I. Introduction
Hook: A short story is a story with a fully developed theme, plot, and characters, but less elaborate than a novel.
Book, Author: Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami
Thesis: Stories like A Shinagawa Monkey can be considered as short stories, as Murakami was able to present a realistic plot, a sophisticated theme, and a medley of colorful characters.
II. Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence: The plot is the backbone of a story of any kind, and the short story A Shinagawa Monkey had a sensible one at that.
Quote(s): “Recently she had trouble with her own name” (333 Murakami) “I’ve discover the reason why you’ve been forgetting your name” (351 Murakami)
Analysis: Every plot has a conflict, climax, and resolution. Conflict: Mizuki Ozawa began to forget her name. Climax: Mizuki then began the long climb of investigation towards the climax. Resolution: Turns out that a talking monkey had stolen her name name, and thus taking away her name. It was given back.
Closing Sentence: With a rational story line, this piece of work is qualified as a real short story.
III. Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence: With a plot, along came the theme....Blah blah blah. Add something cheesy.
Quote: “A monkey?...That’s right...A monkey stole the name.” (354 Murakami)
Analysis: Mizuki had no idea what caused her to forget her name, and had, at first, contributed it to Alzheimer’s disease. She had no idea the solution is something much out of the ordinary. Theme: When facing a seemingly unsolvable problem, think outside the box.
Closing Sentence: A theme is a spiritual part of a story; the meaning beneath the black words on white paper. Having a theme, A Shinagawa Monkey can be said to be a short story.
IV. Body Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence: What makes a story, short or long, so entertaining are the varying characters within it.
Quote: Mr. Sakurada: “‘The nerve of