Introduction+samples

=Good Introductions for the Short Story Impromptu= = = = = = Sample A = = = = In life, we are often defined by that with which we are surrounded. It is these surroundings that shape and potentially change us. In Paul Murray's "Back to School," each character is shaped by his surroundings, namely the father and the son. Murray's use of a home which is in close proximity to both a park and a school helps to drive the plot, as the progression of the story goes from reflecting on time spent int he park to the school ground and back again; it also highlights the main theme in the story, which is the importance of the freedom and the carefree attitude of childhood and how it is demolished by the rigor and strict nature of school. =

= = = = = Sample B = = = = In her story, "Interpreter of Maladies," Jhumpa Lahiri compares and contrasts two different cultures. Through the use of dramatic irony, Lahiri is able to weave a story in which two separate themes are captured: the similarities across cultures and the issues caused by infidelity. =

= Sample C = = = = In Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find," O'Connor thoroughly explores the use of dramatic irony. She does this by using the grandmother as the ignorant character who drives the action of the story after the encounter with the Misfit. In this character, the grandmother, O'Connor portrays both her society of the 1940s and 50s and modern society, showing how our humanity and compassion can blind us to the truth and ultimately lead to peril. =