Critiquing a Short Story

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 460.

Critiquing a Short Story

Consider using Kenneth Burke's “dramatistic pentad” for organizing your notes on short stories:

• Agent(s) / actor(s): Who is the story about?

The main characters in the story are a little boy and his father. When 9 years old boy was ill, his father call the doctor and doctor said that everything was ok, there was just high temperature. But the boy understood everything wrong and during all story he was waiting for the death.

• Scene: Where and when did it take place?

The actions was processing at home or estate.

• Act(s) / event(s): What happened?

Schatz (the boy) got flu, and when doctor said that his body temperature was 102, he understood it wrong, because in French one boy had said people were dying with 44 degrees. And all day Schatz was depressed and was waiting for the death.

• Agency: How did it happen?

• Purpose: Why did it happen?

As you contemplate the last question, keep in mind that the story itself is an act of communication between the author and us, the readers. Try to formulate the author's message:

· What, do you think, the author tried to accomplish with the story?

Finally, pay attention to the author's style. Does it strike you as terse or expansive? Do you find it easy to follow? Which of the author's words and expressions would you like to adopt?

Consider using Kenneth Burke's “dramatistic pentad” for organizing your notes on short stories:

• Agent(s) / actor(s): Who is the story about?

• Scene: Where and when did it take place?

• Act(s) / event(s): What happened?

• Agency: How did it happen?

• Purpose: Why did it happen?

As you contemplate the last question, keep in mind that the story itself is an act of communication between the author and us, the readers. Try to formulate the author's message:

· What, do you think, the author tried to accomplish with the story?

Finally, pay attention to the author's style. Does it strike you as terse or expansive? Do you find it easy to follow? Which of the author's words and expressions would you like to adopt?