ipl-logo

Theme Of A Brief Moment In The Life Of Angus Bethune

439 Words2 Pages
In the short story “A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune” by Chris Crutcher. My theme for this short story is when one pushes through the bad stuff, the end is much more rewarding. At the beginning of the story Angus was a really negative person thinking that nothing could ever work out for him. For example when Angus was talking too the readers at the beginning of the story saying, “you don't survive a genetic history like that unscathed.”(Pg.1) What this quote shows is that Angus is being really pessimistic because he's saying his family's genes are so far from normal that there's no way he'd of been born normal. Another example is when Angus was complaining too the readers saying “I'd swap reflexes, biceps, and brain cells, lock,
Show More
Related
214 Words | 1 Pages

1. Summarize Ernest Gaines’ life in 5-7 sentences. Ernest James Gaines was conceived on the Stream Lake Manor close to the little villa of Oscar, in Pointe Coupee Area, Louisiana. His progenitors had lived on the same ranch since bondage, staying after liberation to work the area as tenant farmers. Gaines and his crew lived in the houses, tremendously extended, that had once served as slave quarters.

Read More
89 Words | 1 Pages

In “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst shows that one should not take the easy way out by submitting to one’s obstacles because in the end, it won’t be worth it. “I heaved him up again collapsed… ‘I just can’t do it.’ [Doodle says]” (Hurts 598). An example of the theme is when Doodle submits to his obstacle, which is his brother setting a goal for him he doesn’t care to achieve. By not facing his problems, The narrator’s younger brother’s problems get worse, and somewhat lead to his death.

Read More
770 Words | 4 Pages

Chris Crutcher, the author of “Angus Bethune”, uses literary devices like character foils, allusions, and situational irony to engage the reader and make his characters come to life. There were many examples of allusions in “Angus Bethune”. I think he did this because he wanted the story to seem like it took place in our world. On page 1 Angus was having a conversation with his Grandfather. He described him as “A silver haired Rolls Royce of a grandfather.”

Read More
488 Words | 2 Pages

In the story the Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst the narrator knows what he did was wrong. In the end, he realized that his own pride was the downfall for his own little brother. For wanting a normal little brother and not a crippled one. As stated on page 2 “ It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make my plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow”. Clearly, in this sentence, it shows that the narrator would rather have no brother at all than having one that is crippled.

Read More
2047 Words | 9 Pages

In the book The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Moore talks about his life experiences and the experiences of another man who is also named Wes Moore. The author states, “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his,” is true up to the extent in which they had different support systems involving family and friends (Wes xi). Both men had many similarities, but they had differences in their support systems that lead each one to make different choices. They are around the same age, live in the same neighborhood, and both were raised by their single mothers.

Read More
855 Words | 4 Pages

In the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, a boy is born crippled and no one thought he would live. The boy lived however, and they named him Doodle. Doodle and his brother were very close and Doodle loved his brother and never wanted his brother to leave him alone. Doodle’s brother was ashamed to have a crippled brother so he attempted to help doodle become normal throughout doodle’s life in the story. Doodle loved his brother, even though his brother was very selfish in his reasons to help Doodle to become normal, and his brother realized how selfish and guilty he was when it was to late for Doodle in the end.

Read More
371 Words | 2 Pages

Even the strongest, most determined people have their breaking point. In James Hurst’s short story, “The Scarlet Ibis” the narrator tries to lift his disabled brother, Doodle, to his impossible expectations. His hard work, dedication, and his tough ways benefit and damage his brother. The narrator’s pride makes selfish and cruel sometimes, but very determined.

Read More
775 Words | 4 Pages

Can an experience change a person’s outlook on life? One might think that are the toughest person, but eventually they will realize they are not the only one. The exact same idea is shown in T. Coraghessan Boyle’s short story “Greasy Lake.” The short story “Greasy Lake” is about three friends, the narrator, Digby and Jeff. One night the narrator and his friends go to Greasy Lake in the narrator’s mother’s car.

Read More
1187 Words | 5 Pages

Social Capital refers to the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling the society to function effectively. This term is essential to become successful in life. Another factor that can affect an individual is mindsets; this is the established set of attitudes held by someone. The book, The other Wes Moore and the documentary All the Difference both are inspired by the author Wes Moore and his mother Joy Moore. It explores the struggles between two young African American men and their different path in life.

Read More
994 Words | 4 Pages

Special treatment due to a physical or mental challenge reveals the strength and true character inside, When a challenge, or adversity comes up, a good character is usually revealed, although in some cases a person isn’t caring or selfless inside. Adversity can cause the bad inside someone to come out. In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator teaches his physically disabled brother to walk. “Once I succeeded in teaching Doodle I began to believe in my own infallibility, and I prepared a terrific development program for him, unknown to Mama and Daddy of course” (Scarlet Ibis, Hurst). After succeeding he keeps trying to get Doodle to be more like everyone else.

Read More
142 Words | 1 Pages

In the Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls analyzed her mother’s emotional breakdowns. In one instance, she notices “... the positive thoughts would give way to negative thoughts, and the negative thoughts seemed to swoop into her mind the way a big flock of black crows takes over the landscape, sitting thick in the trees and on the fence rails and lawns, staring at you in ominous silence” (Walls 418). Negative thoughts can consume one’s mind, whereas the positive thoughts are nugatory. The negative thoughts keep a person agonizing and stressing over it. This quote emphasizes how a negative mindset can make a person depressed or ill to be around.

Read More
1605 Words | 7 Pages

A myriad of common themes exist in literature, employed by authors for an infinite number of effects: among these are the basic human experiences such as life, death, joy, and adversity. As defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, adversity is “a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.” A subject commonly explicated upon, adversity is present in literature’s earliest works, all the way through modern compositions. The role of adversity in literature can vary: if a character triumphs over or falls to adversity can paint the work in a positive or negative light, and be the difference between a tragedy and a triumph.

Read More
1256 Words | 6 Pages

An education can lead to a valuable set of skills. It did for Wes Moore, the author of The Other Wes Moore, Wes found another person with the exact same name as he and they both had different turning points in their life’s which resulted in one being in prison and the other writing a book about the whole thing. The author was motivated to do better even with his environment trying to tear him down. I can personally relate to this because I have begun to do the same with this semester of school. Wes and I have some things in common, he strived to make a better life for himself

Read More
434 Words | 2 Pages

Thus, adversity sculpts moral character. In addition to shaping moral values, adversity also establishes self-worth through providing us with a sense of purpose. (survivals effect on

Read More
1632 Words | 7 Pages

In our life, there are periods of challenges that we must face, but the real challenge is how we grow and learn from overcoming them. Being naive children, we believed that life was simplistic and effortless. Well, we were wrong, we can only yearn for life to be easy. Growing up, we continue to face countless hurdles that only get bigger and bigger. My life, in particular, has been filled with numerous up and downs.

Read More

More about Theme Of A Brief Moment In The Life Of Angus Bethune

Related Topics

Open Document