectful person, Kralefsky who is a man who is finicky about lavatory, and Kralefsky’s mother who is a friendly woman. The complication happens when Kralefsky thinks that Gerry does want to meet his mother. “ My mother? ” he repated in astonishment. Visit my mother? Now?” (p.70). Then, Gerry meets Kralefsky’s mother. “Mother dear, here’s Gerry come to see you.” (p. 70)
The climax is known when Kralefsky’s mother points the flower and asks Gerry to bring it to her. She thinks that the flowers do talk like people do even she don’t understand what they are talking about. “Take flowers,” she said, pointing at the blooms that filled the room. “Have you heard flowers talking?” (p.71) In this case, the talking flower is quite new to Gerry. “It’s greatly intrigued for me,” Gerry said. (p.71) He just listen what the Kralefsky’s mother tells about the talking flower.
Soon after the climax, Durrell presents the resolution such as when Gerry sees that the flowers come closer to Kralefsky’s mother as though waiting for her to tell them something. Then, he leaves the mother’s room and follows Kralefsky across the room. (p.72)
4. The Use of Plot to Present the Theme
In this case, the author is successful in making chronological-sequence plot interesting, another achievement in writing The Talking Flower is in his ability to effectively present the theme through plot. The theme of the story is the idea that “it is no impossible if we are talking with plants”. To find out the truth of the story, the author writes character of Kralefsky who is his friend and introduces Kralefsky’s mother. In this story, the author tells about Kralefsky’s mother. She is soft and friendly woman. She is an old woman whose argument that flowers can talk. She said that when he was as old as she was, he would probably be able to hear them as well. She tells him that she is queer woman.
Basically, the characters of Gerry are polite, respectful, and appreciative to Kralefsky’s mother. Finally, after seeing that Kralefsky’s mother talk with flowers, the author believes that her statements are true.
Conclusion
The Talking Flower story is written in a simple chronological story. But the content of the story is confusing so that it’s difficult for the readers to find out the point of The Talking Flower. However, Durrel is also successful to employ the interesting plot to effectively present the main theme of the story.
Reference
Durrel, Gerald. The Talking Flower. (in Pardede, Parlindungan. 2008. An Introduction to the Study of Fiction. Jakarta: FKIP-UKI)
Group Members:
-Frewica (0712150014)
-Jennifer Gloria Pongallo (1012150034)
-Gwynnet Fairly X-Disihi P. (1012150036)
-Devi Permata (1012150039)
-Marsalina Malau (10121150048)
-Devi Astuti Sitorus (1012150064)
The Main Theme of Anton Checkov “Misery”
Introduction
Fiction is a form of work that involves, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not really happening, but in the form of imagination and theoretical discovered by the author.
Misery is one of the examples of fiction. The purpose of an analysis of Misery by Chekov which tells the reader about the men’s feeling which representation of men in all over the world.
Theme is the central idea or ideas of exploration by a literary work. In fiction, the theme is not presented directly at all. Readers extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, readers must figure out the theme themselves.
After reading the story, the main theme of this story is, ”The harshness of human behavior and the lack of connection and compassion towards others”
Synopsis
In the short story “Misery” by Anton Chekhov, I identified the problem of loneliness, as the absence of reciprocal understanding. I feel the love that A. Chekhov expresses to the ordinary person like Iona Potapov. The author writes about little things that mean a lot. Deep thoughts are hiding under true life twists and turns.
Discussion-Analysis
Chekhov tells us a story of the main character, penurious Iona Potapov. As a sledge driver, meets various types of people and spends most of his time with them. It may seem that Iona should not be lonely, as he is always surrounded with people. When we read between the lines we can see the crying soul of Iona. Iona does not have a wife, he just lost his son, and he is left with his horse and his soul is dancing with pain. Misery is preying on him from inside. His passengers are insincere to themselves and to Iona; this makes his pain even worse.
The author shows some serious problems to his readers. Misery explains a significance of moral principles. This story is about people that are satisfied in their lives, and who feel they are above other people. This story is about people who are not able to understand each other, and who do not know the significance of sympathy. Iona turns round to tell them how his son died, but at that point the hunchback gives a faint sigh and announces that, thank God! They have arrived at last. It feels like it is difficult for other people to understand his grief, for those that never had this feeling before. Iona does not lose this faith and still tries to find someone who will listen to him. He is childlike when he tries to see support and sensibility spark in people’s eyes. Unfortunately, he bumps into a wall of incomprehension and indifference.
How often do we hear about indifference? We wonder in disgust and we do not think it could be said about us. How often we forget about grievances we cause to our closest people. Sometimes so little is needed: to listen, to smile or just to say an amiable word, but sometimes that is all we need. It would not take too much effort for Misery characters to give just a little bit of kindness, gentleness and patience, so that Iona Potapov would feel better. We all need to shy away from our indifference to make our lives brighter.
A. Chekhov knows how to write simply about huge importance things. That is what he did writing Misery. There Chekhov faces the biggest perennial problem of mankind – inner communication, indifference for someone’s loss and grief. The feeling of heaviness and melancholy stays in place while reading this short story. The main character of the story, Iona, is lost in a busy city, where everybody rushes without paying attention to someone who needs it most. “The little mare munches, listens, and breathes on her master’s hands. Iona is carried away and tells her all about it”. This fragment shows that Iona lost his faith in people, and he finds a warm heart that would understand his grief. Iona found a real friend – his old mare, which always stays around.
Anton Chekhov is a great artist in words. He is able to convey his thoughts in this short story and to show a big picture of Iona’s life. The author reveals a cruel atmosphere that surrounds Iona, “Big flakes of wet snow are whirling lazily about the street laps, which have just been lighted, and lying in a thin soft layer on roofs, horses’ backs, shoulders, caps”. It is not just dusk and snow; it is a symbol of emptiness, hopelessness and apathy. It allows us to understand how small the human being is in this cruel universe. Chekhov pictures the big city with heartless people, where inside the person could be alone. Four times Iona tried to start a conversation and all four times he tried to share his grief. He wants to talk about his loss about his sorrow. He even states, “It would be even better to talk to women. Though they are silly creatures, they blubber at the first word”. No one was interested in his words. Iona could not let his grief out so his sorrow was getting bigger. “His misery is immense, beyond all bounds. If Iona’s heart were to burst and his misery to flow out, it would flood the whole world, it seems, but yet it is not seen”.
Chekhov is like a psychologist. He shows how big the sorrow could be and how lonely a human could get. This theme is relevant for all of us. We all rush through our lives without thinking of others. We rarely think that we all could get to a situation pictured in “Misery” by Anton Chekhov.
Conclusion
Misery is a short story which is written by Anton Chekov. This story is about a father’s grief over the death of his son. The grief is within him and he desperately wants to speak about it to lighten his burdensome misery but no one is ready to listen to him.
The story ‘Misery’ has a sub title ‘ To Whom Shall I Tell My Grief?’ While
the grief is over the loss of his son, his misery is not finding an outlet to unburden his grief. This story tells us about the self-centered, unresponsive and feeling less nature of human beings in this world. It portrays the overwhelming grief of Iona Potapov, the old sledge-driver over the loss of his son and his futile attempts to share it with fellow travellers in his sledge. The first part of the story describes the old man’s grief and his repeated efforts to catch the attention of the sledge riders and his failure to make them listen to his tale of woe. The resulting emotion goes beyond grief and becomes misery. Misery means a great suffering of the mind or body. Here the suffering is not physical but felt within the heart. There can be no cure for emotional distress unless it is let out and shared with others. The old man has to keep his emotions within, as there are no listeners to lend an ear. He has been rendered alone by the death of his son, but his loneliness increases when he finds no one with whom he can share his agony. He is severely alone and therefore is miserable.
Reading this story in prose is like reading a poem as the style is compressed, imaginative and almost lyrical displaying strong emotions and feelings. A Russian critic, Andrei Voznesenski writing about Chekhov says that he is “a master of understatement, of concealed meaning, of twilight scenes and of
prose as compressed as poetry.
Reference
Pardede, P. (2008). An introduction to the study of fiction. Jakarta: Universitas Kristen Indonesia.
Group Members :
1. Gita Ria Sitorus (1012150004)
2. Maria Rimelda Pasaribu (1012150031)
3. Kristin Manullang (1012150035)
4. Debora Murniasih Siregar (1012150052)
5. Belinda Silvia Montoya (1112150048)
6. Hardianty Aprilianing (1112150049)
7. Jessica Talentia (1112150039)
8. Yulia Lestari (1112150041)
Excuse me, I think you make a mistake in writing your group name. Your group name should be group 2.
If that’s so, I’ve edited it for them.
A PLOT ANALYSIS OF
GERALD DURREL’S “THE TALKING FLOWERS”
A. Introduction
Many people like enjoying fictions such as novels, comics, or even short stories. They like reading fictions because there are some of the stories which might also happen in their real life. It’s one of natures of fiction: fiction is related to life. There is also another nature of fiction: fiction is entertaining. It might be analyzed from the characteristic, the setting, style, or even from the plot. They are some elements of fiction. By analyzing the elements of fiction, it means that the reader understand the meaning of the story through their own perceptions and explanations.
This paper deals with the Plot of ‘the Talking Flowers’ written by Gerald Durrel. The writers analyse the type of plot used in the short story, stages and elements of plot. The use of Plot to present the theme is also a part of this paper discussion
B. Discussion
1. Synopsis of The Talking Flowers
In this story, Gerry Gerald has a friend whose name is Kralefsky. Mr.Kralefsky says that he must go and see his Mother. Gerry is convinced that Kralefsky is far too old to have a mother still living. He is curious and wants to see Kralefsky’s mother. Then, Kralefsky and Gerry visits Kralefsky’s mother. In a room, Kralefsky’s mother tells Gerry that flowers can talk. Hastily and truthfully he denies this. From her explanation, Gerry knows that she feels lonely like a poor rose in the middle of other flowers. Finally, Kralefsky’s mother feels happy because Gerry has listened what she wants to say.
2. Types of Plot
Gerald Durrel uses Chronological Plot in “The Talking Flowers”. The events are arranged based on the order of the time they take place. We have 2 reasons why this story is in chronological plot. First, the story is organized well from exposition, complication, climax, and resolution. Second, the reason is the author tells the sequence of story in detail. Starting from Gerry is confused by the words of Kralefsky about his reason to go out for a while, until he sees the actual facts. Everything is well told and directed. Kralefsky and Gerry talk about Kralefsky’s mother. This is proved in their conversations in page 70 paragraph 1&2. Next, the author brings together Kralefsky, Gerry and Kralefsky’s mother in a room.
“Mother dear, here’s Gerry come to see you”.
“I’m so very flattered that you asked to see me, “she said in a soft, husky voice.
“So many people nowadays consider a person on my age a bore”.
“Do sit down, “she invited; “do sit down and talk for a minute”.
Based on the dialogue above we can conclude that Gerry has never met Kralefsky mother before because he describes her physical condition detail.
‘The minute figure on the lifted thin, pale lids and looked at me with great tawny eyes that were as bright and intelligent as a bird’s.’
3. Stages and Elements of Plot
The plot of The Talking Flowers has four stages which they are exposition, complication, climax, and resolution. The situation is dynamic. Because there are some bad things which happen unexpectedly that make the situations more complicated.
A. Exposition & Conflicts
There are 4 characters in this story. They are Kralefsky, Gerry and Kralefsky’s mother and flowers. In Gerald Durrel introduces the characteristics through Expository Characterization where the characterizations are described through the author or other character. Gerry and Kralefcky are mates but they doesn’t know each other well. In this story, there are 2 levels of conflicts. First, the conflict is Gerry against Kralefsky’s attitude. Second, the conflict is Kralefsky’s mother against her loneliness.
B. Complication
The complication is when Gerry is curious about Kralefsky’s mother. Gerry asks him to visit his mother. However, Kralefsky is doubtful about it. He is ashamed to tell about his mother situation.
C. Climax
In this stage, finally Gerry goes with Kralefsky to see Kralefsky’s mother. Apparently, his mother is very old. She is a lonely person. She has many stories to tell but she has no any friend to tell them. She is only accompanied by flowers. Finally, she tells Gerry that she feels lonely through the talking flowers about ‘a rose among the daisies’. To fill her loneliness, she only talks to flowers surrounding her. She actually wants to say that she also needs people to share stories with. She wants to be paid attention like the rose among the daisies.
‘You must come and see again, if it would not bore you,” she said. “You’ll find my idea a little eccentric; I think they are worth listening to.”
D. Resolution
Gerry is at first felt that she was awkward when she says flowers can talk.
“Have you heard the flowers talking?”
‘Greatly intrigued, I shook my head; the idea of flowers talking was quite new to me.’ However, he listened carefully Kralefsky’s mother. It made her smiled and satisfied.
“Well, Gerry, we have been having a most interesting conversation. At least, I found it interesting anyway.”
The author uses scenic method to tell the action. For example, the author describes the positions of the characters and the objects in the setting reflect the psychological relationship. Gerry sits on the bed. Kralevsky’s mother describes the position of the flowers.
The author writes the story by using chronological plot. However, the author conveys the message through the story very difficultly. Karlefsky’s mother is lonely because she’s lack of attention and finally she is accompanied by flowers and as if the flowers talk to her. To say that she is lonely, she first tells about the talking flowers. The author makes Kralefsky’s mother isn’t straight to the point.
4. The Use of Plot to Present the Theme
Besides his success in making a simple logical-sequence plot interesting, the events are arranged in a cause-effect relationship. Another achievement of Gerald Durrel in writing The Talking Flowers is his ability to effectively present the theme through plot. The title is informative. The theme of the story is “importance of attention”. As a parent is getting older feels lonely, she needs attention and other people. His mother is only accompanied by flowers, therefore she feels lonely because there are no people who accompany her except flower. The flowers can entertain her. Kralefsky doesn’t want other people know how his mother is because he is introvert.
Gerry wants to visit Kralefsky’s mother. His mother is very happy when Gerry visits her. She said, “we have been having a most interesting conversation”. She hopes Gerry comes and sees her again so that she doesn’t feel lonely anymore. Flowers need water to live.
“Do you know that some people think it’s kind to change the water every day?”
It is same with her. She needs attention to cheer up her. The flowers might entertain her but she needs someone to accompany her to share with. The attention isn’t only given through money. It can be also through time to take care of people we love.
C. Conclusion
In short, the The Talking Flowers written by Gerald Durrel is an interesting short story. It is because Durrell writes the story in oder which means the plot is written in a simple chronological. It makes the reader curious when reading it. Besides, he can bring the reader to the real situation because he tells the story clearly and detail.
D. Reference
Pardede, P. (2008). An introduction to the study of fiction. Jakarta.
Group Members:
Henny Sinaga (1012150005)
Mita Wahyuni (1012150009)
Tri Maryati Damanik (1012150011)
Gloria Grace Yohana (1012150014)
Melina Megawati (1012150020)
Chelsea Sharon M. (1012150018)
Venessya Lavita Dewi (1012150023)
Yudith Putrigajevsky (1012150028)
A. Introduction
Many people like enjoying fictions such as novels, comics, or even short stories. They like reading fictions because there are some of the stories which might also happen in their real life. It’s one of natures of fiction: fiction is related to life. There is also another nature of fiction: fiction is entertaining. It might be analyzed from the characteristic, the setting, style, or even from the plot. They are some elements of fiction. By analyzing the elements of fiction, it means that the reader understand the meaning of the story through their own perceptions and explanations.
This paper deals with the Plot of ‘Talking Flowers’ written by Gerald Durrel. The writers analyse the type of plot used in the short story, stages and elements of plot. The use of Plot to present the theme is also a part of this paper discussion
B. Discussion
1. Synopsis of The Talking Flowers
In this story, Gerry Gerald has a friend whose name is Kralefsky. Mr.Kralefsky says that he must go and see his Mother. Gerry is convinced that Kralefsky is far too old to have a mother still living. He is curious and wants to see Kralefsky’s mother. Then, Kralefsky and Gerry visits Kralefsky’s mother. In a room, Kralefsky’s mother tells Gerry that flowers can talk. Hastily and truthfully he denies this. From her explanation, Gerry knows that she feels lonely like a poor rose in the middle of other flowers. Finally, Kralefsky’s mother feels happy because Gerry has listened what she wants to say.
2. Types of Plot
Gerald Durrel uses Chronological Plot in “The Talking Flowers”. The events are arranged based on the order of the time they take place. We have 2 reasons why this story is in chronological plot. First, the story is organized well from exposition, complication, climax, and resolution. Second, the reason is the author tells the sequence of story in detail. Starting from Gerry is confused by the words of Kralefsky about his reason to go out for a while, until he sees the actual facts. Everything is well told and directed. Kralefsky and Gerry talk about Kralefsky’s mother. This is proved in their conversations in page 70 paragraph 1&2. Next, the author brings together Kralefsky, Gerry and Kralefsky’s mother in a room.
“Mother dear, here’s Gerry come to see you”.
“I’m so very flattered that you asked to see me, “she said in a soft, husky voice.
“So many people nowadays consider a person on my age a bore”.
“Do sit down, “she invited; “do sit down and talk for a minute”.
Based on the dialogue above we can conclude that Gerry has never met Kralefsky mother before because he describes her physical condition detail.
‘The minute figure on the lifted thin, pale lids and looked at me with great tawny eyes that were as bright and intelligent as a bird’s.’
3. Stages and Elements of Plot
The plot of The Talking Flowers has four stages which they are exposition, complication, climax, and resolution. The situation is dynamic. Because there are some bad things which happen unexpectedly that make the situations more complicated.
A. Exposition & Conflicts
There are 4 characters in this story. They are Kralefsky, Gerry and Kralefsky’s mother and flowers. In Gerald Durrel introduces the characteristics through Expository Characterization where the characterizations are described through the author or other character. Gerry and Kralefcky are mates but they doesn’t know each other well. In this story, there are 2 levels of conflicts. First, the conflict is Gerry against Kralefsky’s attitude. Second, the conflict is Kralefsky’s mother against her loneliness.
B. Complication
The complication is when Gerry is curious about Kralefsky’s mother. Gerry asks him to visit his mother. However, Kralefsky is doubtful about it. He is ashamed to tell about his mother situation.
C. Climax
In this stage, finally Gerry goes with Kralefsky to see Kralefsky’s mother. Apparently, his mother is very old. She is a lonely person. She has many stories to tell but she has no any friend to tell them. She is only accompanied by flowers. Finally, she tells Gerry that she feels lonely through the talking flowers about ‘a rose among the daisies’. To fill her loneliness, she only talks to flowers surrounding her. She actually wants to say that she also needs people to share stories with. She wants to be paid attention like the rose among the daisies.
‘You must come and see again, if it would not bore you,” she said. “You’ll find my idea a little eccentric; I think they are worth listening to.”
D. Resolution
Gerry is at first felt that she was awkward when she says flowers can talk.
“Have you heard the flowers talking?”
‘Greatly intrigued, I shook my head; the idea of flowers talking was quite new to me.’ However, he listened carefully Kralefsky’s mother. It made her smiled and satisfied.
“Well, Gerry, we have been having a most interesting conversation. At least, I found it interesting anyway.”
The author uses scenic method to tell the action. For example, the author describes the positions of the characters and the objects in the setting reflect the psychological relationship. Gerry sits on the bed. Kralevsky’s mother describes the position of the flowers.
The author writes the story by using chronological plot. However, the author conveys the message through the story very difficultly. Karlefsky’s mother is lonely because she’s lack of attention and finally she is accompanied by flowers and as if the flowers talk to her. To say that she is lonely, she first tells about the talking flowers. The author makes Kralefsky’s mother isn’t straight to the point.
4. The Use of Plot to Present the Theme
Besides his success in making a simple logical-sequence plot interesting, the events are arranged in a cause-effect relationship. Another achievement of Gerald Durrel in writing The Talking Flowers is his ability to effectively present the theme through plot. The title is informative. The theme of the story is “importance of attention”. As a parent is getting older feels lonely, she needs attention and other people. His mother is only accompanied by flowers, therefore she feels lonely because there are no people who accompany her except flower. The flowers can entertain her. Kralefsky doesn’t want other people know how his mother is because he is introvert.
Gerry wants to visit Kralefsky’s mother. His mother is very happy when Gerry visits her. She said, “we have been having a most interesting conversation”. She hopes Gerry comes and sees her again so that she doesn’t feel lonely anymore. Flowers need water to live.
“Do you know that some people think it’s kind to change the water every day?”
It is same with her. She needs attention to cheer up her. The flowers might entertain her but she needs someone to accompany her to share with. The attention isn’t only given through money. It can be also through time to take care of people we love.
C. Conclusion
In short, the Talking Flowers written by Gerald Durrel is an interesting short story. It is because Durrell writes the story in oder which means the plot is written in a simple chronological. It makes the reader curious when reading it. Besides, he can bring the reader to the real situation because he tells the story clearly and detail.
D. Reference
Pardede, P. (2008). An introduction to the study of fiction. Jakarta.
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THEME ANALYSIS OF ANTON CHEKOV’S “MISERY”
INTRODUCTION
Fiction is literature in the form of prose, especially novels, that describes imaginary events and people. Literacy analysis is indeed an intricate process because its necessitates a good understanding of the works elements and how this element are combined to create a unified literary work. According to Robert(1977, p. 6) literary analysis is the process of the breaking up a literary work into smaller unit so that each of the element nature, function, and meaning could be deeply discerned and the correlation among the element could be easily defined.
This analysis is a venture to aid readers to appreciate novel in general and Misery, a short story by Anton Chekov in particular. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramaturge and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. The novelette is interesting to analyze due to two reasons. First, it was written by novelist who is regarded as the best writer in history. Second, the novelette does not merely tell an interesting story but also expresses a universal theme.
This paper will deal with the theme of Misery. Discussion are focused on the identification of the theme and the way how Chekov presents it. The analysis was crried out by the using of stuctural approach and was based on the transcendental phenomenology, i.e. a study aimed to nalyze a phenomenon by using a set of theories the basis of analysis.
ANALYSIS
a. Synopsis
Misery is a short story written by Anton Chekov. This is a story of a father’s grief over the death of his son. The grief is within him and he desperately wants to speak about it to lighten his burdensome misery. The situation describes realistically the shades of darkness all around, heightened by the white snow.
Iona Potapov is a Russian sleigh driver. He is like a ghost in white (as he is covered by the snowflakes) for he experiences a death-in-life existence. He is like a ghost in white (as he is covered by the snowflakes) for he experiences a death-in-life existence. The first passenger is an army officer. He is in a hurry to reach his destination. He is a contrast to Iona in every respect. Iona is old and weary, the officer is young and full of life. Iona is lost in grief, the officer jokes in a light-hearted mood. Iona desperately seeks the officer’s attention, the officer sits with his eyes shut and his ears closed “disinclined to listen”. The second group of passengers on the sledge is a bunch of three revelers, young, rumbustious (making merry in a noisy way) with not a care of the world. They behave as though they are drunk. One of them is a hunchback. Despite his physical deformity, he feels superior to the old man who is weighed down with grief. All of them have no sympathy for the old man who tries to tell them of his son’s death. The old man is gentIe and kind to his mare; he does not whip his mare to speed up. In contrast the revelers ride roughshod over his feelings. Iona is happy to see them merry, but they have no eyes to discern the old man’s sorrow. An officer or a party goer, their attitude to the old father in grief is the same. Neither can empathies with Iona’s sadness.
Iona finally finds refuge in speaking to his little white mare. He pours his heart out to her. And unlike all the others–she listens. Or as it may seem to Iona, she appears to listen to him. Iona is greatly converted by her companionship.Resolution is found in the verbal purging to his horse and working companion. Iona finally finds refuge in speaking to his little white mare. He pours his heart out to her. And unlike all the others–she listens. Or as it may seem to Iona, she appears to listen to him. Iona is greatly converted by her companionship. Resolution is found in the verbal purging to his horse and working companion.
b. Discussion
I. Theme Identification
After reading this short story for several times, the main theme is “The grief of a sledge driver.” Chekov presents this theme through plot.
II. Theme Presentation
Misery is a short story written by Anton Chekov. This is a story of a father’s grief over the death of his son. The grief is within him and he desperately wants to speak about it to lighten his burdensome misery. Iona Potapov has a son and his son died due to fever. After his son passed away, he feeled lonely and didn’t know to whom would he tell all his grief. Since he is a sledge driver, he decided to tell his grief to all his passenger, but none of his passenger heard him. Grief is a kind of burden that you cannot keep it for yourself. You should share it with others in order to lighten the burden. But not all the people want to hear others grief because they might think that is none of their bussiness.
The first passenger is an army officer. He is in a hurry to reach his destination. He is a contrast to Iona in every respect. Iona is old and weary; the officer is young and full of life. Iona is lost in grief, the officer jokes in a light-hearted mood. Iona desperately seeks the officer’s attention, the officer sits with his eyes shut and his ears closed “disinclined to listen”. The second group of passengers on the sledge is a bunch of three revelers, young, rumbustious (making merry in a noisy way) with not a care of the world. They behave as though they are drunk. One of them is a hunchback. Despite his physical deformity, he feels superior to the old man who is weighed down with grief. All of them have no sympathy for the old man who tries to tell them of his son’s death. The old man is gentle and kind to his mare; he does not whip his mare to speed up. In contrast the revelers ride roughshod over his feelings. Iona is happy to see them merry, but they have no eyes to discern the old man’s sorrow. An officer or party goers, their attitude to the old father in grief is the same. Neither can empathies with Iona’s sadness.
Iona finally, finds refuge in speaking to his little white mare. He pours his heart out to her. And unlike all the others–she listens. Or as it may seem to Iona, she appears to listen to him. Iona is greatly converted by her companionship. Resolution is found in the verbal purging to his horse and working companion. Iona finally finds refuge in speaking to his little white mare. He pours his heart out to her. And unlike all the others–she listens. Or as it may seem to Iona, she appears to listen to him. Iona is greatly converted by her companionship. Resolution is found in the verbal purging to his horse and working companion.
CONCLUSION
The basic theme presented by Anton Chekov in Misery is social beings means to share and listen to one another.
References
Pardede, P. (2008). An introduction to the study of fiction. Jakarta: Universitas Kristen Indonesia.
http://azharforms.blogspot.com/2009/05/misery-by-anton-chekhov-this-is-story.html
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