3.

11 (Honors) Constructing Meaning

Essential Questions

Guide to New Historicism and Cultural Studies

1.What in the text indicates historical events?

a) The story uses many past tense words, and sites events from a different time period.

2.What in the text would not fit in a different time period?

a) “There was no physician within miles, no neighbor; nor was she in a condition to be left, to summon

help. So he set about the task of nursing her back to health,” would not fit in a different time period.

In modern day society there are doctors everywhere. Also, the people may have not known as much

about her condition as we know now, and wouldn’t have been able to nurse her well.

3.What in the text indicates the beliefs and values of the author?

a) “In that eastern country whence he came he had married, as was the fashion, a young woman in all

ways worthy of his honest devotion, who shared the dangers and privations of his lot with a willing

spirit and light heart.” The author may have had similar beliefs and values as Murlock.

Guide to Feminist Criticism

1.What in the text concerns women or marriage?

a) When the author says, “In that eastern country whence he came he had married, as was the fashion,

a young woman in all ways worthy of his honest devotion, who shared the dangers and privations of

his lot with a willing spirit and light heart,” he is concerning women and marriage.

2.What in the text indicates the writer is male or female?

a) When the author says, “I never saw him; these particulars I learned from my grandfather, from whom

also I got the man's story when I was a lad. He had known him when living nearby in that early day,”

indicates that the writer is a male.

3.What in the text indicates assumptions about women and female roles in society?

a) “One day Murlock returned from gunning in a distant part of the forest to find his wife prostrate with

fever, and delirious,” indicates assumptions about women and female roles in society. The women

were expected to stay home and cook and clean while the men and boys were expected to go out
and work.

Guide to Psychoanalytic Criticism

1.What in the text explains what the main character is thinking?

a. “He was surprised, too, that he did not weep—surprised and a little ashamed; surely it is unkind not

to weep for the dead. "Tomorrow," he said aloud, "I shall have to make the coffin and dig the grave;

and then I shall miss her, when she is no longer in sight; but now—she is dead, of course, but it is all

right—it must be all right, somehow. Things cannot be so bad as they seem." Murlock was

downplaying his feelings and what had happened. He thought that it was wrong for himself not to

cry, and that maybe he would cry the next day.

2. What in the text might be symbolic of underlying feelings or thoughts?

a) “He was surprised, too, that he did not weep—surprised and a little ashamed; surely it is unkind not

to weep for the dead,” may be symbolic of Murlock’s underlying feelings or thoughts. He might think

that crying means that you are weak or have no strength. Also, he may believe that men should not

cry.

3. What in the text depends on irrational fears or beliefs?

a) “He tried vainly to speak the dead woman's name, vainly to stretch forth his hand across the table to

learn if she were there. His throat was powerless, his arms and hands were like lead,” depends on

irrational fears and beliefs. Murlock wasn’t sure if he believed she was dead or not. He spoke her

name, not knowing if she was dead or alive. Throughout the story, we can tell that Murlock is sort of

delusional, so we can’t really tell if she is actually alive or if he was just speaking to a dead body.