ENG 1102 Troy University The Gift of the Magi Irony Analysis & Mending Wall Essay
essay assignment: Write a short essay (1000 words) that defends a thesis you developed through a close critical reading/analysis of one (or two) literary works listed in Chapter 23 Poems For Further Reading in your Backpack Literature text starting on page 607 and supported by at least one secondary source. This essay relies mainly on textual support from the primary text but includes at least one secondary source that supports/sustains the student’s argument. Do not confuse “critical analysis” with “plot summary”; the goal is to develop, sustain, and advance a thesis based on a critique of the primary text but supported in part by at least one secondary source. What you’ll be graded upon:15% Introduction: You establish a context for the significance of your thesis in regard to the literary work as a whole. How does your argument contribute to understanding the author’s major literary/thematic concerns? What can other readers learn from your analysis? How does your analysis/critique fit in with other critical responses of the author/literary work?15% Thesis: You state your main point (or argument) in 1-2 sentences; the thesis is the culmination of your introduction.30% Organization: Your essay should follow that of typical literary critiques:Since your focus must be on analyzing some literary motif, theme, or a combination of literary elements (such as symbolism, character, setting, etc.), your essay must contain well-structured supporting paragraphs that contain a topic sentence, quotes from the primary text, at least one quote from a secondary source, an explanation/discussion of the significance of the quotes you use in relation to your thesis, and a concluding sentence or two that situates the entire paragraph in relation to the thesis. Your thesis will focus on some kind of critical analysis of the primary text, so your supporting paragraphs should contain quotes from the text that illustrate your thesis/argument; in addition, you should include at least one quote from a secondary source to support your argument. Your supporting paragraphs should be organized around each of the quotes you use, explaining the significance of the quotes and why (or how) they illustrate your main point, but you also need to make sure that your paragraphs contain strong transitions and at least six (or more) sentences.10% Conclusion: Regardless of the argument you make, you want a conclusion that avoids summarizing what you’ve just said, and please avoid writing, “In conclusion.…” Your aim in a conclusion is to place the discussion in a larger context. For example, how might your critical analysis of a literary character relate to the other characters in a work? How might your thesis be applied to other aspects of the text, say for example, setting or symbolism?15% Grammar and mechanics: Your paper avoids basic grammar mistakes, such as dropped apostrophes in possessives, subject/verb disagreement, arbitrary tense switches, etc. The paper demonstrates a commitment to proofreading by avoiding easy-to-catch typos and word mistakes (effect for affect, for example). The paper adheres to MLA formatting style for in-text and bibliographic citations.15% Presentation: Your paper meets the minimum length criteria of 1000 words, is typed with a title and your name on it. You follow your individual professor’s instructions for formatting (margins, placement of the name, etc).Discussion assignment:Construct a one-paragraph argument about tone, style, diction, or irony in one of this module's two assigned short stories.Make a claim about how tone, style, diction, or irony is significant in one of this module's assigned short stories. Alternatively, you may discuss the relationship between two of these elements in one of the assigned short stories.Add evidence to support your claim in the form of a quote from the story to illustrate the point you are making.Add analysis by explaining how your quote proves or illustrates your claim.Respond to Two ClassmatesAfter you have constructed and posted your argument, reply to at least two of your classmates' arguments by either: Agreeing with that person and adding another quote or example that supports his/her argument, orDisagreeing and adding another quote that undermines his/her argument.short story:1."The Gift of the Magi" by William Sydney Porter (Henry)2."The Story of an Hour" by Kate ChopinCurrent post1.After reading "The Story of an Hour", I discovered significant irony. Mrs. Mallard's husband supposedly died, and she became sad and unusually excited. "She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms." "But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely." (Chopin, 348-349). However, it turns out Mr. Mallard did not die at all. Whenever Mr. Mallard walked into the house, Mrs. Mallard was struck with surprise and died on the spot. "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of joy that kills." (Chopin, 349).2.I analyzed the classic story "The Gift of the Magi" by William Sydney Porter (Henry). Using dramatic irony, Henry illustrates the bigger picture and both sides of the story to the reader while the characters are completely unaware. Della sold her gorgeous, long, brown hair for a watch chain to gift her husband, Jim. Jim sold his watch to buy his wife a comb for her hair. "And here I Have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house." The contradiction the characters accidentally made could be quite comical, but using a harsh and disappointing tone, Henry, creates an aggravating ending, finally closes with a hint of optimism and reassurance. "...let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest."3.When reading "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, I understood the story as a tone. The way Dalla expressed how she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents on Christmas Eve made it sound like she was worried about buying Jim a gift. Throughout the whole story, Della sets the tone as a worry, middle-class setting. Not only did at the end did we find out the Jim was feeling the same way Della was feeling, "Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smile." The gifts were not only presented but as a wise choice for both of their kind gestures. 4.For this week's discussion, I focused on "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin. From the opening paragraph, the author/narrator sets a somber tone by the characters breaking the news of Brently Mallard's death to his wife. The tone is further emphasized with, "She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms". (Kennedy, pg. 348) The tone changes to one similar to joy; a satisfaction or a sort of resolve. The narrator describes the view from where she is sitting; "The delicious breath of rain was in the air. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window" (Kennedy, pg 348). The words remind the reader that there are brighter times following the darkness; the sunshine is coming from behind the clouds and the birds singing, all symbolizing joy. Irony also comes into play throughout the story. "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"; this implies that Mrs. Ballard had suffered contention in her marriage. Mrs. Mallard utters the words "free, free, free" (Kennedy, pg 348), and "Free! Body and soul free!" (Kennedy, pg 349), symbolizing her escape or freedom from an unhappy marriage. The irony continues when "She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long" (Kennedy, pg 349). Shortly after her quick prayer and going downstairs, Mrs. Mallard dies from seeing her husband walk through the front door, unscathed. This is a twist displaying both dramatic and cosmic irony. I also wanted to point out the newspaper office gathering intelligence of the railroad disaster, with Brently Mallard at the top of the list, is also ironic, as he was not near the accident. Fake news!Kennedy, X.J., et al; Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing; Sixth Edition; Pearson, Boston, 20205.After breaking down “The Story of an Hour", I discovered remarkable irony. Mrs. Mallard's husband apparentlydied, and she was sad but surprisingly excited. "She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms." "But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely." (Chopin, 348-349). However, in actuality Mr. Mallard was not dead at all. Whenever Mr. Mallard walked into the house, Mrs. Mallard was so shocked and died right there. "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of joy that kills." (Chopin, 349). Mrs.Mallard thought she was going to be set free from her husbands death, in reality she was set free by her own death.6.For this assignment I read "The Gift of the Magi" by William Sydney Porter. It is a lovely, almost Victorian in style and scene, short story about a poor couple wanting to give Christmas gifts to one another. Jim and Della are their names. The story is a simple ovation to the principle that it is better to give than to recieve. Jim and Della are not in possession of much. Yet they "were very proud of two things which they owned. One thing was Jim’s gold watch. It had once belonged to his father. And, long ago, it had belonged to his father’s father. The other thing was Della’s hair." The sentimental story is about the sacrificial journey to buy one another an extravagant gift. Jim get's Della combs and products for her hair. Della gives Jim a watch. Christmas is made perfect by loving sacrificial gift giving. The story ends with a reference to the Gospel story of the Magi bringing gifts to Jesus. Just as the Magi at Christmas offered sacrificial gifts to the messiah, the theme of sacrifice is adopted from the biblical narrative to frame the sentiment of this short story. "The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi." This is where the irony is for me. The story draws upon the gift giving of the magi, ending with the principle those "who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest." It is ironic that the biblical story of the Magi is drawn out to use as an illustration for love relationship. The Magi give as testimony to the messianic nature of Jesus. It is not a simple story about the joy of gift giving. It is a richer and deeper story that I think get's reduced and trivialized in the short story "The Gift of the Magi". It is a sentimental story, but that does not mean it lacks charm. It is just an ironic adaptation of a Biblical narrative.Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia, eds. Backpack Literature. 6th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2012.