The+Portable+Phonograph

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: The Portable Phonograph

Point of View:Omniscient

Protagonist:Dr.Jenkins What type of character is the Protagonist? He is a round dynamic character

Antagonist:The environment, The musician, themselves

Describe the setting It is on a prairie after a devastating war (probably WWII, so some time in the late 1940's). The mood is very dark and tense as the author describes the setting but when they are having the meeting in the hole, the mood is more bearable, even pleasant when they are listening to the music. However, the end when everyone leaves, it becomes strange and alien because of Dr. Jenkins's Paranoia, and the suppressed coughing.

Type of Conflict:man vs. environment, man and self

Describe the main conflict: There are 2 conflicts. #1 is:The men have been victims of a war and they are trying to keep sane in their extreme living conditions. the environment around them is barren and devastating. All of the men are fighting within themselves to stay human. #2 is: Dr. Jenkins and the musician are fighting over the phonograph.

Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax is when Dr. Jenkins starts to play the music and everyone is enraptured instantly because it is when there is a instant change, something big happens and it's the turning point of the story.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? He begins as a friendly old man, then grows wary as the musician seems to be a suspicious character. Near the end, he gets paranoia because of the way the musician acted and grows a little insane because of this fear that someone may try to steal the phonograph

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. The theme is that man will do anything to protect their treasures because the way that Dr. Jenkins acted and made preparations was very desperate, and to me, it really illustrates the meaning of the story. The theme is related to the title because "The Portable Phonograph" is the treasure that Dr. Jenkins is protecting at all costs.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The people are in a insane situation but Dr Jenkins is still very determined in protecting the records. He has a sense of responsibility towards the phonograph and records and he is persistent to keep what is his, his.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The way that everyone is put into a trance from the music enforces how important the records are.

Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):

Simile: // "The red sunset, with narrow, black cloud strips like threats across it" //

Metaphor: //"There were little islands of an old oiled pavement on the road"//

Personification: //"The expansive blizzards paraded for days"//

Symbol: The lead pipe symbolizes violence and distrust

Foreshadowing (give both elements): // "He heard nothing but what was there. At the final, whispering disappearance, but moving quietly so that the others wouldn't hear him" // foreshadows to: // "he heard exacly what he had been listening for, a sound of suppressed coughing.It was not nearby,however." //

Irony: Dr. Jenkins grasps the lead pipe, unknown to the musician (dramatic irony)

Imagery: // "The red sunset, with narrow, black cloud strips //

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. The class theme of humanity is related to the story because the story is about four men grasping their humanities through the music. Sometimes, humans can be selfish and cruel to each other, like how the musician plans to steal the phonograph and the records. Questions 1-4
 * 1) This story is set in the mid 1900s likely after WWII because that was when people still used phonographs.
 * 2) The men meet so that they may discuss their lives and listen to the music of the phonograph. The author compares the unwrapping of the books to a ceremonial rite because it is done in such a formal way, and because they are so precious, and must be handled with great care and dignity.
 * 3) The books that are saved are some of the best works of humanity. There aren't any recent works of fiction for three reasons. One, they may not significant enough, two, they probably hadn't been written yet, in the time of the story, and three: There is a difference between a good story and a classic story. A good story is really popular and lots of people know about it. it may last for a few years or even a generation or two. A classic story, everyone knows it, most people like it, its really popular and may even be famous, and is timeless. Parents tell it to children who tell it in turn to their children etc. it may be known for many generations.
 * 4) a) It signifies that he thinks that the musician will come to steal the phonograph
 * 5) b) I think that the musician will try to steal the phonograph because he is substantially affected by the music, and because of his mysterious movements while they where listening to the music. Also because of the supressed coughing near the end. I think that he will have a fight with Dr. Jenkins and win because he is younger and the Doctor is old and frail.

Your responses are mostly short, one sentence ideas that do not explain the answers to the questions thoroughly enough. Take your time and answer the questions completely. Completion 4/5 Effort3/5 Content 4/5 Questions 6/8

total 17/23 The Portable Phonograph Google Presentation ||  ||
 * ||||  ||   ||   || ===Portable Phonograph - Slideshow===


 * CATEGORY || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1 ||
 * Content || All required slides complete with insightful responses and support || All required slides. Responses are adequate but may not be fully supported. ||  May be missing 1-3 slides and information is cursory and not fully supported. || Missing more than 3 slides and content is inaccurate. ||
 * Citations || All citations are present and in the proper format. ||  All citations are present however there are 1-3 errors in format. || Missing 1-3 citations. || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">Missing more than 3 citations. ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 11pt;">Images || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">All images are relevant and add significant incite to the meaning of the text. All images are clear and unpixelated. || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">Most images are relevant and add insight into the meaning behind the text. || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;"> 1-5 Images have no clear connection to the text and some images are pixelated. || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">Several images (more than 5) have no clear connection to the text. ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 11pt;">Spelling/Grammar || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">No discernible spelling or grammar errors. || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;"> 1-3 errors. || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">3-6 errors || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: arial,verdana,tahoma; font-size: 9pt;">More than 6 errors ||

total 10/16