In-depth Analysis of Literary Elements in Selected Short Stories

This document presents a textual analysis of four short stories: "A Touching Bottom" by Kari Strutt, "A Marker on the Side of the Boat" by Bao Ninh, "Dressing Up for the Carnival" by Carol Shields, and "The Forest of Arden" by Hannah Grant. Each analysis explores the themes, settings, symbols, and characters within the stories. "A Touching Bottom" examines the questioning of traditional gender roles and the protagonist's realization of independence. "A Marker on the Side of the Boat" delves into the destructive nature of war and its lasting impact on individuals. "Dressing Up for the Carnival" reflects on the characters' desires and illusions as they seek happiness. Finally, "The Forest of Arden" explores how negative past experiences shape an individual's future, focusing on the protagonist's inability to separate reality from illusion. The analyses highlight the authors' use of literary devices to convey deeper meanings and explore essential questions about life, identity, and the human condition.

3.1 Textual Analysis Organizer – A Touching Bottom by Kari Strutt
Title/Author
A Touching Bottom
Kari Struut
The dominant role of male in the
society
Coastal areas

Theme
Essential
Question
Question
Setting
Symbols and
Irony
A Touching Bottom
Kari StruutHow one can find
their strengths even
in their moments of
despair?

Character
3.1 Textual Analysis Organizer – A Touching Bottom by Kari Strutt
The theme of “ A touching Bottom” by Kari Strutt questions traditional role of the male and female
characters set by the society. Typically, the male is given the role of the savior, and the women are the ones to
be saved. In the story, it is the narrator, who is a female who takes on the heroic role of a male while her
husband acts just in the opposite way. It is through the heroic act of saving her stepson from the dangerous
current that the narrator realizes her power, freedom, and independence. At that point, she realizes that she can
be free of her dependence on her husband, although she has been dependent on other people all through her life.
She was made to feel that her happiness relied on others. The author has used the color blue several times in the
story to show the connection to water, swimming and the depth of the pool. The author uses the color for the
blue-lipped girls who were learning how to swim in the cold weather. She uses the color blue-green for the pool
water. The color is significant as it is her medium to escape the world and its stereotypical norms. She links the
blue color of the pool to the blue wave of charm thrust upon her by her husband. Thus, she trusts the blue color
of the pool. The title “Touching Bottom” can be seen as a figurative device here as the protagonist of the story
can be seen at the rock bottom phase in her life when she hits the bottom of the pool. In her life, her husband
flirts with other women, doesn’t pay attention to his wife or family. Still, he is seen as the heroic male figure.
When the narrator hits the bottom of the pool, she feels her life touching bottom as well. She could either swim
and survive or get drowned. She discovers her strengths and freedom in the depths of the ocean. Now, she was
no longer scared of the water or life. The portrayal of characters, colors and the use of figurative device add to
the meaning of the story and its focus on how one can find strengths even in their moments of despair.
Female stereotype- meek,
repressed, and taken
advantage of
Male stereotype -
chauvinistic, oppressing his
wife

3.2 Textual Analysis Organizer – A Marker on the Side of the Boat by Bao Ninh
Title/Author
Wars brings death, regrets and sorrow during the Vietnam War in
Hanoi city
A Marker on the Side of
the Boat - Bao Ninh

Theme
Essential
Question
Setting
Symbols and
Irony
The trolleysHow wars can be
destructive?
The soldier: protagonist,
dynamic and sensitive
character

Character
3.2 Textual Analysis Organizer – A Marker on the Side of the Boat by Bao Ninh
Ken is the narrator of the story as well as the protagonist of the well-developed plot based on the
Vietnam War. The story is presented as a flashback when the young soldier who loses the young woman he
falls in love to the war. The story is able to convey the trauma of war because of the well-illustrated details so s
to get an emotional response from its readers. Words like “It is a love born out of nothing” and “souvenir from
my war-filled youth” make a forceful impact. The author is very descriptive when he describes the city during
wartime, as abandoned and on a precipice with the darkened house. The young soldier has a high fever, and his
joints are stiff, aching while his stomach is empty. His knees were buckling while his brain has slowed down.
Use of figurative devices can be seen in the story such as “the crevices of my memory,” “fine gauze of drizzle,”
step and “cold as a block of ice “and “The big door in the sky was slammed shut” and “the sky itself was
falling.” Personification can be seen in the rods” death relaxed its claws”. The author makes use of figurative
devices to convey the story. Symbolism can be seen in the use of trolleys. Twenty years ago, the streets of
Hanoi were filled with trolley tracks. Those trolley tracks lying close to the sidewalk were used as a guide to
reach the destination or mark the routes. The trolley was the only clue the young soldier had to the woman’s
house. When the trolley was gone, the clue went too along with it, and the soldier was unable to locate the
woman’s house. After twenty years, in the modern Hanoi, those old streets have given way to glamorous lanes
with beautiful houses. Trolleys have long been abolished, but the soldier still thinks about that one trolley that
could have led him to the love of his life. The setting, figurative devices and use of symbolism add to the
meaning of destructive wars.

3.3 Textual Analysis Organizer – Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields
Title/Author
Living with desires and the illusions A small town
Dressing Up for
the Carnival by
Carol Shields
text to the cogs

Theme
Essential
Question
Setting
Symbols and
Irony
Carnival, yellow colorHow does one deal
with their desires
and illusions?

Character
3.3 Textual Analysis Organizer – Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields
The story brings out some kind of self-transformation and self-reflection among the characters as they
shift between identity & illusion. The story depicts how the 12 characters are caught between their desires and
the illusions as they try to find happiness. Each of the characters has his or her own story and is unable to
connect with those around him or her. The word” Carnival “and "dressing up" in the title stands for celebration
and festivities. The color yellow is used several times in the story, whether it is the yellow cotton skirt with the
big patch pockets or the string of yellow beads or the woman in a yellow skirt. The authors describe a woman
dressed in yellow to be passionate. Daffodils are used to create a blaze of yellow in his arms. All those words
ring in a happy and give a happy feel to the sorry. Each character has an object that symbolizes their desires.
For example, Roger who is in his 30s has bought an exotic fruit, mango which is unlike what he has eaten
before. The mango fits his hand like an elliptical purse, and he feels elated by the feel of it. Tamara, dressed up
in yellow relies on her dresses for happiness. For the Borden sisters, it is skinning in the ski week in Happy
Valley. Wanda wants to be a mother, but there is no baby in her stroller. The use of different characters, the
colors and the title in the story have been used to reflects the desires and illusions within one.
Each character with desires and
illusions

3.4 Textual Analysis Organizer – The Forest of Arden by Hannah Grant
Title/Author
Past experiences and the future A forest
The Forest of
Arden by
Hannah Grant
text to the cogs

Theme
Essential
Question
Setting
Symbols and
Irony
the woman standing with a gun and
the vision of the fox
How the negative
experiences in one’s life
can shape the person’s
future?