Short Stories

The Phoenix

Themes
Man VS Nature- nature prevails over man
Greed- Lord Strawberry is not criticized in the story, he shows
human goodness (benefactor, the phoenix was much attached to
Lord S.)- only criticism of capitalization and commercialism
Exploitation of nature- gain benefit from other misfortune, trying to
take advance of the phoenix for commercial reason
Characters
Poldero Phoenix
Representation of human greed, Symbolic and indicative of rebirth,
capitalism immortality, rebirth, beauty, purity,
transformation

Devices
Personification of phoenix amiable, affable to the other birds-
orphaned, good relationship with Lord Strawberry (humanizing)
creates sense of pathos and empathy towards the bird
Irony- situational irony, something totally unexpected happen, it is
Polderos greed that destroys him, audience just want to entertain
and they die
Fire is not for the bird, but for the audience
Hyperbole
Contrasting lexical fields
Poetic justice- vice is punished, virtue is rewarded

The ending
Self reflection of criticism
The ending doesnt evoke pity
We should be conflicting but we are not
Games at twilight

Themes
Fantasy VS reality

Devices
3rd narration perspective- internal VS external conflict
imagery- setting, auditory and natural imagery
contrast of twilight

hirsute

Tone
melancholic, oppressive

twilight- contrast of light and shadow

Mings Biggest Prey

Theme
Greed and jealousy- Both Teddie and Ming are jealous to each other
regarding their close relationship to Elaine. Ming considers Teddie as
an intruder who kept him away from his mistress
Devices
personification- Ming feels, reacts, plans and takes action- The
author uses personification throughout the story in order to
characterise Ming as a human figure who has the ability of
identifying peoples goodness and evilness and able to sense
danger, this is shown by the quote But Ming sensed that Teddie
took it as a hostile gesture, highlighting the fact that Ming has
human like feelings and thoughts. Several times we are given the
feeling that Ming is able to recognize human conversations, but
seldom the actual words. For instance, sometimes Teddies muttered
something which Ming knew was a threat and she was talking to
the man, but not in a gentle tone, there is a constant jumping
between a human and animal in those lines in order to remind the
readers that Ming is a cat, but it shows sign of human qualities.
Ming cant really interpret human language but he can sense the
tone

But Ming sensed that Teddie took it as a hostile gesture of some kind, which
was why Ming did it deliberately to Teddie, whereas among other people, it
was often an accident when Mings tongue slid out.
Ming liked to aggravate Teddie with his mannerisms. He let his tongue slide
out of his mouth as though he was actually sticking his tongue out in a rude
gesture. With other people, it happened accidentally but when Teddie was
looking at him, he did it on purpose.

irony- Teddie tried to get rid of Ming, but it turns up that Ming
successfully killed Teddie with his well timed doge and a jump that
results Teddie falling downstairs. Showing how human evilness
(greed) deserves to be punished

contrast- how Ming detested human and how he loved Elaine Ming
detested people. In all the world. He liked only Elaine He seems
people as disturbance of his lifestyle except Elaine who he is
possessive to

-contrast between the treatment of Elaine and Teddies/other people

to Ming- how Elaine takes care and protects Ming whereas Teddie
offense Ming and attempts to attack him

-contrast between human goodness and human evilness ( Elaine &

Teddie)
 There are phrases which emphasizes Mings tough life (he is living in
poor conditions before Elaine has taken him away), making readers
sympathize the cat. away from the ugly of medicine and parrot
dung & people had tried to grab him from almost under Elaines
eyes) & how Teddie deliberately attacks Ming on the boat by
attempting to throw him overboard

The story is told in 3rd narrative perspective but the point of view
(language, feelings, reactions) are focused exclusively on Ming

The ending not just the main characters but also the readers- Elaine
realizes that Ming has played a major role in the discovery and
exposure of Teddie as a thief. The loving tone Ming sensed shows
that Elaine is grateful at him

Poetic justice- everyone in the story gets what they deserved

Repetition of the idea of quarrelling emphasizes that Elaine and

Teddie are not in such good relationship

Build up of tension- the part where

Ming killed Teddie

Shredni Vastar
Sinister-
The Prison
- The prison is a symbolic of narrators life (extended metaphor),
includes candy store, his wife
- 3rd person
- constant use of flashback- suggest how his life is constantly looking
at past, he prefers his life in the past

Tommy Castelli
- loses his freedom
- regret about the mistake he made when he was young
- strong urge to help the little girl from making the same mistake but
he lacks the courage
- his life was a screaming bore

Rosa
- nags Tommy when he does things that she does not approve of
- trashes the little girl