Literary Analysis: Exploring Character and Themes in Short Stories

This assignment comprises three parts, each focusing on literary analysis. Part 4.2 requires a new ending for Carol Shields' "Invitations," focusing on character's choices and their consequences. Part 4.4 examines Thomas King's "Totem," discussing how previous readings of his works inform the understanding of the story's themes. Part 4.5 analyzes Alice Munro's "The Shining Houses," with a five-paragraph essay focusing on the character of Mary, exploring her internal conflicts and her position within the community. The assignment demonstrates an understanding of character, theme, and essay writing techniques, referencing specific texts and providing textual evidence to support claims.

Running head: SHORT STORY
Short Story
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1SHORT STORY
Assignment Part 4.2
After reading “Invitations,” by Carol Shields, Inside Stories III, pages 27–31, write
a new ending. (20 marks)
Begin after the second paragraph on page 30 and write 175–250 words.
On Saturday she woke up with a bubbling excitement and sat on her bed with the
invitations encircled around her. Soon enough, the feeling turned into utmost confusion and
she was captured in a state of sheer bewilderment. With much difficulty she finally came to a
conclusion on the invitation she would accept. She decided to accept the final invitation of
attending the gala as a guest of honor. Although there was a deep sense of fear and
nervousness, she could not resist the urge of being helmed as the most important individual of
the night.
As she stepped inside the downtown hotel, she was taken aback by the glitz and
glamour surrounding her. She felt too exposed to the spotlight as the feeling of insecurity
washed over her. Immediately, she regretted her decision of making the wrong choice. She
desperately walked towards the exit and decided to join the supper party.
Upon her arrival, she realized she was very late, half the guests having already left.
The party was almost drawing to an end. She felt embarrassed and the feeling of regret
caught up to her again.
When she reached home, disappointed and dissatisfied with her evening, she noticed
the lone Mansfield Park waiting to be read. Regret washed over her once again. This time for
the moments she lost, to spend with her own self on a peaceful Saturday evening (Marilyn).
Assignment Part 4.4
Marks for Part 4.4 (6 marks)

2SHORT STORY
You studied Thomas King’s Medicine River in Module 2 and “Buffalo Hunters” in
Module 3 before studying “Totem” (Inside Stories III 119–122) in Module 4. In a
paragraph of 50–80 words, discuss the insights you gained from your earlier study
of Thomas King’s writing that helped you to appreciate “Totem.”
From the works of Thomas King, it can be gathered that he is a prolific writer who
mainly writes about the First Nations of North America (Thomas). His writings have a sense
of aesthetic with which he brings out the aboriginal as well as western narrative (Sepsi et al,).
He talks about themes of community and identity. In “Totem”, with the same skill, he
beautifully introduces the theme of natives, tribes and the presence of First Nations using
satirical figures and urges the readers to allow things to be the way they are.
Assignment Part 4.5
Marks for Part 4.5 (40 marks)
With reference to “The Shining Houses” by Alice Munro (Inside Stories III 15–25), in a
traditional five‐paragraph essay of 350–500 words discuss the character (or
characteristics) of Mary.
The central character of Munro’s “The Shinning Houses” as we read is Mary, a
young woman who resides in the neighborhood of Garden Place with her husband and son,
Danny. She is relatively new to the area and recently moved to the subdivision. Her character
represents the younger generation of the contemporary society in contrast to her neighbor
Mrs. Fullerton, who belongs to the older generation.
The story opens with a conversation between the two protagonists (Munro). Mary is
introduced as a character interested to learn about Mrs. Fullerton’s life. Her curiosity stems
from her old habit of exploring the lives of elderly people. She comes from a background
where she harbored the love of listening to stories from old people like grandmothers and

3SHORT STORY
aunts. The author informs, Mary often pretended to be oblivious to stories she knew only to
hear different versions of the same. She used to find new meaning in each distinct episode.
However, presently these are instances Mary remembers as things of the past. Her
current lifestyle does not allow her to talk to old people much. Like other people in her
vicinity her life is full of uncertainty and things that are not sorted. Although unlike her
neighbors, Mary is not ignorant of the older generation. She is caught between the two
generations. She appreciates the shiny houses in her locality that represents the younger
generation but she also stands in support of Mrs. Fullerton’s old and traditional property.
From Mary’s presence in the social gathering it can be collected that she is distinct
from the rest. She tends to avoid the gossips over coffee and holds a view different from that
of her peers. When her neighbors decide to drive out Mrs. Fullerton from her residence, Mary
does not agree to sign the petition. Though she fails to place forth a strong argument to
convince her neighbors to consider Mrs. Fullerton’s case, she does stand up against their
decision.
Mary’s character suffers from internal conflict and dilemma. She is aware of both the
sides. In the end, she does put forth her opinion only to walk away and realize that though her
own thoughts remain undefeated; her voice alone would not bring a change among the
majority.

4SHORT STORY
Reference List
King, Thomas. Medicine river. Penguin, 2018.
Munro, Alice. "The shining houses." teoksessa Dance of the Happy Shades. McGraw-Hill
Ryerson Limited. Toronto (1968): 19-29.
Rose, Marilyn. "Cool Empathy in the Short Fiction of Carol Shields." The Worlds of Carol
Shields 37 (2014): 197.
Sepsi, Enikő, Judit Nagy, and Miklós Vassányi, eds. Indigenous Perspectives of North
America: A Collection of Studies. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014.