The Grave Essay, Research Paper
The short story, ” The Grave,” by Katherine Anne Porter began in a secluded area that had once been the family cemetery. The cemetery was owned by the grandmother who had just passed away. In her will she had requested the land be sold and this required the family cemetery to be moved. Two children had come across the empty graves while they were hunting. Their hunting excitement is lost when they kill a rabbit and discover the rabbit was about to give birth. The central idea is about life and death and how it is a continuous cycle. A lesson is taught to these children through the sacrifice of this animal and the reality of life and death is experienced.
The children in the story are the main characters. Paul who is a 12 year old boy and the brother of Miranda loves hunting. He is very serious about his hunting skill and is protrayed as the one in charge of the hunting expedition. He tends to be the teacher and the caretaker of Miranda in the story. Miranda is a 9 year old girl and considered by others as a tomboy. She is engrossed in everything that is around her and not especially interested in hunting but enjoys the sport of shooting the gun and being with her brother. They are both considered round characters. They are described with, “adventurous eyes”, their voices are expressed with tone. The author provides you with a vivid description of how they feel as they jump into the grave and the smells that they smell. Later in the story you feel their shame and guilt for killing such an innocent creature as the brother expresses the importance of keeping this action a secret. The three flat characters in this story are the Grandmother who had just recently passed away, the old cronies that demonstrated their distaste for the upbringing of the children, the older sister, and the father. I would define both Miranda and Paul as dynamic characters. After the killing of the rabbit and seeing the baby rabbits the children changed from that moment. The reality of life was exemplified to a level that made a lasting impression.
The climax of the story is when the brother kills a rabbit that is carrying her young and about to give birth. The handling of the dead rabbit with such delicate skill is somewhat ironic. The rabbit has been killed and yet the brother is very careful to preserve the fur and the carcass only to use the fur for Miranda’s doll, an inanimate object. The major conflict in this story was the brother trying to be such a good teacher and expressing his dissatisfaction of Miranda not being the serious student in learning the skill. When the lesson included the truth about life and death the teacher was confronted with facing the lesson himself and trying to justify his careless actions. His shame and guilt about the incident was expressed in the change of tone in his voice and the way he carefully disposed of the small baby rabbits. Paul is torn between his love of hunting and the killing of such precious creatures. Miranda realizes what Paul has known all along but has kept this secret hidden about the killing of small creatures. She is enlightened at the moment he begins to forbid her to tell anyone. Miranda pushes back the reality of the situation into a place in her mind that she hopes will never surface.
The point of view used was dramatic narration and in using this method the reader is given descriptive words that provide the reader with the feelings to the actions of both characters. As a reader the characters become real in the story and you experience the human senses and interpret what the writer wants you to experience.
The setting in the secluded woods has two purposes; they are full of life from the beginning to the end. The cycle of life is seen in the trees, flowers, and the animals. The cemetery is a reminder of the cycle, that death is part of life. The children are freely playing and experiencing life to the fullest in the woods only to be intrigued in the empty grave. The graves are significant in their meaning. Once this grave held meaning to someone, a significant monument of a former life. From these empty graves came two special gifts to the children. The dove a symbol of life and the ring a symbol of never ending love. The description of the engravings on the ring gave an imagery of love in purest and simple form with the leaves/flowers engraved on the gold ring. Another clue to the time period was used in the description of the clothes that Miranda was wearing. The conflict that the clothes caused provided information about the struggle in this time period with the social norms. The dissatisfaction with the unlady like appearance of the Miranda was blamed on the raising by the Father. The grandmother apparently was also in disapproval of the fathers dismal of proper etiquette. This was given to the reader by the introduction of the old cronies and their opionions were noted in the story as they walked by. The writer gives a very detailed description of the kill of the rabbit and the skinning of the rabbit. As a reader you can imagine the feel of the warm lifeless animal and you can actually visualize the motionless creature. The reader is swept up in the visual image during this part of the story and the killing of the innocent babies that were also taken. The thrill of the kill was not so sporting when something so innocent was affected.
The Dove and the ring that are found in the cemetery are symbols that represent life (dove) and neverending love (ring). When Miranda recalled this moment 20 years later she first remembered the feeling of sadness and then envisioned her brother at age 12 holding the Dove in his hand.
This story is about life and death and the feelings that we experience when we remember the sadness. It is the good moments that we try to focus on to help us hide the pain. Katherine Porter used her own life to influence this story. She lost her Grandmother and mother at an early age and her experience with death was revealed in Miranda.
Другие работы по теме:
Home Burial Essay Research Paper In the
Home Burial Essay, Research Paper In the poem “Home Burial” by Robert Frost, it is easy to see both positive and negative aspects of both characters. I feel that Frost favors the man. Although he talks about how the man seems to not have feelings, the man actually does. The man feels sad for his dead child. He just goes about showing it in a different way.
Goals Essay Research Paper A goal is
Goals Essay, Research Paper A goal is an achievement you want to accomplish. Many people have goals for certain reasons. There are many different kinds of goals such as short-term and long-term. Having goals are very important to some people because it gives them a sense of self-confidence.
Aging Essay Research Paper During a story
Aging Essay, Research Paper During a story, an author sometimes chooses to include his opinions on certain important issues, such as aging. This applies to Samuel Beckett?s short story, Krapp?s Last Tape. In this story an old man named Mr. Krapp, relives his life through a sort of audio journal that he has kept through the years.
Stephan King Essay Research Paper Stephen King
Stephan King Essay, Research Paper Stephen King was born on September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine. In 1949, when Stephen was 2 years old, his father left one night and never came back. There are a couple of turning points in his young life that he believes pointed him in the direction that he now is at. In 1954 he began to write stories.
Poetry Essay Research Paper Don t Give
Poetry Essay, Research Paper Don t Give In Dylan Thomas s poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”, is an urgent plea from Thomas to his dying father, and all men not to give in
A Day
’s Time Essay, Research Paper Centuries apart Robert Herrick and Robert Frost wrote poems illustrating the brevity of life. To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time by Herrick and Nothing Gold Can Stay by Frost are the two poems which address the limited time humanity, especially the time of youth, has to spend in this life.
Advertisement Essay Research Paper CEMETORYCemetery is the
Advertisement Essay, Research Paper CEMETORY Cemetery is the last peaceful place for our restless souls. It is the place of our final end. It is not just a place of tombstone and grave, it is the burial ground of our love ones. When I visited the cemetery for the first time. The first thing I noticed was the tombstones and the graves.
BioTechnology Essay Research Paper The shortterm future
Bio-Technology Essay, Research Paper The short-term future of biotechnology in production agriculture looks bleak. The unattractive truth is that economics, not science can play a larger role in the future of biotechnology.
Araby Essay Research Paper Araby1 SummaryThis short
Araby Essay, Research Paper ?Araby? 1) Summary: This short story is about a boy (narrator) who is attracted to his friend?s sister, she is also his neighbor. Narrator is a boy who has probably just started his
Play Everyman Essay Research Paper The play
Play ?Everyman? Essay, Research Paper The play “Everyman” is about a complacent Everyman who is informed by Death of his approaching end. The play shows the hero’s progression from despair and fear of death to a “Christian resignation that is the prelude to redemption.” Throughout the play Everyman is deserted by things that he thought were of great importance portrayed by characters that take the names of the things they represent.
Two Kinds Essay Research Paper The protagonist
Two Kinds Essay, Research Paper The protagonist Amy Tan, in the short story “Two Kinds” is a character that evolves and undergoes a lot of phases throughout the story to finally come to a point where she is happy and independent. At the beginning of the story Amy seems to be a happy and obedient little girl that agrees with everything her mom tells her.
The Outsiders Essay Research Paper A Day
The Outsiders Essay, Research Paper A Day No Pigs Would Die Robert Newton Peck The book took place in rural Vermont with a young Shaker boy named Rob Peck. The novel was basically about this boy going through joyful and trying times in his youth, and his friendship with his pet pig named Pinky. Robert Peck was the main character, he was loving towards Pinky and he was obedient,( he knew if he wasn?t, he?d be in big trouble.)
Hamlet Essay Research Paper ally funny man
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper ally funny man. Hamlet: why are you throwing up another skull. It could be a skull of a lawyer. So who grave is this man. Clown: It?s all mine.
Anaylsis Paper Essay Research Paper Analysis Paper
Anaylsis Paper Essay, Research Paper Analysis Paper 1 The EIA predicted Midwestern Illinois families to be spending as much as 40% more on heating this year compared to last year because of higher natural gas prices. The increase in price is largely due to the reduction of natural gas supplied.
Society Is Wrong Essay Research Paper SOCIETY
Society Is Wrong Essay, Research Paper SOCIETY IS WRONG! There is a grave matter affecting all students these days. Whether you?re still in grade school or in a post-secondary institution. The brainwashing that takes place over us is undeniable! And it?s not the teachers in which I am talking about.
A School Visit Essay Research Paper A
A School Visit Essay, Research Paper A School Visit Are you interested in motorcycles? How about a woman who is not only a policewoman, but knows how to ride and use a motorcycle that goes up to 100 miles per
Nath Essay Research Paper Nathaniel Hawthornes short
Nath Essay, Research Paper Nathaniel Hawthorne?s short stories ?The Birthmark? and Rappaccinni?s Daughter are both tragic tales of women being taken advantage of. In each account a young woman is skillfully led to her downfall by a loved one she trusts. In each case Hawthorne includes an inconceivable innocence about the woman.
John Steinbeck And Of Mice And Man
Essay, Research Paper John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is nothing short of magnificent. The book is about two men that travel together looking for work. The plot centers on George
Short Story Essay Research Paper this is
Short Story Essay, Research Paper this is a short story if you don’t understand what i’m telling you, the point that i’m making is at the bottom. i know that many of you know me, some of you don’t, but you
Leaving You Essay Research Paper i must
Leaving You Essay, Research Paper i must leave you for a short while please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrows to you through the years but start out bravely with a gallant
Mom Essay Research Paper Death of an
Mom Essay, Research Paper Death of an Innocent I went to a party mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
Contrast Papers Essay Research Paper A Summary
Contrast Papers Essay, Research Paper A Summary of Poe s Short Story The Cask Of Amontillado One of the main themes of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask Of Amontillado is revenge. In this summary theme I intend to demonstrate how dramatic irony is used all along the short story as a way of reminding us the true intentions of the character who vowed revenge.
Short Story Essay Essay Research Paper Short
Short Story Essay Essay, Research Paper Short Story Essay I noticed that i enjoyed most of the storys not only for the obvious reasons such as good charactors, mood, and imagery but also because of
Edgar Allan Poe Essay Research Paper Poe
Edgar Allan Poe Essay, Research Paper Poe’s Never Ending Loneliness “From childhood’s hour I have not been/as others were; I have not seen/ as others say I could not bring/ my passions from a common spring. From the same source I have not taken/ my sorrow; I could not awaken/ my heart to joy at the same tone;/ and all I loved, I loved alone.”
Short Essays Essay Research Paper Some schools
Short Essays Essay, Research Paper Some schools require you to write a series of short essays rather than submit a single personal statement. If this is the case for you, then you should consider the impact that your essay set will have as a whole. You need to balance the structure and content of the set as much as you do within each essay individually.
Slow Dance Essay Research Paper S L
Slow Dance Essay, Research Paper S L O W D A N C E: *BR* *br* Have you ever watched kids*br* on a merry-go-round*br* Or listened to the rain*br* slapping on the ground?*br**br*
Goal Setting Essay Research Paper Psychological
Goal Setting Essay, Research Paper Psychological training is an important aspect of any training program in sports. Goal setting is one particular aspect of a psychological skills training program. Often people brush this aside and do not pay the attention to it that is necessary. The first step in goal setting is to set short term goals that gradually build on each other.
In A Groove Essay Research Paper The
In A Groove Essay, Research Paper The short story “In a Grove” by Ryunosuke Akutagawa was made into a movie called Rashomon. The movie and the short story share both similarities and differences.
Functions Of Memory Essay Research Paper THE
Functions Of Memory Essay, Research Paper THE FUNCTIONS OF MEMORY Memory is the ability to remember past events, images, ideas, or previously learned information or skills. Memory is also the storage system that allows a person to retain and retrieve previously learned information.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
The Birds Essay Research Paper The Birds
The Birds Essay, Research Paper The Birds Essay submitted by Josh Weiss The short story “The Birds” was written by Daphne du Maurrier and was filmed and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It has a very interesting and suspenseful plot. The short
The Red Balloon Essay Research Paper The
The Red Balloon Essay, Research Paper The Red Balloon Essay The Red Balloon is about a little boy and his love for a red balloon. The movie is a French short movie which won the Cannes Film Festival Award. The film has many symbolic meanings. The movie begins when a little boy finds a large, red balloon. He rescues the balloon from a lampost and takes it to school.