Literary Works

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Analysis of a short story "Dark Dignum"


Indra is an English teacher from Binjae North Sumatra. He has analysed the story entitled
"Dark Dignum"

By
 Bernard Edward J. Capes

Synopsis

Dark Dignum short story is a legends fiction in narrative text. The story tells about the experience of main/major character that it argues the conflict of the two smugglers:  Exciseman Jones and Dark Dignum where Exciseman Jones passed away in still mystery. The story occurred in the main character’s grandfather life. The author set up the story dramatically and it has many thrills.The story contains metaphor (“It crumbles … like as frosted mortar ….” And “… a liquid vibrant sound, like muffled stroke of iron on an anvil” etc.) and connotation ( “… by the ingle-nook to taste a little the salt of life”.), and also jargons, even though it is still readable or understandable, so it is suitable to be the reading material by adapting and changing the level of language in improving the knowledge of literature.         
1.      Setting
Setting of place               : on the sea and in the old churchyard       
Setting of time                :   the short-story happened around 18th century.  
Social-cultural setting     : fishermen and Christian communities.

2.      Character
Main/major character      : landlady’s father. He is an old man and he has
                                           restless behavior. He is as a round character.
                                         
Minor/support character   :  
Ø  The writer. He is as a static character, because he does not exhibit his capacity to develop or change as his experience.
Ø  Exciseman Jones. He is one of the smugglers which he died in still mysterious. He is a grim, sour-looking, brass-bound galloot; and incorruptible- -which was the worst.
Ø  Dark Dignum. He is also one of the smugglers. He is a young man, a great feat smuggler and wick. He is as a dynamic character.
Ø  Grandfather. He is as a flat character because he does not always appear to develop or change as his experience.

3.      Plot
Exposition                     : from paragraph 1 to paragraph 5
Complication                 : starting paragraph 6 (“It is a bell!” he cried--)     
Crisis                             : page 3 paragraph 9 (“He were murdered, sir, ….”)       
Falling                           : page 6 line 1 (“Now all these years the cliff ….”)          
Resolution                     : page 7 paragraph 1 in line 5 (The wear and tear      
                                         From the edge ….).
The end of this short-story uses OPEN PLOT, because the main character questioned to hisself what he told the story to the author.
The story used flashback. It contains one flashback, namely grandfather wished if he were turned thirty he never smiled agen.
  
4.      Point of view                : omniscient point of view.

5.      Symbol                         : Dark Dignum. He is symbolizes as the people has
                                        wickedness, profaneness, and audacity behavior.
                           
6.      Tone                             :  horrifying, thrilling           

7.      Theme                          : mystery          
                                        Exciseman Jones was murdered foully and horribly,
                                        for all they could never bring it home to the culprit.

8.      Message                       : people should do good works both to God and to
                                        human being because they are the key to gain a             
                                        peaceful life.








Monday, May 30, 2011

SECRET


This novel entitled 'Secret' is written by Marian Thum. It has been analysed by Bambang Sutaryo and Supriyono. The synopsis of the novel is presented as follows: 
 
SECRET

BY Marian Thurm
Synopsis 

This story tells us about the two married couples. They are Eric, who is married to my younger sister, Lauren and William and I. These two couples lived apart.  Eric and Lauren lived in a rented house in Vermant town, meanwhile, William and I lived in New York. Eric works part time job, he design and build table, chair, and lamb in a lumber store. William works for an advertising agency.
One night, they held a barbeque in front of the Eric’s house. While enjoying the barbeque, Lauren frowns, she seems to be about to say something, but then walks off to the house. It puzzles me, “What is actually happen to Lauren”? I tried to make her speak, but she doesn’t want.
After hard effort had been done, and Lauren still keeps the secret, then I call some of Lauren’s friends, hoping for clarity. But her friends said” I don’t know any more than you do”.
            Actually, Eric is suffered from disease which becomes worst and worst. Twice a week, Eric receives chemotherapy treatments for his small tumors that have appeared periodically on one leg and foot since the year before their marriage. Because of this disease, this family doesn’t live happily.
One night in September, I called them. Lauren answered the phone. She tells me that Eric has moved out, to live in a cabin at the edge of a nearby woods; that he quit his job from the lumber store and leads nature tours for Parks Department. Lauren herself lives with a former high –school English teacher who breeds show dogs for a living now. It means they are separated now.
           

1.      Setting                                    
Setting of place           : Small Vermont Town and  New York City.
Setting of Time           : in the evening
Socio Cultural Setting : Family life, husband and wife relationship

2.      Character                   
Main Character          : Eric and Lauren
Minor Character           : William, the writer (the William’s wife), the writer’s mother, the  writer’s father.

3.      Plot
Exposition                       : from paragraph 1 until paragraph 6 or from page 71 until page 73.
Complication                : starting from paragraph 7 ( The barbeque is not going well….)   until paragraph 25 or page 76 (William and I give Eric  ……..)
Crisis                           :paragraph 26 or page 76  (The private manner in which my sister……..)
Falling Action              : Paragraph 28 or page 77 until paragraph 37 or page 78.
Resolution                   : Paragraph 38  or page 78 until the end.

4.      Point of View               : first person point of view (Limited omniscient)

5.      Symbol                                    : barbeque, disease (cancer)


6.      Tone                            : curiosity, puzzle, confusing.

7.      Theme                         : Care.


8.      Message                      : people should tell the problem to other people except it is a secret or privacy for us.







Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Three Muketers



Title                               : The Three Muketers
Writer                           : Alexandre Dumas
Published                     : By Random House , inc
Year of Publication     : 1950
Page                                       : 209 – 233


D’Artagnan worried about Madame Bonacieux while Planchet across the room. One day D’Artagnan saw Parthos Strolling into the church and make it crowded. Parthos was gazing with great admiration to a lady who is coming with young Negro. They lady made deep impression on Perthos , even deeper on D’Artagnan. She is from meung. She is the persecator of D’Artagnan , Milady.
D’Artagnan followed Milady out of the church , returning home by carriage to Saint – Germain. He asked planchet to drive him home and call on to Athos. D’Artagnan told him that he saw Melady at the cruch. Athos said that D’Artagnan Felt in love deeper to melady than madame Bonacieux.
Next D’Artagnan and Planchet wanted to ward Saint – Germain. Alkong the road , they talked about Madame Bonacieux. In fact , D’Artagnan had deep lve to her. He wanted to investigate her. He wanted to know who was the man in the black cloak taking her home.
At Saint – Germain , Melady met lubin , the luckay of Conte De Verdes. Planchet gave a letter to D’Artagnan. It tol that milady wil confess what she realy is. She asked D’Artagnan  to meet her at Saint – Germain.
Milady want home with the Englishman , Basque. He protected D’Artagnan of the death. Next D’Artagnan presented his sister , Lady Clark to the Englishman. He left D’Artagnan and gave him milady’s address. He said that whether milady still recog nized him or not as the man she had encountered at Meung an at the Dover. But D’Artagnan didn’t worry a bout that.
In fact D’Artagnan loved either Madame Bonacieux or Milady. When the Englishmen left France because of the war , Lady  Clark received D’Artagnan ceremonyonsly. But when the Englishman returned from the war , D’Artagnan left Lady Clark , he backed to Milady.
Next , Milady confessed that the Englishman is not her brother , but brother – in – law. From Milady’s remark D’Artagnan sensed that a veil of  my stery covered her , but she could not yet see under this veil.
D’Artagnan met kitty , melady’s maid. She gave him a letter it was Milady’s letter telling about her first note. Kitty said that Milady never love D’Artagnan. Milady scholded her maid because she has did it to D’Artagnan. Milady didn’t love him because he almost ruined her credit with cardinal.
D’Artagnan wanted to know what happened to Madame Bonacieux. But Milady realized that the Englishman had not killed her brother in – law. Through her notes , we know that Milady  loved Cante de verdes but he didn’t know what her note means.       

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sweet Potato Pie

This novel has been analyzed by Naimatul Muflihah and Laily Mahfudloh. They give a comment that the story is really touching. I still remember when they presented the analysis of this novel in front of the audiences. What was happened? they couldn't say anything, except "crying"

Analysis of a Short Story
“SWEET POTATO PIE”
by Eugenia Collier
Naima , Laily

A.  Synopsis of the Story
Buddy was the youngest child in a Black poor family. They lived in poverty; their parents were only sharecroppers. The oldest brother Charley took important part in Buddy’s life. He became more father than brother. Because of the poor condition, education was almost ignored in Buddy’s family, but his parents and Charley encouraged him as a youngest child to continue his study. Moreover, Charley often says that Buddy must break the chain of poverty by education and becomes “somebody
Buddy finished his school successfully and became a professor. When their parents were passed away; every child scattered and built their new family.
One day, Buddy had a professional meeting in New York, the city where Charley and Bea his wife were settled. He stayed in Fifth Avenue Hotel. Charley and Bea were exciting to find Buddy visit their home. Charley told that several months back he had picked up a kid from Buddy’s school, and Charley asked that kid whether he know Buddy or not. He told Charley that Buddy was the best teacher he had. But Charley did not tell that he is Buddy’s brother. He didn’t want Buddy’s students knew his brother isn’t anything but a cab driver. You’re somebody said Charley.
When Buddy went back to his hotel, Bea wrapped the sweet potato pie in brown paper bag and gave to Buddy. He was very happy. Charley was waiting for Buddy with his cab. They stopped a bit down the street from Buddy’s hotel. He invited Charley in, but Charley refused it. When Charley knew that Buddy carried a sweet potato pie, he asked Buddy to give it. Charley said “people in that hotel don’t go through the lobby carrying brown paper bag” Buddy cannot believe it, but finally he handed over his bag of sweet potato pie and let him go.
Buddy entered the hotel and still thinking of his lost snack and Buddy was very compassion when he realized that Charley carried brown paper bag full of sweet potato pie only behind him.
       
B.  Setting
·         Setting of Place              : the 14th  floor of Fifth Avenue Hotel
              Harlem, New York
              Charley’s apartment Lenox Avenue
·         Setting of time               : in the late afternoon to evening
·         Socio-cultural setting     : a great poverty of sharecroppers family, a hard life which full of struggle.
C. Character
·         Main characters              : Buddy
  Charley (Buddy’s brother)
·       Minor characters             : Father,  Mother
                                                              Lil (Buddy’s sister),  Alberta (Buddy’s sister)
                                                              Jamie (Buddy’s brother),   Bea (Charley’s wife)     
                                                              Mary (Charley’s daughter),   Lucy (Charley’s daughter)
                                                              Jake   (Lil’s husband)
D. Plot
·         Exposition          : From paragraph 1 to 2
·         Complication       : From paragraph 3 especially when Buddy begins to remain his childhood with Charley, to paragraph 30. In this part, the writer presented flashback story.
·         Crisis                    : Paragraph 31 when Charley didn’t let Buddy entered the hotel carrying a sweet potato pie wrapped in a brown paper bag.
·         Falling action       : Paragraph 32 when Buddy thought about his lost snack and what Charley had done.
·      Resolution             : paragraph 33 when Buddy realized that Charley was carrying a brown paper bag for him.
E.  Point of View                : 1st  person point of view / Limited omniscient
F.  Symbol                          : The sweet potato pie is a symbol in this story—a symbol of love between Buddy and his brother, and a symbol of his former life.
G. Tone                              :Compassion, Sympathy
H. Theme                           : Sacrification in family life
I.    Message
·         People should maintain the feelings of insight, wisdom, and compassion in family life
·         People should be aware that education is a key to break the poverty
J.      Comment
This story is very interesting and gives us many lessons about life. It teaches us to have more appreciation to our family. Moreover, this story depicts the crucial point that love can be shown greater than words can. Charley took the pie and did not mind being a “nobody” for his brother Buddy and followed him; it was really touching and showed caring. Therefore, it is possible for English teachers use this story as a material, but the language should be simplified so that the students understand.