The+Portable+Phonograph-Literary+Devices

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title:The Portable Phonograph

Point of View: It is that of an observer. Protagonist: What type of character is the Protagonist? He is an aged, cautious man, sentimental to the point of painfulness, and very determined to preserve what remnants of the old world as he can. Antagonist: Society/Musician Describe the setting A post-apocalyptic plain, war torn by the ravages of nuclear warfare years before. By a creek is a dugout cell in which our protagonist lives.

Type of Conflict: It is that of an aching for what is now lost, not able to recapture, only to preserve and protect. Describe the main conflict: The characters are in an unbearable situation, to have such beautiful leftovers of civilization past, yet not able to enjoy them at their leisure, instead having to preserve what little they have and survive in their harsh environment.

Describe the Climax of the Story: The music is played on the phonograph, painfully beautiful, leaving all with nothing but shattered memories, and Doctor Jenkins with suspicions for the potential of the theft of his precious records and books.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? He is a welcoming and gracious host to his visitors, up until the point they leave, at which point it is revealed that he is not only suspicious, but prepared to defend his treasures with violent measures.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. Art, including music, is perhaps the easiest way to recognize humanity's capability to use our creative abilities simply for joy and wonder, rather than the more destructive ends that are often more pronounced.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? Ironic, isn't it, that what would have once cheered a melancholy day could become in this story an aching torment that we refuse to let go for sentimentality's sake.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? We, as humans, are prone to protect what we hold dear even unto the point of it harming us and others.

Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):

Simile: "He was like a prehistoric priest performing a fateful ceremonial rite."

Metaphor: They were the scars of gigantic bombs, their rawness already made a little natural by rain, seed and time.

Personification: "The red sunset, with narrow, black cloud strips like threats across it, lay on the curved horizon of the prairie."

Symbol: "That's more soul than we can use," said the harsh man."

Foreshadowing (give both elements): "The musician rose last, but then abruptly, and went quickly out at the door without saying anything."

Irony: "The individual delectable presences swept into a sudden tide of unbearably beautiful dissonance and then continued fully the swelling and ebbing of that tide, the dissonant inpourings, and the resolutinons, and the diminshings, and the little, quiet wavelets of interlude lapping between."

Imagery: "Under the wuthering arch of the high wind, a V of wild geese fled south."

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. Humanity has destroyed itself, leaving behind a handful of people, desperate to cling on to the few remaining shreds of their former world, enjoying them painfully and sparingly, so as to make them last. It is tragic at best, horrific at worst. It is not an uncommon theme in literature, to muse about the fate of our race after the apocalypse, but all that we are confronted with in our own minds are visions of already existing vices and horrors, extrapolated into a landscape that all too well mirrors our own internal monstrosities.

1. The story is set in an alternate past, sometime in the mid 20th century. For reasons unknown, the world was consumed by nuclear warfare, leaving behind few survivors and a harsh environment.

2.The men meet to reminisce over the works of art of the past era, and as such, the objects are regarded as sacred, hence the author comparing unwrapping them to a ceremonial rite.

3.The books are all significant works of literature, regarded as classic tomes that together held a great deal of importance in the past, and even more so in the present. No recent works are included as the setting is in the past, and the proper utensils for bookmaking are all but lost to the survivors.

4.a)Dr. Jenkins was ready to defend his property from theft. b)I imagine the musician might likely return, intent on poaching the books or phonograph, but when confronted by the Doctor, might back down.

COMPLETION 5/5

EFFORT 5/5

CONTENT 5/5

QUESTIONS 8/8

TOTAL 23/23