The Story Boys By Ricky Moody 
Dalia Deanna Selman
10/23/2013
Literary Analysis 2
Boys
The story "Boys" by Ricky Moody conveys the breathlessness of the true nature of a boy through the style in which the story was written. Most short stories are broken up into paragraphs, with central ideas and structure for the ease of the reader, for the pleasure of the writer or because it is simply logical. However, "Boy's" differs from most other stories because it is written as one long paragraph - no breaks or formal structure. Much like the flow of life. In reality, time is infinitely continuous and untouchable, the story mimics the nature of recalling life. It is common to feel time "flying" as people age. After finishing the story you are left with a sense of "breathlessness" as if you have peered into the mind of someone reminiscing a lifetime. The structure of the story is a stream of consciousness. If life was written as it happened, this is what it would look like. The wonderful thing about this story is the de-personalization of the boys lives, as well. The reader never learns a name for the twin boys throughout the whole story. Though you may not feel attachment to the specific characters, it definitely resonates with you through nostalgia for your own experience. It allows the message to be applicable to anyone who grew up with a boy. Which is impressive seeing that half the human population is male yet there is undeniably a specific way boys behave and they just can't help it. What struck me most about this story is Moody pin-pointed the mannerisms of boys in all there boy-ness so perfectly. "boys dreaming of breast, enter the house" (413). The beauty is that anyone with a brother could read this and smile upon recalling the "boyish things" they remember all too well like "…showing there shriveled boy-penises to their younger sister…" (413). Not only is the behavior of boys described but also something very hard to detect let alone put into words. Young boys have a way with dealing
10/23/2013
Literary Analysis 2
Boys
The story "Boys" by Ricky Moody conveys the breathlessness of the true nature of a boy through the style in which the story was written. Most short stories are broken up into paragraphs, with central ideas and structure for the ease of the reader, for the pleasure of the writer or because it is simply logical. However, "Boy's" differs from most other stories because it is written as one long paragraph - no breaks or formal structure. Much like the flow of life. In reality, time is infinitely continuous and untouchable, the story mimics the nature of recalling life. It is common to feel time "flying" as people age. After finishing the story you are left with a sense of "breathlessness" as if you have peered into the mind of someone reminiscing a lifetime. The structure of the story is a stream of consciousness. If life was written as it happened, this is what it would look like. The wonderful thing about this story is the de-personalization of the boys lives, as well. The reader never learns a name for the twin boys throughout the whole story. Though you may not feel attachment to the specific characters, it definitely resonates with you through nostalgia for your own experience. It allows the message to be applicable to anyone who grew up with a boy. Which is impressive seeing that half the human population is male yet there is undeniably a specific way boys behave and they just can't help it. What struck me most about this story is Moody pin-pointed the mannerisms of boys in all there boy-ness so perfectly. "boys dreaming of breast, enter the house" (413). The beauty is that anyone with a brother could read this and smile upon recalling the "boyish things" they remember all too well like "…showing there shriveled boy-penises to their younger sister…" (413). Not only is the behavior of boys described but also something very hard to detect let alone put into words. Young boys have a way with dealing