Senior Research Paper

1. Araby can also have a theme of young and innocent. You can tell because he is nervous when he talks to girls and he still likes to play outside with his friends. - Kayla Brizuela

1.1. I agree that youth and innocence is conveyed through this story also, you can tell that he is young with the way the narrator speaks to his guardians and that he is scared to talk to girls. the setting also conveys the theme, dark, quiet, blind are only a few words. This is similar to Paul's case also with Paul's description of his house and street lights. The contrast of settings helps also. Paul loves the theater but hates home. And in Araby the boy loves the bazaar but describes his home as dark and blind.- alex hartman

2. Examining setting and characterization in fiction can show how personal isolation can alter one's view of reality. In "The Handsomest Man in the World" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the setting was so extremely small and isolated that the people had a limited idea of life outside the norm of their small society. However, when a dead body washed up on shore that looked nothing like they had never seen before, it completely changed their view on life. They quickly began to imagine how life outside their village must be like through the view of the dead man. The villagers were dynamic in this way, as their mindset changed towards the end of the story, along with their view of society. Moreover, this idea can be shown through the short story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara as well. In "The Lesson", the children appear to live in a small, poor socioeconomic neighborhood, which can be inferred due to how different the city seems to them when they get there. Likewise, they do not understand how money works, or have any concept of life outside their neighborhood, and appear very single minded, or in this case static. -Rob Gorney

3. Senior Research Paper In this short story, the theme of youth, innocence and isolation is conveyed through Paul's conflict of not feeling welcome in his life and his surroundings. His problems in school and with his dad give sight into his internal conflict. Araby is similar because the narrator is still at a young age and is learning and trying to find his place in society. He is isolated at the end of the story just like Paul struggles with being alone and not having anyone to talk to.-alex hartman A change in dialect is used in the man who was almost a man to further explain the characters and time period. This is similar to the use of dialect in the lesson. The two also share the theme of classes clashing. This theme is evident through the children not liking Mrs. Moore in the lesson and Dave borrowing money from the plantation owner, Jim Hawkins in the man who was almost a man. Lynsey Acquaro Two connecting stories are Hills like white elephants and the Eleven. They both use dialog to express the emotions the characters of the stories are feeling or trying to sharing with one another. They share the theme of the difficulty of expressing ones self-Jess Sandull In Hills Like White Elephants the man believes that by influencing the woman to get an abortion that all of their problems will be solved which is an unrealistic way to look at their situation. Just as Paul in the story of Paul's case believes that having a lot of money will solve all of his problems. Both of these stories connect by having an unrealistic look on life and how to handle tough situation - Mike Natalewicz In Hills Like White Elephant, there is the theme of choices when the man and women are stuck with the decision of keeping the child or not. This theme is similar to the the short story Paul's Case, where he has to make the decision to stay in his ordinary house and do all the ordinary things or pursue his real aspirations in the theater. Alex Baird Present is the short story, "The Lesson" is a theme of self conflict and insecurity. In this story, the children question and evaluate themselves. This is a direct result of the differences they witness on Fifth Avenue opposed to the way they're accustomed to living. While the lavish life on Fifth Avenue is much more up-scale, their comfort zone is in an area of a much lower socio-economic status. They don't know how to carry themselves when put in a situation that is different than what they're used to. In the store, one of the children even asks, "Can we steal?" (Bambara). The morality in one place opposed to another is completely different. The theme of self-conflict also presents itself in the short story, "The Most Handsomest Drowned Man in the World". In this short story, a man who is seemingly perfect washes up onto shore and alters a whole villages view of themselves. The men and women thought of this man to be so perfect that they were jealous and even a little insecure about themselves. The differences among the villagers and the perfect man were obvious, and it even inspired the villagers to make changes in their own village and lives. This insecurity that they had especially set in when these people were faced with something that is different than what they are accustomed to. (Carina Ayesh). This theme of insecurity and self conflict are also present in this story, "Paul's Case". In Paul's case, Paul is homosexual and is living a life where he is trapped. His father, church, and teacher all have an impact on him, and it is not the norm in his environment or in their eyes to be gay. He then finds a sense of comfort and relief in the theater and spends most of his time there. This same feeling of comfort is taken from the children in the story, "The Lesson" when they are in an environment that is foreign to them. While they feel uncomfortable due to their differing socio-economic status with those of Fifth Avenue, Paul feels uncomfortable due to his sexuality. While their homes are where they're comfortable, it is opposite for Paul as he is uncomfortable in his home. The two are comfortable with themselves in some places opposed to others and it shows when put into an environment out of their comfort zone, they become insecure. (Carina Ayesh). In Eleven you can expand on the theme of youth and innocence. She goes on to say that when she needs to cry she feel like three or when she says something stupid she feels ten. - Kayla Brizuela I agree, In Eleven the theme of youth and innocence is similar to the short story The Lesson, where Sylvia doesn't understand the point of Miss Moore's taking them to the store to look at things that they knew they couldn't buy. - Alex Baird In To Hell with Dying the theme of addiction to art is portrayed through the character "Mr. Sweet". Mr. Sweet was an African American Man who was alienated from his community because of his race. He wanted to become a doctor,lawyer, or sailor. He is not able to live up to his dreams. He then uses his creativity to play the guitar. He becomes so good at it, that people know him because of it. This conveys the theme of addiction to art. -Clare Sullivan

4. In this short story, the theme of youth, innocence and isolation is conveyed through Paul's conflict of not feeling welcome in his life and his surroundings. His problems in school and with his dad give sight into his internal conflict. Araby is similar because the narrator is still at a young age and is learning and trying to find his place in society. He is isolated at the end of the story just like Paul struggles with being alone and not having anyone to talk to.-alex hartman

5. A change in dialect is used in the man who was almost a man to further explain the characters and time period. This is similar to the use of dialect in the lesson. The two also share the theme of classes clashing. This theme is evident through the children not liking Mrs. Moore in the lesson and Dave borrowing money from the plantation owner, Jim Hawkins in the man who was almost a man. Lynsey Acquaro

6. Present is the short story, "The Lesson" is a theme of self conflict and insecurity. In this story, the children question and evaluate themselves. This is a direct result of the differences they witness on Fifth Avenue opposed to the way they're accustomed to living. While the lavish life on Fifth Avenue is much more up-scale, their comfort zone is in an area of a much lower socio-economic status. They don't know how to carry themselves when put in a situation that is different than what they're used to. In the store, one of the children even asks, "Can we steal?" (Bambara). The morality in one place opposed to another is completely different. The theme of self-conflict also presents itself in the short story, "The Most Handsomest Drowned Man in the World". In this short story, a man who is seemingly perfect washes up onto shore and alters a whole villages view of themselves. The men and women thought of this man to be so perfect that they were jealous and even a little insecure about themselves. The differences among the villagers and the perfect man were obvious, and it even inspired the villagers to make changes in their own village and lives. This insecurity that they had especially set in when these people were faced with something that is different than what they are accustomed to. (Carina Ayesh).

6.1. This theme of insecurity and self conflict are also present in this story, "Paul's Case". In Paul's case, Paul is homosexual and is living a life where he is trapped. His father, church, and teacher all have an impact on him, and it is not the norm in his environment or in their eyes to be gay. He then finds a sense of comfort and relief in the theater and spends most of his time there. This same feeling of comfort is taken from the children in the story, "The Lesson" when they are in an environment that is foreign to them. While they feel uncomfortable due to their differing socio-economic status with those of Fifth Avenue, Paul feels uncomfortable due to his sexuality. While their homes are where they're comfortable, it is opposite for Paul as he is uncomfortable in his home. The two are comfortable with themselves in some places opposed to others and it shows when put into an environment out of their comfort zone, they become insecure. (Carina Ayesh).

7. In Eleven you can expand on the theme of youth and innocence. She goes on to say that when she needs to cry she feel like three or when she says something stupid she feels ten. - Kayla Brizuela

7.1. I agree, In Eleven the theme of youth and innocence is similar to the short story The Lesson, where Sylvia doesn't understand the point of Miss Moore's taking them to the store to look at things that they knew they couldn't buy. - Alex Baird

7.2. I agree with the theme of youth and innocence and i think that this theme is also present in the story Hills Like White Elephants. I believe that Jig is very naive and will depend on and believe anything that the guy she is with will say to her. She was manipulated very easily by everything that he told her and what his decision would be. Her innocence was lost to him and her youth made her unable to make her own decisions for herself. -Amy Townsley

7.3. This is an important connection because in both stories, the concept surrounding youth is very relevant. Both girls (characters) react to their different situations in similar ways. Both of the characters weren't old enough to understand what the lessons to be learned were. In The Lesson, Sylvia believes that Miss Moore was in a sense trying to torture her and her friends because they couldn't afford anything in the toy store. In Eleven, the girl reacts by wanting to do "baby" things such as cry when her teacher told her to put the sweater on. -Rebecca Hila

8. "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway

8.1. In Hills Like White Elephants the title also portrays important aspects of the story. The title "white elephant" is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost is out of proportion it its usefulness and worth. Also the word "hills" shows that there is going to be an obstacle. This connects to how the title is also used in Pauls Case. - Hayley Bray

8.1.1. I agree with Hayley Brey-The title of Hills like White Elephants, Pauls Case and To Hell with Dying all convoy that the stories have a struggle in them that needs to be fixed. This shares a theme between the stories of over coming struggles and pushing though hard time.-Jess Sandull

8.2. In Hills Like White Elephants the man believes that by influencing the woman to get an abortion that all of their problems will be solved which is an unrealistic way to look at their situation. Just as Paul in the story of Paul's case believes that having a lot of money will solve all of his problems. Both of these stories connect by having an unrealistic look on life and how to handle tough situation - Mike Natalewicz

8.3. Two connecting stories are Hills like white elephants and the Eleven. They both use dialog to express the emotions the characters of the stories are feeling or trying to sharing with one another. They share the theme of the difficulty of expressing ones self-Jess Sandull

8.4. In Hills Like White Elephant, there is the theme of choices when the man and women are stuck with the decision of keeping the child or not. This theme is similar to the the short story Paul's Case, where he has to make the decision to stay in his ordinary house and do all the ordinary things or pursue his real aspirations in the theater. Alex Baird

9. "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather

9.1. In Paul's Case, similar in "To hell with Dying" theme of addiction to art is conveyed by the character of Paul. Paul is also alienated from his surroundings which make him need an escape. Paul uses this addiction to art as a way to feel happy, just like Mr. Sweet does in "To hell with dying." Both characters are in some way alienated from their society. From this comes their addiction to art. -Clare Sullivan

9.2. In Pauls Case, the title shows that he is going to have to deal with something in this story. That is showed by the word case. The use of the title portraying something valuable to the story is also shown in Hills Like White Elephants. - Hayley Bray

9.3. Another thing with "Paul's Case" and and "The lesson" is that they also have the same theme as being isolated. Paul doesn't belong in his society, he isn't comfortable in his house, and keeps putting on an act due to him acting this way, he runs away and tries to find a place where people are different. With this, in "The Lesson" the kids are unaware that there are people who waste thousands of money on insignificant items. They are used to their town, used to not making a big deal about school, all what they know is that in their town, the people struggle with having money. This is what they are used to, and once they go to the other side of town, they feel uncomfortable and know that they do not belong. -Ariana Speranza

9.4. In Paul's Case, Paul feels isolated and alone in his city of Pittsburgh. He constantly feels as if he is secluded because of his sexuality, which is homosexual. Nobody in that time period had been exposed to something of that nature. In T

9.5. The two stories, Paul's Case and The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World because be paired together because flowers are important symbols in both stories. They can symbolize a sense of life. In Paul's Case, he always had a red carnation with him and when the flower wilted, he started to die (commit suicide). In The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, the women of the town brought flowers from other towns to "decorate" the dead body with. They wanted him to be alive because he was nothing they've ever seen before. -Rebecca Hila

10. t

11. "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros

11.1. The theme of feeling misunderstood is shown in both Eleven and Paul's Case. In Eleven the teacher refuses to listen to Rachel because of her age. When her teacher gave her the sweater she did not understand why Rachel kept pushing it away and getting upset. In Paul's Case, Paul's teachers do not understand why he constantly acts out in class. Also, Paul and his father's do not have a good relationship because he does not understand what Paul exactly wants to do with his life and why he is always coming home late from work. -Sara Frank

11.2. In Eleven I believe that one theme could be man vs society. Here is a little girl who is up against everyone around her, even though she is eventually right in the fact that the red sweater was not hers, it was her word against everybody else. I think that this theme is also present in the story The Lottery. Although everyone in town knows that the lottery is wrong no body wants to stand up for their beliefs or ideas in fear that they will be called out or different. Towards the end of the story when Ms.Hutchinson gets chosen as the winner of the lottery she speaks out and tries to tell everyone how she thins this isn't fair and it's wrong, but since everyone has stuck with this tradition always, nobody listens to her. It's her word against everyone else's and not even her own family is on her side. -Amy Townsley

12. "Araby" by James Joyce

13. "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

13.1. This short story's theme of innocence and youth is similar to Sandra Cisneros's short story, "Eleven", because, both girls are very inexperienced with what they come across. For an example, Sylvia from, "The Lottery", cannot comprehend what Miss Moore was trying to teach the kids and herself. She had trouble looking past the concept of what Miss Moore was actually saying versus what she thinks she was saying. Sylvia believed that the kids and herself were only brought to the store to eye shop because they were too impoverished to buy those expensive things. The other example is when Rachel had her first experience dealing with an adult, Mrs. Price, that has made a mistake. She notices that she was wrong, but cannot talk back to her. Eventually Rachel loses her calm. But also, throughout the story, you can tell that the narrator of the story is a child because of the repetition of childish vocabulary words she uses. -Rachael Cho

14. "To Hell With Dying" by Alice Walker

14.1. Senior Research Paper

14.2. In this short story, the theme of youth, innocence and isolation is conveyed through Paul's

14.3. conflict of not feeling welcome in his life and his surroundings. His problems in school and with

14.4. young age and is learning and trying to find his place in society. He is isolated at the end of

14.5. his dad give sight into his internal conflict. Araby is similar because the narrator is still at a

14.6. the story just like Paul struggles with being alone and not having anyone to talk to.-alex

14.7. hartman

14.8. A change in dialect is used in the man who was almost a man to further explain the characters

14.9. and time period. This is similar to the use of dialect in the lesson. The two also share the theme

14.10. of classes clashing. This theme is evident through the children not liking Mrs. Moore in the

14.11. lesson and Dave borrowing money from the plantation owner, Jim Hawkins in the man who was

14.12. almost a man. Lynsey Acquaro

14.13. Two connecting stories are Hills like white elephants and the Eleven. They

14.14. both use dialog to express the emotions the characters of the stories are

14.15. feeling or trying to sharing with one another. They share the theme of the

14.16. difficulty of expressing ones self-Jess Sandull

14.17. In Hills Like White Elephants the man believes that by influencing the woman to get an

14.18. abortion that all of their problems will be solved which is an unrealistic way to look at their

14.19. situation. Just as Paul in the story of Paul's case believes that having a lot of money will solve

14.20. all of his problems. Both of these stories connect by having an unrealistic look on life and

14.21. how to handle tough situation - Mike Natalewicz

14.22. In Hills Like White Elephant, there is the theme of choices when the man and women are

14.23. stuck with the decision of keeping the child or not. This theme is similar to the the short

14.24. story Paul's Case, where he has to make the decision to stay in his ordinary house and

14.25. do all the ordinary things or pursue his real aspirations in the theater. Alex

14.26. Baird

14.27. Present is the short story, "The Lesson" is a theme of self conflict and insecurity. In this story, the children question and evaluate themselves. This is a direct result of

14.28. the differences they witness on Fifth Avenue opposed to the way they're accustomed to living. While the lavish life on Fifth Avenue is much more up-scale, their

14.29. comfort zone is in an area of a much lower socio-economic status. They don't know how to carry themselves when put in a situation that is different than what they're

14.30. used to. In the store, one of the children even asks, "Can we steal?" (Bambara). The morality in one place opposed to another is completely different. The theme of

14.31. self-conflict also presents itself in the short story, "The Most Handsomest Drowned Man in the World". In this short story, a man who is seemingly perfect washes up

14.32. onto shore and alters a whole villages view of themselves. The men and women thought of this man to be so perfect that they were jealous and even a little insecure

14.33. about themselves. The differences among the villagers and the perfect man were obvious, and it even inspired the villagers to make changes in their own village and

14.34. lives. This insecurity that they had especially set in when these people were faced with something that is different than what they are accustomed to. (Carina Ayesh).

14.35. This theme of insecurity and self conflict are also present in this story, "Paul's Case". In Paul's case, Paul is homosexual and is living a life

14.36. where he is trapped. His father, church, and teacher all have an impact on him, and it is not the norm in his environment or in their eyes

14.37. to be gay. He then finds a sense of comfort and relief in the theater and spends most of his time there. This same feeling of comfort is

14.38. taken from the children in the story, "The Lesson" when they are in an environment that is foreign to them. While they feel

14.39. uncomfortable due to their differing socio-economic status with those of Fifth Avenue, Paul feels uncomfortable due to his sexuality.

14.40. While their homes are where they're comfortable, it is opposite for Paul as he is uncomfortable in his home. The two are comfortable

14.41. with themselves in some places opposed to others and it shows when put into an environment out of their comfort zone, they become

14.42. insecure. (Carina Ayesh).

14.43. In Eleven you can expand on the theme of youth and

14.44. innocence. She goes on to say that when she needs to cry she

14.45. feel like three or when she says something stupid she feels ten.

14.46. Kayla Brizuela

14.47. I agree, In Eleven the theme of youth and innocence is similar to the short

14.48. story The Lesson, where Sylvia doesn't understand the point of Miss

14.49. Moore's taking them to the store to look at things that they knew they

14.50. couldn't buy. - Alex Baird

14.51. In To Hell with Dying the theme of addiction to art is portrayed through the character "Mr. Sweet". Mr. Sweet was an African American Man who was alienated from his community because of his race. He wanted to become a doctor,lawyer, or sailor. He is not able to live up to his dreams. He then uses his creativity to play the guitar. He becomes so good at it, that people know him because of it. This conveys the theme of addiction to art. -Clare Sullivan

15. "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

15.1. This short story's theme is almost similar to "To Hell With Dying" by Alice Walker's theme of isolation because, when the villagers first discover the oddly large and "beautiful" man, they thought of him as some sort of god-like figure because they've never seen anything like him before. This shows us how the people on the island are very isolated from the rest of the world because of the lack of difference they've ever seen in their lives. In, "To Hell With Dying", the old man, Mr. Sweer, felt very isolated, despite the fact that the little girl visited him everyday to keep him alive with the power of love. Later on, the little girl grows up and moves on with her life. Going to school made her unable to stay as close to Mr. Sweet as she used to. Mr. Sweet eventually passes away due to no one being there anymore, he had lost his willpower to live. Mr. Sweet was very isolated and lonely without anyone there since his wife had passed away a long time ago and the girl had left for school. -Rachael Cho

16. " The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara

16.1. I feel that this short story goes along with some of the others that we have read. I feel that the theme here can be isolation due to the town being so small, they are secluded to new people. The people had the same boring small houses, same average size people, and once this "mystical" creature comes along, it is like they are adapting to a whole new world. I feel that the isolation is shown when the people who presented said how the women were fascinated with having the gorgeous man become washed up. they had to go to different towns to get flowers for his funeral, and started to become more adapted to how things should be in the end all due to this gorgeous man. - Ariana Speranza

16.2. The Lesson and To Hell with Dying both show the idea of trying and not succeeding. In The Lesson Miss Moore takes the children to see what it is like outside of their city in hopes of inspiring them to change their lives around for the better. But it does not go her way and the children still talk about wanting to steal and think that Miss Moore wasted their day. In To Hell with Dying Mr. Sweet has several near-death experiences and the narrator is able to save him by visiting him and speaking to him. Once she goes away to school and hears that he is sick again , she tries to hurry back to save him but she is too late. - Sara Frank

17. "The Man Who Was Almost A Man" by Richard Wright

17.1. In The Man Who was almost a man, Dave relates to Araby from Araby because both of the boys want something and are prepared to do anything they can to get what they. In Araby's situation it is getting to the bazar and in Dave's it is obtaining a gun. Both of these things contribute to the theme of innocence and immaturity. Lynsey Acquaro