Week 4 Journal
Introduction to Literature Joshua Mills
March 2, 2015

A literary analysis is very different from most writings, as its interpretive. What I may take away or pick up on is different than what you might interpret from it. To successfully analyze literature, you’ll need to remember that authors make specific choices for particular reasons. We have to remain objective to why the author added that detail or why they used that literary trick in that story. That’s exactly what I did to break down Things They Carried and A Rock Trying to Be A Stone.
Both stories have many literary techniques like, being told in first person, imagery, simile, and a similar conflict. First I made sure to read the short stories silent, once I read it silently I reread this article, but this time out loud and I focused on particular points that stood at to me. Nothing in particular, just points that stood out to me and aroused a conflict to the story.
In the Things They Carried it was Lavender’s death. That made this short story go from a very descriptive story with a lot of imaginary to deeper personally story about a boy having to become a man. Lt. Cross had a infatuation with Martha and used that to clear his mind from the war. After Lavender’s death he saw the failure in eyes of this squad. They all had failed Lavender. Kiowa say’s it was fate, but Lt. Cross, sees his death his fault as he didn’t lead his men as he should have. Lt Cross’s conflict made him realize that he needs to step up and be the leader his men need him to be. His love for Martha won’t do him any good if he is sent home in a body bag.
A Rock Trying to Be A Stone presented a similar conflict and message, but to a different audience. Troncoso did a good job tailoring his message to the more lower income Hispanic families. I can definitely see how Turi would have his feelings towards Joe and