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Analysis Of What Happened During The Ice Storm

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The short story “What Happened During the Ice Storm” utilizes two major literary elements; one of which expresses a current social issue. The author, Jim Heynen, employes allegory and imagery to represent charity and self-sacrifice. Imagery is often used in this short story to create a somber tone, for instance “most animals were safe…But not the pheasants” and ”The boys stood still in the icy rain. Their breath came out in slow puffs of steam.” The boys and the pheasants are allegorical representations: The pheasants represent someone who is in need, and consequently, the boys using their coats to warm the pheasants represents the choice self-sacrifice over self-preservation. The purpose of the short story is to make the reader ask themselves
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