The Girl with the Blackened Eye/Barn Burning

COMPARE AND CONTRAST OF TWO TALES Joyce Carol Oates “The Girl With the Blackened Eye” was a narrative depicting a story about a teenage girl who had experienced tragedy at the age fifteen. The narrator, the character had endured what is believed to be eight days of physical and mental abuse from her abductor. She was violated and ripped of all her value. Oates displayed graphic and realistic detail so that the reader would have a clear understanding and visual of what had occurred. In William Faulkner’s tale “Barn Burning” was not as tragic. His story, in my opinion followed the pattern of choosing what is right from wrong, making strong decisions regardless of your situation. From this I obtained a family lesson, when Sarty became the lion and decided to remove himself from his father and his wrong doings due to his belief. The courageous boy felt and knew his father’s habit was a ludicrous act and no longer wanted part so he did what he felt was best. In some situations family members are forced to cause friction between each other or amongst themselves because of disagreements. Though the stories contrast they have a few similarities, minor similarities. I found it to be interesting that both characters were young and the male/father figure played a role in their story. Sarty’s father Abner was present and included in the plot whereas the narrator of Oates piece was captured by a male who she compared to her father at some points. Together, both exhibited courageous youth regardless of their situations, in one case, the girl was brave not in the since of escaping her abductor but withstanding what she endured. Sarty on the other hand was courageous in his decision to disengage himself from his father choices. Aside from that in contrary, the narrator in “The Girl with the Blackened eye” did not want to betray her abductor because she had grown to trust him. As for Sarty, he did do such, when decided to part from his clan. One major difference is the time

Cited: Oates, Joyce C. "The Girl with the Blackened Eye" originally appeared in Witness, Vol. XIV, No. 2. Copyright (2001) Napierkowski, Ed. Marie R. Barn Burning: Introduction." Short Stories for Students. Vol. 5. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 25 February 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/barn-burning/introduction>. Roberts, James Lamar. Bloom 's Major Short Story Writers. William Faulkner Lincoln, Neb John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (US), 1997. Bloom, Harold. Broomall, PA Chelsea House Publishers, 1999. | | |