CREATIVE NON-FICTION 3 Conclusion 1 Introduction

(HUMSS – Specialization Subject) Summary of the writer’s overall opinion of the A LOU BEACH is a B talented writer who has
TOPIC VII – READING CREATIVE work and the author written a book of extremely short stories: A
………………………………………………………………………… 420 Characters: Short Stories. Most of the
NONFICTION
Short Story: Read the short story once. Try stories are 300 words or fewer. B In the space
- Analysis, interpretation and commentary not to be distracted by unfamiliar vocabulary. Just that many of us would need for a shopping list,
………………………………………………………………………… try to get a “feel” for the story and the characters. Beach is able to deliver everything that we
Creative Writing: Literary Analysis You will look more carefully at the vocabulary expect from a well-told story: a conflict, strong
A literary analysis is an essay in which the writer later. characters and descriptions, and a satisfactory
responds to a literary work—a poem, short story, ending. Beach’s stories do not have titles—he
or novel. In the response, the writer closely I See Him leaves those to the reader’s imagination. B C A
examines one or more literary elements, such as story that I have titled “I See Him”
BY LOU BEACH
setting, theme, plot, character, or meter, as well demonstrates Beach’s power as a masterful
as literary devices such as similes and metaphors. storyteller.
I SEE HIM from the kitchen window. He is in the
The writer also comments on the quality and backyard standing beneath the maple tree, 2 Body Paragraphs
significance of the work and provides his or her dirty and bearded, wearing a knit cap and the D The story opens when a homeowner, looking
own interpretation of the meaning of the work. grimy uniform of the homeless. He is barefoot through his kitchen window one morning,
in the grass. I open the backdoor and yell “Hey, discovers a homeless man standing in his back
1 Introduction what are you doing here?” puffing up my chest yard. E The window serves to divide the
Identification of the work or works being and looking as menacing as I can in my plaid characters and their very different worlds: E
discussed (title and author) bathrobe and slippers, imbued with the self- the society insider—the homeowner—and the
Writer’s general opinion of the author righteousness of the homeowner, indignant. social outcast—the homeless man. G The
Thesis statement (usually includes the general He grins and points at the birdhouse Tina and homeless man’s outsider status is emphasized
opinion of the work) Josh made at camp, painted red and yellow. His by a reference to the F “birdhouse Tina and
eyes seem to work independently of each Josh made at camp;” G in this world, birds have
2 Body other, like a gecko’s, and I glance at his fingers houses, but human outsiders do not.
Retelling of relevant parts of plot to see if the tips are flat and round. “I’m calling
Interpretations of the work the cops,” I shout and he continues to grin and The story is told from the homeowner’s
Support for the writer’s interpretation through ambles out the side gate. I put on jeans and a perspective. G His self-description reveals a
clear examples and quotations from the work t-shirt, get the baseball bat from the hall closet man determined to protect his family and
(interpretations can come before or after the and go out the front door. On the lawn, in the property, yet at the same time aware of his
examples and quotations) middle of the big pile of leaves that the kids own vulnerability. F “I open the backdoor and
Precise, descriptive language describing opinions had raked together, he is asleep, curled like a yell ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ puffing up
or judgments, based on a close examination of lock of Tina’s hair, hands beneath his head near my chest and looking as menacing as I can in
one or more of the literary element(s) of setting, the worn shoes that hold a comb and socks, my plaid bathrobe and slippers.” G His choice
theme, plot, character, and meter (see Language matches, a pack of cigarettes and a small of the words “puffing up my chest” is
Bank below) mirror. deliberately comical; we envision a small bird
Clear and effective organization trying to make itself look bigger and more
threatening. The fact that he is dressed in a F
“plaid bathrobe and slippers” G is another had raked together, he is asleep, curled like a
comical element; how menacing can someone lock of Tina’s hair.”
really be in one’s pajamas? Both of these G Comparing the stranger to a lock of the
descriptions make it clear that G the protagonist’s daughter’s hair strengthens the
homeowner is vulnerable, perhaps frightened, connection between the two men, while at the
but at the same time determined to chase same time evoking the image of a helpless,
away the outsider. F “‘I’m calling the cops,’ I trusting creature. E In this way, the stranger’s
shout and he continues to grin and ambles out vulnerability is revealed, and he is transformed
the side gate. I put on jeans and a t-shirt, get from “the other” into a defenseless man/child
the baseball bat from the hall closet and go out in need of protection.
the front door.” 3 Conclusion
D The narrative closes on a description of the
The other character in the story is the homeless man’s possessions: F “a comb and
homeless man. E At first, his “otherness” is socks, matches, a pack of cigarettes and a small
stressed. F “He is in the backyard standing mirror”. G In this short phrase, the writer
beneath the maple tree, dirty and bearded, communicates the stranger’s dignity as a
wearing a knit cap and the grimy uniform of the human being, despite the difficult
homeless. He is barefoot in the grass.” G By circumstances in which he finds himself. Thus
describing the homeless man as being dressed the E shared humanity of the characters comes
in a “uniform,” the protagonist shows his into focus. In the end, H thanks to Beach’s fine
judgmental attitude toward the homeless: that writing, we do indeed “see him.”
homelessness is somehow a choice—a job—
rather than an unfortunate circumstance. In a
sentence that is G deliberately strange, the
homeowner further emphasizes the homeless
character’s otherness, by comparing him to a
reptile. F “His eyes seem to work
independently of each other, like a gecko’s,
and I glance at his fingers to see if the tips are
flat and round.”

E However, this sense of otherness quickly