Aa!00 Short Stories : Cultural Encounters
Assignment 6
Option 2 Short Stories
Through a close critical reading of Mavis Gallant’s ‘The End of the World’ (in the Anthology, A World of Difference, pp.125–32), consider how the story’s narrative techniques, language and structure help to illustrate the theme of ‘cultural encounters’.
The short story is like an anecdote. It contains a complete story that usually spans over a short period of time, with a minimal cast. Mavis Gallant’s ‘The End of the World’ fits firmly into this category. This essay explores how ‘The End of the World’ portrays the theme of cultural encounters through narrative techniques, language and structure.
When exploring the theme of culture in this context, it is to examine the lives, beliefs, identities and behaviours that determine any particular group. The A100 book Cultural Encounters describes the term ‘cultural encounters’ as, ‘the ways in which cultures interact, overlap and are transformed by these encounters’ (Brown et al, 2008, p.9).
Upon first reading ‘The End of the World,’ the topic of cultural encounters may not be the story’s most prominent element. The plot centres on a man who is forced to visit his dying father, who abandoned him as a child. The narrative is written in the first person perspective from the viewpoint of the protagonist, Billy (William) Apostolesco. While not wanting to antagonise his dying father, Billy searches for signs of remorse. As his detached father ebbs away it is easy to focus on this intense relationship rather than any cultural aspects. Looking beyond the strained father/son relationship is the underlying theme of immigration, perceived discrimination and indifference to cultural encounters. This theme interlinks tightly with that of relationships and abandonment.
Billy is a Canadian whose ancestors emigrated from Europe. Most people would probably feel some interest in their ancestral home. With Billy, this is evidently not the case. He opens the story with the line ‘I never
Option 2 Short Stories
Through a close critical reading of Mavis Gallant’s ‘The End of the World’ (in the Anthology, A World of Difference, pp.125–32), consider how the story’s narrative techniques, language and structure help to illustrate the theme of ‘cultural encounters’.
The short story is like an anecdote. It contains a complete story that usually spans over a short period of time, with a minimal cast. Mavis Gallant’s ‘The End of the World’ fits firmly into this category. This essay explores how ‘The End of the World’ portrays the theme of cultural encounters through narrative techniques, language and structure.
When exploring the theme of culture in this context, it is to examine the lives, beliefs, identities and behaviours that determine any particular group. The A100 book Cultural Encounters describes the term ‘cultural encounters’ as, ‘the ways in which cultures interact, overlap and are transformed by these encounters’ (Brown et al, 2008, p.9).
Upon first reading ‘The End of the World,’ the topic of cultural encounters may not be the story’s most prominent element. The plot centres on a man who is forced to visit his dying father, who abandoned him as a child. The narrative is written in the first person perspective from the viewpoint of the protagonist, Billy (William) Apostolesco. While not wanting to antagonise his dying father, Billy searches for signs of remorse. As his detached father ebbs away it is easy to focus on this intense relationship rather than any cultural aspects. Looking beyond the strained father/son relationship is the underlying theme of immigration, perceived discrimination and indifference to cultural encounters. This theme interlinks tightly with that of relationships and abandonment.
Billy is a Canadian whose ancestors emigrated from Europe. Most people would probably feel some interest in their ancestral home. With Billy, this is evidently not the case. He opens the story with the line ‘I never
Bibliography: Danson, R. (2008) ‘Introduction,’ in Danson R (ed.) Cultural Encounters (A100 Book 3) Milton Keynes, The Open University, Milton Keynes, pp. v-vii Gallant, M. (1974) ‘The End of the World,’ in Prescott, L. (ed.) (2008) A World of Difference: An Anthology of Short Stories from Five Continents, London, Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 125-132 Kalotay, D. (2009) Mavis Gallant: The Art of Fiction, The Paris Review (online), available at: http://www.theparisreview.org (accessed 20/7/2012) Prescott, L. (2008) 'Short Stories ', in Danson, R (ed.) Cultural Encounters (AA100 Book 43, Milton Keynes, The Open University, pp. 123-148