Mr. O’Donnel
AP Literature
09 December 2011
The Door in the Wall 1. Plot: Lionel Wallace confides in his friend Redmond that ever since childhood he has been haunted by the sudden appearance of a mysterious door. This door led him to a different world, much better than the one they live in. However, once he leaves it, he never returns, though he is offered the opportunity three times. He deeply regrets never entering again. He is found dead from an attempt to once again live out this “illusion.” Redmond, however, believes that there may have been truth behind Wallace’s “imaginary” door. 2. Character: Wallace is the protagonist. Once a lonely child, he found comfort in his imaginary world. The rest of his life is consumed in the attempt to reenter it. Redmond does not quite believe his friend, but does not think that he is crazy either. 3. Narrative perspective: The story is told using a first-person perspective. Redmond, the narrator, is looking back at what Wallace confided in him and reconsidering his words. The story jumps from present day to the past several times. 4. Idea: The main theme is science versus imagination. Wallace’s story is seen as impossible by scientific standards. However, not when considering imagination. Just because Wallace could not prove that the door existed, does not mean it was not real, even if only through his eyes. 5. Author: H.G. Wells was born in London England in 1866. Wells developed a strong interest in science, as well as writing. Both his non-fiction and fictionalized stories are influenced by science and his strong hope in humankind.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Fictional books have characters that can teach us how to be better disciples in the world. With so many choices that we have to make in life, that we don’t always make the right choices. Books have a grounding for telling what some of the right decisions are in the world. The Forgotten Door can be labeled as one of those books. In the book, The Forgotten door, there are characters that can teach us how to be better disciples in our actions and behavior.…
- 534 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Sinclair Ross develops the idea that individual’s false intentions can drive one to lose something that was valuable to them; false feelings or acts of desperation can prevent them from realizing what they truly have. One short story that illustrates this idea is “The Painted Door”. Ann feels a sort of loneliness, even married to her husband John, she felt as her life is not fulfilled, and is bored with John because he is constantly absent due to farm work; however the love she holds for John never left, she wasn’t aware of her feelings or actions towards John which led her to drive towards Steven, however she was still in love with John, she just wasn’t enjoying her life. Her impulsions towards Steven and the loneliness she felt ruined the…
- 241 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
In Jeannette Walls’ memoir “The Glass Castle” many of her family members and other people in the book display certain characteristics that make her story unique and intriguing. Often such characteristics can cause problems for the characters and sometimes their own downfall. In particular, Jeannette’s father displays irresponsibility that affects not only him, but the other people in the story as well. This ultimately ends up causing his downfall and his children losing faith in him.…
- 713 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The narrator’s point of view in the story is 1st person. The narrator describes the feelings and ideas of himself. He is described in words like I, we, and me. An example from the story are “Maybe a book of those rules you give me and JB before each of our games.”…
- 763 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
point of view · Lily narrates the novel in the first-person, describing the events she experiences from her unique perspective and retelling the stories others tell her in the same manner.…
- 3403 Words
- 14 Pages
Good Essays -
The Glass Castle, a memoir written by Jeannette Walls is an eye-opening look at the world of poverty that touches so many lives within in the United States. There are many reasons for poverty wheather they be out of consequence or one is simply born into it there are many reason for its occurance. The story of Jeannette Walls is not only inspiring but motivating as her climb from the depths poverty allow her to become the successful journalist and novelist she is today. Throughout her life there have been many struggles including her own father, Rex Walls, the finicial instability their family faces together, and the bullies Jeannette must face alone. She clearly outlines her own growth with her father throughout the novel and proves that with…
- 1140 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In this passage from The Glass Castle, the Walls family moves into a new house in Welch which is even worse than some of their other houses, having no running water or electricity. Jeannette Walls conveys the central idea that even though people may not be great parents, they could still have good intentions. The author uses imagery to show that even though her parents tried to come off as good parents, they were not living in good conditions because of choices they've made with their money.…
- 635 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Told in the first person point of view. The book gives the reader a true first hand account of the narrators trip down the bayou. It makes it seem less like fiction and more believable. By writing in the first person, the reader is able to feel as if they are there with the narrator experiencing everything he does, as he experiences it.…
- 946 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the story, “The Painted Door” written by Sinclair Ross, the readers can empathise with Ann, the main character and the wife of John. Ann despite her adulterous act with her husband’s friend Steven, whom he considers a confidant. The setting of the story is described as "long white miles of prairie landscape seemed a region strangely alien to life"(Ross 227). Although there were signs of life and farmsteads from distant, it served only to "intensify a sense of isolation" (Ross 227). The landscape and the weather embody Ann's emotional state. She feels extremely desolate and barren just like the weather and the prairie. As Ann feels very isolated and lonely, her husband is never there for her because of work; “Pay no attention to me, Seven…
- 194 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Throughout the memoir, Jeannette Walls and her siblings’ view of the Glass Castle is a symbol of hope. It is the bright light in their future that allows them to continue living life with a better outlook on what is to come. Showing how much they desire…
- 652 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Julia finds out where the rats were coming from and beings to kick the wainscoting immediately below the picture. Winston realizes, “It’s a church, or at least it used to be. St. Clement’s Dane its name was”(146). This picture symbolizes Winston’s stolen past.Winston’s obsession toward this picture is to restore the parts of the past that are unknown to him. Furthermore, Winston develops his fixation on the glass paperweight. He states, “the inexhaustibility interesting thing was not the fragment of coral but the interior of the glass itself”(147). The paperweight symbolizes the past, but also represents a spell that makes Winston dream without fear. He imagines his life inside of the glass paperweight.…
- 397 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The author distinctively creates a mysterious combination of two different narratives in his book. Some chapters are titled “Hard-Boiled Wonderland”, others are presenting a description of the end of the world. “Hard Boiled Wonderland” reminds me of the narrative common for science fiction or fantasy tales. This is a world where no one has a name, only a role or occupation. The part of the book titled “The End of the World,” on the other hand, is a story of an amateur who is seeking for a place in an isolated town, surrounded by an enormous wall. The narrator has been separated from his shadow and will soon be separated from his mind. Even though the stories seem…
- 1629 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
1. Character a. Ann – John and Ann have been married for seven years. Although it may seem after that many years of marriage, the spouses would have great communication with one another, but that isn’t what it seems to be. Ann feels desperate and isolated in what seems to be an unhappy marriage. Ann is labelled as the temperamental and unsatisfied farmer’s wife. In the story, Ann is very selfish and feels no one is ever there for her, which leaves her vulnerable and desperately wanting company. While John is away, his friend Steven drops by to keep Ann accompanied. As time passes, Ann is convinced by Steven that John will not be returning due to the wicked blizzard. Ann compares Steven to John and becomes very attracted to Steven’s handsome looks. As John plans on spending the night, Ann gives in to the temptation and then crawls in to bed with him because she is exceedingly lonely.…
- 1471 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
In an attempt to be unrestricted, an individual tends to break societal norms. The restrictions that society imposes may tie individuals down, for example the Taliban in Afghanistan imposes restrictions that stop them from pursing professional careers. The short story The Painted Door by Sinclair Ross, explores ideas about isolation, loneliness and the effects they may have on a person. Isolation leaves a person more reserved and alone, they do not express themselves properly and when they are alone they struggle with disturbed thoughts. The story follows the struggles of Ann, a farmer’s wife who resents being left alone by her husband before a storm. Her physical isolation stops her social interactions which lives her disconnected. While,…
- 925 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
For my essay analysis, I choose to do “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross because it’s a good story that shows just what you're not supposed to do to your partner in life. Throughout this breakdown of “The Painted Door,” I’m going to focus on four key literary styles. The styles are as follows: Character Development, Pace, Word Choice and lastly the tone. I will be discussing the literary styles in the order above because in that order I think it offers the best way to understand the story that Sinclair Ross wrote. Keep in mind this story takes place on a farmland between a married farmers couple and a neighboring farmer. So there aren't many people around for anybody to really want to socialize with because of how far away each farmer’s from each other. The main character I’m going to focus on throughout this essay is Ann and what she’s put through while describing what literary styles are fitted best…
- 1431 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays