Literary Comparison

“The Doe” & “Traveling Through the Dark” Literary Comparisons The short story “The Doe” by Molly Gloss and William Stafford's poem, “Traveling Through the Dark,” both engage with the theme of encountering a wounded or dead deer in a way that causes a deep reflection and contemplation of morals. Although they differ in writing style - one being a short story and the other a poem - they share key similarities in terms of plot, literary devices, tone, symbols, and conflicts. Each piece of literature tells a meaningful story about the complications of death and the interconnectedness of all living beings. They do so in a way that leaves the reader with a new perspective on empathy and the consequences of human actions. By examining these elements,

In comparison, the plot of “Traveling Through the Dark” is more straightforward. Once again, the narrator encounters a dead deer on the side of the road and discovers that it is pregnant. The narrator’s decision to push the deer over the edge into the river to prevent future accidents serves as the highest point in the poem. Here, the narrator takes on the role of the main character, with their actions and internal thinking driving the story. Both plots revolve around the unexpected encounter with a deer, which acts as a trigger for deeper reflections on their morals. The main characters in both texts face a similar ethical dilemma, emphasizing the seriousness of their decisions and the impact of their actions on both themselves and their surroundings. Gloss and Stafford use various literary devices to communicate their themes. In “The Doe,” Gloss uses detailed imagery and thoughtful diction to engage the reader in the women’s internal conflict. The tone of the story is contemplative and dark, mirroring the women’s struggle with the moral consequences of her

Molly Gloss’s detailed short story allows for a deeper investigation of the woman’s thoughts and feelings, while Stafford’s to-the-point language accentuates the urgency and severity of the narrator’s decision. The deer in both pieces of literature serves as a powerful symbol of innocence, nature, and the inevitability of death. In “The Doe,” the wounded deer symbolizes how fragile life is and the behavioral responsibility of humans toward other living creatures. The woman’s dilemma - whether to end the suffering of the deer or let nature take its course - reflects a bigger issue about the rightness of stepping in to help versus letting nature be. In “Traveling Through the Dark,” the deceased deer and the unborn fawn symbolize where life and death intersect, as well as the unintended consequences of human actions. The speaker’s decision to push the deer off the side of the canyon shows a conflict between doing what is practical and dealing with their feelings. Both texts use the deer as the main focus for exploring their difficult moral choices, showing the tension between human compassion and the harsh realities of