ENGL 0601 Introduction to Literature Assignment 4.1 Analysis

This document presents a student's solutions to Assignment 4.1 from an Introduction to Literature course (ENGL 0601). The assignment requires analysis of four short stories: "Identities" by W.D. Valgardson, "If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth" by Arthur C. Clarke, "Black Walls" by Liu Xin-Wu, and "Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield. The analysis includes identifying stereotypes and their impact on a character's behavior in "Identities," explaining the allusion to Armageddon in Clarke's story and its relevance, describing how the "Little Button" functions as an unbiased observer in Xin-Wu's story, and identifying the irony in Miss Brill's impressions in Mansfield's story. The solutions demonstrate an understanding of literary devices, character analysis, and thematic interpretation within the context of the assigned readings from "Inside Stories III."

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Introduction to Literature
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Assignment – 4.1
Answer – 1
Identities is a short story which is written by the author W.D.Valgardson. In the short
story, it is seen that the protagonist of the story likes to stereotype the people in his
neighbourhood, which also influences his behaviour. The protagonist belongs from the richer
section of the society, while he perceives the townsfolk as uneducated people who roams
around and steals form other people.
The protagonist’s behaviour is influenced by the unclean neighbourhood in which he
lives. It is because of this reason, he goes for a drive unshaven and lands into trouble, which
makes him regret his decision and learn his lesson. Thus, the stereotypes have been used by
the author to portray the good and the bad in the short story (Harcourt Canada, 2002)..
Answer – 2
If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth is a short science fiction story which was written by
Arthur. C. Clarke. The author of the story had included the allusion to the Armageddon. The
tem Armageddon is commonly used to refer to the global destructive war which has been
referred to the in the Bible (Harcourt Canada, 2002)..
The allusion is perfect in this case because the Armageddon in the short story has
been used to the global war, which had led to the destruction of the planet. It is fitting
because it reflects the conflicts which happens in the society and among the individuals of the
society. Thus, it can be said that the Armageddon is an allusion to the conflict of the humans.
Answer – 3
Black Walls is a short story which is written by Lin Xin Wu. The author has used the
short story as a means of protests against the Maoist principles which were prevalent in the

2INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
country. He author has used the little button as a means of being an unbiased observer to the
actions which happens in the short story. Since the button does not comment or protest
against the actions in the short story, it can be sad that the little button has been used as an
unbiased in the short story by the author. Little button acts as the saviour of the whole story.
It is through the actions of Little Button, that the absurdity of the adults and the situations are
revealed to the readers of the (Harcourt Canada, 2002)..
Answer – 4
Miss Brill s a short story which is written by the author Katherine Mansfield. In the
short story, the author has used the character of Miss. Brill to describe the loneliness of the
protagonist and how the protagonist decided to watch the people in the city to sped her time.
The irony about the given line is the fact that the protagonist considers the people
sitting on the bench to be dolls. This is because of the ways in which these people operate in
their daily lives. These includes the ways in which these people dress themselves, sits on the
bench and then goes away when it gets dark. It is because of this that the irony has been used
by the author in the short story.
Assignment – 4. 2
Answer – 1
A Woman without Prejudice is one of the well-known stories which was written by
Anton Chekhov. The short story informs the readers about the use of the prejudice in the
story by the author (Harcourt Canada, 2002)..
This prejudice in the short story can be seen in the way in which the protagonist was
unable to confess his feelings completely to the girl he loves. Prejudice keep from confessing

3INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
his feelings for fear of getting rejected by the girl. Thus, the author uses the prejudice in the
story to show the problems of the humans.
Answer – 2
a. Hariharan will find his weekender filled with the newspapers. The reason for this is his
wife named Lakshmi. Lakshmi had filled her husband’s suitcase with the newspapers. This is
the main reason why Hariharan would find his weekender (Harcourt Canada, 2002).
b. Lakshmi had decided to go to the Crisis Centre after her husband’s flight departure time.
The main reason for this was the fact that she wanted to be amused at her husband’s problems
due to the mischief she played on him.
c. The 1900 Kuwaiti Occupation was relevant to Lakshmi because she had suffered the same
neglect from as the sufferings of the Kuwaiti women, who were suffering due to the
occupation of Kuwait.

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Reference List
Davies, Richard, and Jerry Wowk. Inside Stories III. Harcourt Canada, 2002. Davies,
Richard, and Jerry Wowk. Inside Stories III. Harcourt Canada, 2002.