"Younde Goes To Town" Story Analysis

Story Summery:
In the country of Akim, there was a man named Younde. A simple man that spent his time farming and hunting. He heard wonderful things about the big town of Accra, but had never been there.
One day he had to go to Accra, so he readied his things and left.
He walked for many days, and found himself out of his own country, and people didn't speak Akim.
He came across a little boy herding a large number of cows. Younde asked the young boy "Who is the owner of all this cattle?", but the boy did not understand him, because Younde spoke Akim, while in Accra they spoke the Ga language. The boy answered by saying "Minu" which means 'I don't understand.' So Younde said "Minu! What a rich man he must be to own so many cattle!"
 Younde then continued in his way to town, being very impressed by everything he saw. He then came to a large building made of stone, that was also very high.
Then a woman passed him on her way to the market and Younde asked her, " What rich person can own such a building?" As the same with the boy, the woman didn't understand, and said "Minu".
"Minu, that man again", Younde said.
No one back in Akim had ever been so wealthy as Minu. As he went further into town, he kept seeing more wonders. He came to a large market, and e saw many things in the market, and he asked a little girl, "Where do all these things come from?"
"Minu", she replied.
He saw so many people in the market, then he asked an old man, "So many people all at one time! What makes so many people all come to Accra?'
"Minu", the old man said.
Younde was overwelmed. What an influence that Minu had.
 He went out of the market to the ocean's edge.
"Wah, to whom do all these boats belong?", he asked a fisherman.
"Minu", the fisherman replied.
Younde walked away, and came to where a large cargo ship was being loaded with palm oil and fruit.
"Hah, this must be the largest boat in the world! Where is all the fruit going?"
"Minu", the man said.
Younde was overcome. Minu was indeed a great man. He owned everything, he ate everything. You couldn't ask a question without people saying 'Minu'.
Younde than finished his business in Accra and started for home. On his way he saw a great procession of people, and realized it was a funeral. He asked one of the mourners "Who is this person who has died?"
And the mourner replied sadly, "Minu".
Younde continued on his way home, but he couldn't get the tradedy out of his mind.
"Poor Minu!" he said over and over again.

"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment:" Story Analysis

Biography 'Nathaniel Hawthorne'
Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, where his birthplace is now a house museum. The Hawthornes enjoyed a long marriage, and had three children together.
He is best-known today for his many short stories (he called them "tales") and his four major romances of 1850-1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), The House of the Seven Gables (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852), and The Marble Faun (1860).
Hewrote during the romantic era of writing, which was a European artistic and intellectual movement of the early 19th century.

Summery
At the beginning of the story, Dr. Heidegger invited 4 old, sad friends to help him with one of his experiments. He then offered them a drink from the Fountain of Youth, which they accepted. They drank three glasses each, and did not pay attention to the Doctors advice. They were young at once, and the 2 gentlemen started fighting over their woman friend, proving that they did not learn from their past mistakes.They grew old again very soon, and Dr. Heidegger then realized the lesson they have taught him, but his 4 friends did not learn it: They were already making plans to go and find the Fountain of Youth in Florida.

Story Plot
Conflict: The conflict was Dr. Heidegger's experiment to see if people can change if given a second chance.
Rising Action: - When Dr. Heidegger asked his friends to be part of his experiment.
                      - When he made his point with the rose.
                      - He told his friends about the Fountain of Youth.
Climax: When the vase breaks, with the water from the Fountain of Youth.
Resolution: Dr. Heidegger's friends did not learn their lesson, they decided to head out right away for Florida.

Characters:
- Dr. Heidegger: The one who performs the experiment. He is described as a strange old man.
- Mr. Medbourne: Old with a white beard, was once very rich, but was very greedy and lost his fortune.
- Mr. Gascon: Old with a white beard, was a famous politician, but was dishonest. He was caught stealing money, sent to jail and now is poor man that lived in shame.
- Colonel Killigrew: Old with a white beard, was once a great soldier. He spent his life eating and drinking too much, and was is now in bad health.
- Widow Wycherly: She was once very beautiful, but was very conceited as well. Now she is old and not beautiful.

Moral
The moral of the story is Dr. Heidegger's epiphany. That even if people are given a second chance at life, they still make the same mistakes over again.

Opinion
Yes, I did enjoy this story. It is a short story so their isn't much plot in it, but I found it entertaining to read. The fact that they grew old very fast was something I did not expect. I also fully agree with the moral of the story. I believe first of all that no one really deserves a second chance, and that even when they are given one, they still don't change.

The Story Irony
The irony in the story is that, even with Dr. Heidegger pointing out his advice. Also even after being young again the committed the same mistakes (making no sense for them to try a do-over in life). When they grew old again, the only thing they could think of was drinking more water.

"Three Hundred Pesos:" Story Analysis

Biografy of Author Manuela Williams Crosno
1905-1977 lived in New Mexico, she loved the state and used the settings for her stories. She usually wrote about Spanish settlers. She taught English for many years, was a poet and an artist. Her article "Why I Teach School" won First Prize in a statewide writing contest.


Story Summery
Emilio asked his brother Anastacio for one peso so he could buy medicine for his son. Anastacio refused to give him the peso, he also refused to lend his sister money when she needed it most. Anastacio's crops were destroyed three times, therefore not allowing him to make enough money to buy a little store he wanted. He had an accident with his wagon and ended up dyeing. His brother and sister found his body and money and decided to give him a beautiful funeral by using the money.


Story Plot
Conflict: Anastacio is a very selfish man. He would not lend his brother or sister money.
Rising Action: His crops are destroyed over and over again (karma).
Climax: Anastacio dies.
Resolution: Emilio and Berta decide to use Anastacio's money to give him a very nice funeral.


Characters in the Story

Emilio: Brother to Berta and Anastacio, a kind generous man.
Berta: Sister to Anastacio and Emilio, like her brother Emilo she is also kind-hearted.
Anastacio: Brother to Emilio and Berta, a very selfish man, he only cares for himself. At the end of the story he dies.
Pedro: Emilio's son, at the begging of the story it is said that he was very sick.


The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is that karma's a bitch. That if you don't help others you will find yourself also alone in the end.

Opinion
I did not like the story at all. It seemed to lack insight and action for me. All it has to offer is the same-old moral, 'treat those the way you would like to be treated'. But it lacks that certain things that makes a story interesting or enjoyable to a reader. It doesn't have anything that makes it special, or stand out from other short stories in the bunch.

Something Funny

Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, was born in 1928 and grew up in Illinois, but now lives in California. She has written over 200 short stories, and some of her books have been made into movies and TV programs. She also teaches writing, and loves to write herself.

Summery of Something Funny
Janey is getting tired of dating Bill, and on their most recent date Bill is late and begins to explain why. He tells her about the strangest dream, about a storm, tornado and a flying saucer that landed where the strangest people excited it. Bill went inside the flying saucer and inside he found another him inside, a replacement Bill the funny people told him. Bill tells Janey that the funny people have a third eye, and when Bill finally laughed off the story Janey pulled off a bandage on her forehead. Bill stared in shock at Janey's third eye in the middle of her forehead.

a- The conflict present is that Janey is getting tired of dating Bill, she finds him uninteresting.
b- The rising actions in the story are: - When Janey and Bill are on there way to a party and Bill explains why he is late. - He tells Janey about his dream. - Bill explains about the funny people with the third eye, and with replacement people. - Janey shows Bill her third eye at the end of the story.
c- The climax of the story is when they arrive at the barn and Janey reveals to Bill her third eye.
d- Bill is repulsed and their is an epiphany and a sudden realization.

The characters of the story:
- Janey: She is dating Bill, and is getting tired of doing so. At the end of the story she proves to be a funny person.
- Bill: Is interested in strange things, very interested in space. A boring character, or at least Janey thinks so.
- Funny People: Bill dreams about them arriving to earth in a flying saucer in the middle of a storm. They are very strange and have a third eye in the middle of their forehead.

The irony in the story is that Janey seems to be upset when Bill says that maybe they would all be replaced that night. She was upset by the idea knowing she was a replacement herself.

I did not like the story. I don't usually like such short stories, and am not interested in events like aliens and space. The characters were not very interesting, a grumpy girl and a day dreamer kind of guy. The beginning of the story seemed to be interesting, but when the topic of flying saucers and aliens came up it stopped. the end when Janey proved to be a funny person, the whole concept seemed a little corny.