...Used to Live Here Once Brandie Markos-Murr ENG 125 Introduction to Literature Michael O’Donnell November 17, 2013 Used to Live Here Once In the short story “Used to Live Here Once” (Rhys, 1976), tells the tale of one woman’s spiritual journey on her path in the afterlife. The underlying theme in this story is death. Although, “death” is not immediately obvious until the final passage; however, reflecting back, subtle hints were presented throughout the story leading to its ironical outcome. To understand and capture the theme of a story, Clugston (2010) explains that the plot, the mood, and not even the attitude of the author can depict a story’s theme. The theme is the underlying idea, shaped in a unique way that is brought to life through various elements to make the underlying idea concrete. The two key elements utilized in this story were setting and symbolism. Each played a significant role to capture the theme of this narrative. The story begins in a country setting; a woman is standing at the edge of a flowing river. It was a clear and sunny day and the sky was blue. As I read the opening paragraphs, I had a sense that the environment described felt to be peaceful and serene, as one might feel when they transcend into the afterlife. I believe this to be the author’s first hint at the theme, and set the mood for the entire story. The setting is an important element in story telling; as Annenberg Learner (2013), explains, the [setting] “is the crossroads of...
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...Literary Elements in I Used To Live Here Once “I Used To Live Here Once” by Jean Rhys is a short story about a woman who has died and is visiting the home where she once lived. In the story the woman does not realize she is dead until the end of the story. The main theme of the story is death. The author, Jean Rhys, uses symbols, the plot, and the point of view to lead us through the woman's journey of realizing she is dead. “I Used To Live Here Once” is a short story written in limited omniscient point of view. With this point of view the author only shows the feeling and expression of the one character (Clugston, 2010). The character the author describes is the woman that has died. This point of view relates to the overall theme, which is death. Using this point of view, along with the symbols, shows us the woman has died and the way she is experiencing death. Throughout the story, the author uses many symbols to show the woman is on a journey after she has died. One of the symbols Jean Rhys uses is when the woman is crossing a river. When one dies they cross over into the after life. Another symbol Jean Rhys uses in the story is the glassy sky. The glassy sky can be seen as a reflection of the woman's life up until the time she died. Another symbol Jean Rhys uses is the stepping stones. The stepping stones could represent the woman's walk through life. The ups and downs, the good and bad aspects she encountered in her life are the stepping stones. Another...
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...Sundas Abad 0581BHMATHS1519 Ma’am Hira Shah English 1104 17 February 2016 THE MAIN THEME OF STORY “I USED TO LIVE HERE ONCE” No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow so enjoy every moment of life and collect some joyful memories relates with our life. The theme of story I Used To Live Here Once is “Death” and the story is all about the journey of life which leads to the past. Journey of life is that aspect which we have to follow to reach our destination. Basically, the journey of life ends at a single point that is death because it is the endpoint of our life because this is a temporary world. In order to reach our destination we face many difficult situations. Same as discussed in the story that she crossed the river by stepping the different kinds of stones. Life is also based on such kind of problems, some are easy to carry while some are unbearable but still we have to face them to reach at the last point that is “death”. Life and death are two basic aspect of human being’s life because symbolically we are living to be dead one day. Only memories and feelings left that we recall or remember in our imagination. Similarly, in the story the girl is remembering her past by walking on the way where she used to live once. Death directly relates with the memories because only memories could be remember with some special feelings. People have different capability to remember the past memories and different ...
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...symbols to tell a story. The picture you have formed in your head of the small, sad little girl and her beloved dog is an example of symbolism of the journey. While literally the dog is dead this may also be a symbolism of a girl losing the only thing in her little life that she trusted in a world that has abandoned her like the empty road she finds herself on. The symbolism of the journey and how two authors used this theme is the topic of this paper. Thesis While both Jean Rhys “Used to Live Here Once” and Eudora Weltly, in “A Worn Path” use symbolism and exposition one story is also about death and the other is about helping her grandchild’s life, yet many of the words used in “A Worn Path” as indicative of death. Each story uses symbolism of the journey. Both stories also include an omniscient point of view and using imagery, which doubles as symbolism. Also using motif the narrators guide us through their stories also bringing a racism theme. Both authors Rhys and Weltly take us on journeys through the stories told. Symbolism and Motif in Rhys, “Used to Live Here Once”...
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...The title, I Used to Live Here Once, gives me the impression that the narrator would be excepting of the change (the obvious fact being that they don’t live where they used to). I’m thinking, just from reading the title before reading the story, that the narrator embraces the change in their life. The traveler, for whatever reason, lived somewhere once and had now moved away. I think, just from the title, that the traveler chose not to live where she used to. The word “Once” in the title instantly gave me the impression that I would be reading a story about a journey and since the home is one of the greatest connections we have in life, my impression was that it’s not just a journey but a journey through life. After reading the story, although I was not expecting the traveler to be dead, I found that I had appropriately guessed the theme of the story. The theme in the story, I Used to Live Here Once, is the journey through life; comfort in the predictable elements of life. The theme of the story is best supported by two literary elements: symbolism and the point of view of the story. The point of view, third person omniscient helps develop the familiar tone of the journey. It helps the reader feel the comfort and security in the journey. The symbolism, for example, the fragility of the sky, helps develop this idea that even though there is predictability in the journey, there is still this element of uncertainty or hope. It’s like thinking you know what comes next in the...
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...Comparing and contrasting can be difficult when factoring two different types of literature. Sometimes different works of literature have the same theme yet are communicated in unique ways. I have chosen to do Robert Frosts "The Road Not Take," and the Jean Ryes "I Used to Live Here Once". Symbolism of the journey is in both of these literary works and it makes them both stronger and appealing to the readers. Being able to touch a reader and feel like the author is making it come alive is great because he know they are able to get their point across. There is always something to look for in a story that is so much more deep. It is our imagination that allows us, the readers, to use the descriptive words or symbols that are provided and create a mental vision. I will be comparing and contracting the style, form, and content. In this paper I will be accessing the area where both stories theme expressed the "The Journey." There is a similar theme in both "The Road Not Taken" and "I Used to Live Here Once." It was that no matter where we are in life or where we are going everyone has a choice to make. Everyone will make their very own destiny. But we cannot be fooled with the comparing themes as these two stories are very different when it comes to the way they were written and the symbolism used. They both describe an actual road or path which symbolizes the journey. A journey does not mean it is physical as it can be mental, spiritual, or even emotional. As a person will...
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...The Symbolism of the Journey ENG 125 Introduction to Literature According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” The journey is a central focus of Robert Frost’s “The Path Not Taken” and Jean Rhys’s “I Used to Live Here Once,” although the destination is also an important part of the latter. While both stories have similar themes, they have different points of view; both show that life can change during the journey. In addition, both stories illustrate that things aren’t always as they seem. This paper will compare and contrast the two stories and how despite the different viewpoints, there is one thing in common; regardless of the journey a person takes, there are many obstacles and hurdles. Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” has been often interpreted with different meanings but is one of the most quoted poems of all time. Many interpretations of the poem believe it encourages individualism and self-reliance. There are others that believe it is not what the author intended. Upon closer examination we can determine that Frost’s intended message is that life choices are inevitable, a natural part of the life process, and that we cannot know whether the decision was the right one until we are in the future looking back at that particular moment in time, nor can we ever know what choosing the other path would have meant for our future. As the poem goes on, we see the author lamenting over his choices at the beginning of the final stanza: “I shall...
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...Robert Frost’s in “The Path Not Taken,” Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” and Jean Rhys’s “I Used to Live Here Once, ” focus on a common theme that is “Journey.” Although these three works of literature have a similar theme, each has a different point of view. Each of these show different paths and journey’s in which life may change. Although they are different, all three literatures have a common denominator. Each of these show the reader that regardless of which path in life a person chooses to take, life will always bring hurdles, and unexpected events along the way. Each of the three literatures offers different symbolism, characters, and historical context, although the theme of the three literatures is the same. Different people symbolize the definition of journey differently. While some people perceive a journey as a form of distance that they travel, many people forget that a journey may be a measurement or a milestone of progress in the making, and advancement in completing goals. As many people focus on the journey of the destination, they forget to recognize the accomplishments they are making along the way. The elation and excitement of an unpredictable expedition allow people to learn positive and negative things of different people one may meet while travelling and exploring different places that changes their though process, perceptions and ideas which later which certainly change a person individually...
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...and seem like so much more than a simple story. For this paper I chose to write about “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost as it has always been a favorite poem of mine, and the short story “I Used to Live Here Once” by Jean Rhys as it was the story that spoke to me the most from our text. These two literary works both share a similar story dealing with symbolism of their journey, which have several similarities as well as some differences. I the three literary works I have chosen to discuss are; the poem “The Road Not Taken” the short story “Used to Live Here Once” and the short story “A Worn Path” all share a common theme, even though they were all differently written. The theme for all three writings shows that no matter how long or how tough life’s journey is the end of the road still depends on the choices and decisions made by the journey person. The person on life’s journey essentially finished their own story. In the poem “The Road Not Taken” there is a traveler who comes to a split in a path in the woods. The traveler is trying to decide which path to takes when he decides to take the path that has been less traveled on. In the beginning of the poem the reader knew right away that the traveler was on a journey since this was written in the first point of view. The author used the first person character, which was “I”, so it was easy to imagine the author as the one who is going through the journey. SYMBOLISM OF...
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...The Inescapable Theme of Death Aria Turner ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Stephanie Miclot May 19, 2014 Dying is part of the cycle of life. We’re born, we live, we grow old, and we die. Where we go after that remains a mystery. Everyone has a fear of dying, since nobody know what happens, people often wonder where your go. Death is a recurring theme in life and in all forms of literature. Since this theme has become so popular, many different works of literature have been created from short stories to poems. As an effort to help society cope with the inevitable event of death, many stories were created showing a softer more serene side to death. The poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickens, and allegory “I Used to Live Here Once”, by Jean Rhys both share an overall theme of death. There are also other themes such as acceptance, and journey. Although the story told by Rhys, ends very intensely, with the character realizing she has died. Both works still have the same theme. These two pieces of literature, share similar themes which are conveyed in different yet unique ways. Both works are told. To understand the work I will briefly describe who the authors are and about their background. Jean Rhys was born in a place in Dominica known as Rousseau, in 1890. Jean Rhys, not her name at birth was actually born Ella Gwendolyn Rees Williams until she changed it around 1924. Her father was from Britain and her mother was...
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...Ethical Treatment of Animals Duane Aponte SOC120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility (GSG1207J) Dr. James Prentice 03/19/12 Throughout my life I have always been an animal lover. My main concerns have questioned the behavior of humans towards animals and why researchers choose to experiment on many different animals. I am extremely disgusted by these experiments and for their explanation as for the purpose of scientific research. I understand the objective and what may be the greater good for such experiments. But I do not understand why so many experiments are needed with very little justifications. In my paper I will discuss why experiments should not be taken lightly and will try to draw a conclusion on how we can as a society limit such cruelty towards animals during these experiments. I will also use different ethical theories to explain my point of view. My theories will include an Ethical Moral approach, Utilitarianism point of view, and Deontology point of views. Introduction The use of animals in research and education has involved ethical concern for many years, most particularly in toxicology and bio-medical studies. More recently, ethical concerns have been raised over less disturbing studies such as animal behavior research (Mench, 2000). My concern is before conducting behavioral research, the researcher should first evaluate whether the purpose of the experiment justifies the use of animals. If the purpose is found to be justified...
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...Running Head: Theme How Theme Shapes a Story By Trina Carr English 125 Instructor: Clifton Edwards Running Head: Theme page 1 Like many people who haven’t studied literature, if someone asked me what the theme of a story was, I would have given a synopsis of the story detailing the actions and characters in it. As I have come to learn, theme is much more than a distilled retelling of a story. Theme gives a story a deeper meaning. The theme focuses the story and is the behind the scenes force that propels the story forward. In other words it gives the story purpose and shape. “Theme will attempt to hold all the elements of your story in place. It is like a cup. A vessel. A goblet”(Bain, T 2010). In this paper will attempt to explore how literary elements like symbolism and character build and affect the narrative of theme in a story. One element of a story’s theme is symbolism. Symbolism according to our text is something that has a literal identity but also stands for something else (Clugston, R 2010). For an example the five interlocking ring of the Olympic symbol. Clearly they can be identified as ring, but when they are colored blue, yellow, black, green and red, they become much more. They are a symbol of the pinicle of atheletic compition and excellence. Symbolism in literature gives the writer’s work texture. It is one element that is used to provide the reader...
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...The Story of an Hour 1. There are many themes in The Story of An Hour; ‘heart trouble’ – which describes not only the physical affliction of Mrs Mallard but also the emotional suffering in her marriage. Three other themes that are prominent within this story are; death, freedom and oppression. Though, the themes of freedom and oppression can be seen as the main themes within this story, as we see the character of Mrs Mallard – a Mallard is a type of wild duck, which can be seen as being symbolic of her need to be free and to live for herself – struggle to cope with the apparent death of her husband. ‘She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment’, until she was alone in her room where she began to come to the realisation that she had the freedom to be herself, to be ‘free, free, free’ from the restraints of marriage. There is an inward struggle between Mrs Mallard accepting this new freedom, as when Mrs Mallard retires to her room she is told to come out of her room for fear that she would ‘make herself ill’, whereas on the contrary we see that ‘no; she was drinking in a very elixir of life’. Here we see the theme of oppressive nature of marriage appear. As a newly founded widow, she is expected to be upset just as she was expected to be happy in marriage, whereas on the contrary we see that in reality she was not happy then but only happy now her husband is dead. This use of dramatic irony, highlighting the contrast between the characters reality and what is expected...
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...(Frost) VS. I Used to Live Here Once (Rhys) Jason W. Miller Ashford University ENG125: Introduction to Literature Professor Patricia Lake December 3, 2012 Death and impermanence is always full of sorrow. I have chosen Death and Impermanence as my theme to discuss, not because of tragedy I’ve experienced, but instead because it’s an interestingly complex theme. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and “I Used to Live Here Once” could not be no more different in their visual form than they already are; however, they both represent the theme through common emotions and mood of the literary works. Throughout my essay I will explain the relevance of the two works, and authors, as well as the differences. The formalist approach will be my choice of critical analysis of the two works, which will aid in forming my comparison and contrast of both works as well. “The poem of the Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is discussing the beauty of life’s wonderful but short-lived treasures, as example chasing dreams and spending time with loved ones. It is illustrated by Frost those treasures in the world related to the nature through the use of metaphors, imagery, diction, and allusion. The poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” helps open one’s eyes to the harsh realities of nature’s path and although we must all succumb to the laws of nature, it is these unbreakable laws that make life so treasured (Shmoop, 2010). On the other side the literature “I Used to Live Here Once” is a somewhat...
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...The Theme of Symbolism in Literary Works ENG 125: Introduction to Literature August 1, 2011 The Theme of Symbolism in Literary Works There are many literary works available to discover different themes, such as, symbolism. There are stories of death, love, racism, and much more, and not only that, but they are found in any form of literature from dramas to poems to short stories. However, the symbolism of the “journey of life” is most interesting because most people are drawn to stories that involve human nature, and knowing that they are able to connect to the story or people in the story, on a more emotional or personal level. The poem, The Road Not Taken, and the short story, Used To Live Here Once, are literary works that are both about viewing life from different perspectives. With both of these literary works, the reader is captivated by the mystery of the unknown future, and the challenges of the present from two very different perspectives. The Road Not Taken was written by Robert Frost in 1916, and is a poem about someone making a decision to go down one path versus another, and how taking the “path least traveled” is the best way (Clugston, Sec. 2.2: How Use of Persona Effects Your Response To Literature, para. 4). The symbolism that is being displayed in the poem is that of the literal and physical path that the storyteller is contemplating walking down, against the action of taking a path or making a choice in life. The poem is written in a first...
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