The Elements of Fiction

Can you help me understand this History question?

Exploring the elements of fiction with a focus on THREE reading questions based on the following four stories:

? O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (pages 295 – 309)

? Walker, “Everyday Use” (pages 344 – 352)

? Welty “A Worn Path” (pages 386 – 394)

? Kaplan, “Doe Season” (pages 395 – 408)

Read the stories with an attention to craft, that is, HOW the writer has put the story together with a keen eye on the literary elements that we’ve been studying such as theme, plot, character, POV, symbolism and so on. These three reading questions will be evaluated according to the rubrics below, so please look the criteria over closely so that you’re clear on what the expectations are. A couple key reminders: ? Be sure to support your responses to each question using not only details from the story, but quoted lines or passages. Remember: the stories are your PRIMARY sources, so the more you can rely on them to develop your response, the stronger your answer. ? You are required to make use of no fewer than THREE academic/scholarly sources. I recommend relying on one academic source per question. ? For each answer, be sure to cite the story and provide a reference as per MLA or APA. Remember: academic integrity is the goal!

Question #1

In a thorough and well-detailed 400-word explanation of what it means to be a “good man” or “good woman” in Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Support your response with details from the story, including quoted passages that helps to develop and support your ideas. You must rely on at least ONE scholarly/academic source. Include a discussion of at least ONE literary craft element in your response. The discussion of craft is supported by textual details and quoted support. You must use proper grammar, mechanics and spelling in your response, make use of proper in-text citations and end-references.

Question #2

Select three key symbols in Walker’s “Everyday Use” and in a thorough and well-detailed 400-word response explain HOW these symbols are understood or interpreted differently by Dee and her mother. Support your response with details from the story, including quoted passages that helps to develop and support your ideas. You must rely on at least ONE scholarly/academic source. Include a discussion of at least ONE literary craft element in your response. The discussion of craft is supported by textual details and quoted support. You must use proper grammar, mechanics and spelling in your response, make use of proper in-text citations and end-references.

Question #3

Answer BOTH parts of this question, including identifying three points on the “worn path” when Phoenix could have abandoned her mission along with an explanation of the relationship between Phoenix’s determination and the symbolism of a phoenix. You must respond to the question in a thorough and well-detailed 400-word explanation. Support your response with details from the story, including quoted passages that helps to develop and support your ideas. You must rely on at least ONE scholarly/academic source. Include a discussion of at least ONE literary craft element in your response. The discussion of craft is supported by textual details and quoted support. You must use proper grammar, mechanics and spelling in your response, make use of proper in-text citations and end-references.