The Hunger Artist 207-214

1. In what way is this not a typical short story (assuming there is such a thing as a typical short story)?

2. Could the plot structure we have looked at --exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion--apply to this story? Try to apply it if you think it could.

3. Do you feel sympathy for the hunger artist? Is there anything in the story that makes you feel as if the reader is supposed to feel sympathy for the hunger artist?

4. Are the characters other than the hunger artist presented negatively? Explain.

5. What do you think of the hunger artist's idea that fasting really isn't difficult? (top of 209)

6. Find evidence that the hunger artist takes pride in his ability fast.

7. What do you make of the hunger artist's statement that his reason for fasting is that he has never found food to his liking? bottom of 213-214)?

8. Comment on a sentence or a phrase.

The Odour of Chrysanthemums, par. 168-end

1. Would it have been better to let her daughter know what was going on, instead of telling her that everything was all right, her father only sleeping? (par. 194). What do you think? Why does Elizabeth choose to do things this way?

2. Is there any evidence in this reading that Elizabeth really does/did love her husband?

3. Elizabeth thinks about how she never knew her husband, and that she and he were always separate, always apart, despite being married and having children together. Do you get the sense that the author is saying that this is how it is for human beings in general? Is he just implying that this is how it was for this particular couple? Or is he implying that this is just what Elizabeth happens to think and feel at this moment? Or can we not know? Even if there isn't evidence to tell us for sure, what is your opinion?

4. Explain as best you can the last sentence: "But from death, her ultimate master, she winced with fear and shame."

5. Comment on a sentence or phrase of the story.

The Odour of Chrysanthemums 337-342 par. 80-169

1. Mr. and Mrs. Rigley treat Elizabeth Bates (the main character) with respect (par. 95, 110, among other examples). Why do they, do you suppose?

2. Notice that Mrs. Rigley speaks differently from Elizabeth Bates; and Mr. Rigley speaks in yet another way. Can you describe these differences?

3. The mother of Walter, Elizabeth's husband, enters at par. 131. How would you describe Walter's mother? Can you explain how such a mother would have a son who causes trouble as Walter apparently has? What kind of trouble do you think Walter has caused?

4. Just so we're all clear on this--how does Walter die? Briefly explain the circumstances.

5. Elizabeth's preparations (166-167): what do they tell us about Elizabeth, or what qualities of hers do her actions reinforce in our minds?

6. Can you identify anything that is heart-breaking in this story, from its beginning to par. 167?

7. Choose a sentence or phrase and comment on it.

The Odour of Chrysanthemums 332-337 par. 1-79

1. "The trucks thumped heavily past, one by one, with slow inevitable movement, as she stood insignificantly trapped between the jolting black waggons and the hedge; then they curved away towards the coppice where the withered oak leaves dropped noiselessly, while the birds, pulling at the scarlet hips beside the track made off into the dusk that had already crept into the spinney." (par. 1)

Make an observation or two about this sentence (that no one else has yet made). Remember to make an observation about the sentence, not about yourself experiencing the sentence.

2. "The pit-bank loomed up beyond the pond, flames like red sores licking its ashy sides, in the afternoon's stagnant light." (par. 1) Comment on the diction or imagery (same thing really) of this sentence.

3. The woman introduced in par. 3 has hair "parted exactly" (par. 4). She also puts some flowers to her face and then tucks them into the waist of her apron (par. 15). After reading the entire assignment, say what you think these details indicate about her character.

4. The woman talks to her father (par. 17-34). In par. 17-26, he asks for a cup of tea and they discuss his taking up with a woman (evidently his wife has passed away recently). What does their conversation tell us about the woman?

5. Are the children presented sympathetically, or not? Explain.

6. Comment on a sentence or a phrase.