The Last Spin
"The Last Spin"
"The Last Spin" by Evan Hunter is an interesting short story that makes the reader think about friendship, emnity and waste of life. The story is about two gang members, Dave and Tigo, who are made to play a suspenseful game of Russian Roulette. Through the use of features such as setting, characterisation and creation of tension, the author has managed to write a short but meaningful story. The story is set in a dark, cold basement. We can assume that it is in America because the characters talk about the Bronx and use American language suck as "bucks". Hunter does not describe much about the setting, he only says, "It was cold in the basement room..." Because it is hardly described, it makes the reader think that the basement is empty and focuses the reader's interest on the boys and the game. What I loved most about the story, is the way I had grown attatched to the realistic characters. Hunter describes the boys very well so we can have a vivid picture in our imagination. At the beginning, the boys are the opposite of each other, in personality, in their gangs and on opposite sides of the table. Dave is a new member of a gang in New York. To begin with Dave is hard-headed and just wants to get on with the horrible task. But Tigo on the other hand is more friendly, he says, "I got no bad blood for you." The writer intrigues us by showing the contrast between characters. They are foes, sitting at opposite sides of the table, with a gun in the middle. The author states that "it rested exactly in the centre of the table." This shows that Dave and Tigo are equal, noone is above the other. I like how Hunter tells us this in a suttle way. Dave seems nervous and apprehensive but held on to his pokerface: "He could not show Tigo what he was feeling..." Dave is eager to get the "game" started and wanted to get it over with, Hunter shows this by writing, " 'Why don't we start?' Dave asked." Dave
"The Last Spin" by Evan Hunter is an interesting short story that makes the reader think about friendship, emnity and waste of life. The story is about two gang members, Dave and Tigo, who are made to play a suspenseful game of Russian Roulette. Through the use of features such as setting, characterisation and creation of tension, the author has managed to write a short but meaningful story. The story is set in a dark, cold basement. We can assume that it is in America because the characters talk about the Bronx and use American language suck as "bucks". Hunter does not describe much about the setting, he only says, "It was cold in the basement room..." Because it is hardly described, it makes the reader think that the basement is empty and focuses the reader's interest on the boys and the game. What I loved most about the story, is the way I had grown attatched to the realistic characters. Hunter describes the boys very well so we can have a vivid picture in our imagination. At the beginning, the boys are the opposite of each other, in personality, in their gangs and on opposite sides of the table. Dave is a new member of a gang in New York. To begin with Dave is hard-headed and just wants to get on with the horrible task. But Tigo on the other hand is more friendly, he says, "I got no bad blood for you." The writer intrigues us by showing the contrast between characters. They are foes, sitting at opposite sides of the table, with a gun in the middle. The author states that "it rested exactly in the centre of the table." This shows that Dave and Tigo are equal, noone is above the other. I like how Hunter tells us this in a suttle way. Dave seems nervous and apprehensive but held on to his pokerface: "He could not show Tigo what he was feeling..." Dave is eager to get the "game" started and wanted to get it over with, Hunter shows this by writing, " 'Why don't we start?' Dave asked." Dave