ipl-logo

Characters Used In Tobias Wolff's Bullet In The Brain

1218 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Bullet in the brain summary tobias wolff

Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain” is the perfect imperfect short story that encases the writer to mark a quick judgment of the cranky book critic - Anders, the main character - and later realize to be patient in initial judgment of the character and the story. Wolff’s description of Anders causes the reader to initially dislike him for his rude comments to the womens’ conversation while waiting in line at the bank. The reader then experiences the bank robbery that results in his death - from Anders sarcastic comments to the robbers - and through that moment realizes that Wolff’s resolution is simply brilliant. Wolff’s utilization of point of view, flashback, and irony through Anders to support his theme of transforming from a flat to dynamic character (in memory of who he was) and to not regret how you have changed before your death is simply brilliant. Tobias Wolff (born June 19, 1945) is an American novelist, short story writer, and editor whose is known especially for his …show more content…

The situational irony used reveals the contrary character of Anders when he was young, compared to his character during the story reveals the entire truth to the reader. The reader expected Anders to die because of how his character was throughout the story, but yet that was never truly him. He turned out to be that character, because the events he experienced throughout his life is what conformed him to the character the reader initially assumed him to be. Clearly, Anders does not regret who he has become because what he went through was not a walk in the park and it was brought upon him by his peers. He remained to be who he was - cranky, blunt, and rude - even when his life was literally seconds away from being taken from him. This was the entire brilliance to Wolff’s story: be patient to judge and do not regret who you have come to

Show More
Related
492 Words | 2 Pages

“Killings”, Andre Dubus’ short story, revolves around a father who seeks vengeance against his son’s killer. The story is about the murders committed by Richard Strout and Matt Fowler in their attempt to get retribution and ease the pain in their hearts. The circle of killings is first caused by the murder of Matt Fowler’s son, Frank, by Richard, which leads to the retaliatory killing of Richard, by Matt. This infinite, unforgiving circle of killings and attempts at retribution is what Dubus portrays in a nonjudgmental view. The readers are left to see how the act of killing affects Richard and Matt and decide how much their retribution costs them.

Read More
743 Words | 3 Pages

The Chicago World Fair stirred many emotions in this great time of industrialization, but not only was Chicago shining in the spotlight from the fair, it was also promoting something much more sinister, this dark enclosing spotlight shined directly on H.H Holmes. Burnham the leader of the World Fair and H. H Holmes the notorious serial killer, are the two main characters in this novel that Erik Larson uses the balance between light and dark between these two’s personalities. In the novel The Devil in the White City Erik Larson uses Imagery, paradox, and alliteration to show the balance between the light and dark in the ever growing city of Chicago. Imagery paints an ever expanding picture for the audience, the detailed descriptions such as “but his eyes are as blue as ever, bluer at this instant by proximity to the sea" (Larson 3).

Read More
790 Words | 4 Pages

Affairs affect people in different ways, but no one could imagine an affair destroying their ability to psychologically function. The “killings” by Andre Dubus is a shocking story about a killer named Richard who murders frank the man having an affair with his wife, who is his pride and joy. Riveted with murder and passion the author revels the characteristics of Richard Strout’s in the “killings” as a psychological obsessive and controlling person; these traits effect his emotions and behaviors throughout the story. Richards’s anger which evolves throughout the story, is what leads to his obsessive and controlling behaviors. The author explains Richards’s background as a young, striving man, who is overcome by failure, and this contributes

Read More
1059 Words | 5 Pages

No matter how we try to change our situation or better ourselves in society, variables will obstruct the path we choose. One cannot take control of everything that surrounds us as fate decides what happens to us. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote explains the murder of the Clutter family in the quiet town of Holcomb, Kansas. The murderers, Richard (Dick) Hickock and Perry Smith, try to escape the consequences of their actions, believing that they can get away with what they did. The story tells what the murderers were thinking after and before they committed the crime and their various interactions.

Read More
834 Words | 4 Pages

Andre Dubus, short stories contain a common theme of revenge, morality, and justice. In “Killings” published in 1979, Andre displays the theme of revenge and justice through the development of characters, the title of the story, and the thrill of the suspense. Dubus neglects to take sides with the characters in the “Killings”, which leaves it upon the readers to make assumption whether the killings were justifiable. Dubus has a very unique style of writing, the main characters in “Killings” were given a choice that could’ve led them to a completely different outcome. Dubus keeps the readers on their toes because the opposite usually ends up happening.

Read More
777 Words | 4 Pages

The story “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff is a very interesting sorry about a man named Anders. Anders is a very unusual character as he always analyzes and critic mostly everything that happens in his life and all of the people that he interacts with just like what he does in the books he normally reads. The story focuses on his final memory after the situation of him being shot in the head by some robbers at a bank. The final memory that flashed back into Anders is a memory of him as a kid playing baseball with his friends in a sunny field.

Read More
1077 Words | 5 Pages

The no-space trip: a mirror to our world Literature serves as a mirror to our world, when looking into it closely, it reflects even the most banal aspects of ourselves and the society we live in. Kurt Vonnegut 's Slaughterhouse Five serves as a mean of social criticism. For instance, the creation of Kilgore Trout and the different plots of his books criticize several aspects of society by the use of science fiction such as faith, economy and oil dependency. In chapter nine, Billy Pilgrim stops at a store which has several Trout books. As he reads them, the narrator introduces the resumed plot of each one.

Read More
1110 Words | 5 Pages

The whole thing changes and becomes retrospective. Slowly but surely, the playfulness disappears from the presentation. Where there was, a play of words comes a serious look at a person’s life. The trajectory of the bullet seems to be set on a course that unlocks memories in stages. The sarcasm fades away, and one can almost feel a tone of empathy with Anders.

Read More
1101 Words | 5 Pages

In “The Rich Brother” by Tobias Wolff, Pete and Donald were two brothers that lived life on different ends of a spectrum. Pete became more successful than his younger brother, Donald while Donald was the brother who didn't quite have his life together and was just living it day by day. At a young age, when the two brothers’ parents, however, passed away, Pete felt that because was the eldest, he had to take the role of being the ‘parent’ and taking care of him and his brother even after they grew up. Because of this, he may feel entitled to take care of his little brother, Donald. Although Pete was there when Donald was in need at a younger age, It is also true that Pete was there for Donald in his adult life, making it hard for Donald to live life on his own.

Read More
471 Words | 2 Pages

The demonstration of the narrator's imagination unconsciously leads his own thoughts to grow into a chaotic mess that ultimately ends in a death. By murdering, it’s his own way of finding peace. He is portrayed as being a sadist, sick man with an unnatural obsession for

Read More
1206 Words | 5 Pages

Family and friends are an important part of life. In the case of Mrs. Mallard she saw her husband as more of someone that holds power over her In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, the story Mrs. Mallard has to deal with her husband allegedly dying, just to figure out at the end of the story that nothing happened to him and he is still alive. The use of Irony is really what makes this story great. Irony enhances the total effect of Kate Chopin 's "The Story of an Hour" by characterizing the protagonist, supporting the exposition and timeline, and building tension leading to the twist ending.

Read More
470 Words | 2 Pages

Option Three: Bias Truman Capote’s final book In Cold Blood, was an instant hit with readers when it came out in 1966. Capote himself hailed it as a new genre of literature, a nonfiction true crime thriller. However, upon reading the book, it seems as though Capote shifted the truth to make it fit his own personal narrative, and put in his own personal bias toward the criminals, and seeks to have the reader sympathize with the criminals and seeks to challenge their attitudes towards the criminals.

Read More
888 Words | 4 Pages

Powder analysis Essay In the short story “Powder” by Tobias Wolff, a father and son’s relationship undergoes a shifting dynamic due to the father’s procrastination. Wolff achieves a strengthening relationship between the boy and his father by using literary devices. Wolff illustrates the changing father-son relationship through one pivotal moment during the car ride home.

Read More
579 Words | 3 Pages

[He] does not notice the police car… follow him.” This one event, mixed with the stereotype the protagonist has thrown upon him by the cop, seals his fate. All three of these situations foreshadow the ironic and deadly situation that the poor lost man is about to find himself involved. It is these subtle hints to his death that not only add suspense to the plot, but also hold a key importance in conflict development. W.D. Valgardson uses many great elements of fiction to build plot and conflict, as well as teach the lesson of not making snap judgments in his short story Identities.

Read More
913 Words | 4 Pages

Literary Analysis “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin introduces us to Mrs. Mallard as she reacts to the sudden death of her husband. Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard’s emotions as sad, yet happy that her husband has been killed. Kate Chopin’s “ The Story of an Hour” argues that when a person is controlled and made to live under another person their mental state of mind is affected. The story also argues that when that person is freed from the controlling person their true self can finally be achieved. Kate Chopin portrays these themes by the use of character development; plot control, and irony throughout the story.

Read More

More about Characters Used In Tobias Wolff's Bullet In The Brain

Related Topics

Open Document