At Hiruharama

Summary:

The story is told from a third person point of view largely in flashback by the grandson of the
story’s main protagonist, both named Tanner. The story begins with Tanner, his wife Kitty, their
closest neighbor Brinkman in the exceedingly remote rural communities 0f New Zealand, and
the doctor to whom Tanner goes with the news of Kitty’s pregnancy. The narrative tells of how
Tanner and Kitty met (In a dry goods store), about how they moved to an isolated location
(Hiruharama), and about Brinkman who visits the family twice a year for a meal and about how
Tanner mistakenly thinks the afterbirth following the delivery of his daughter is medical waste
and proceeds to discard in in the dustbin only for the doctor to arrive on time to save baby.
Ironically, the second girl then becomes a lawyer.

Plot

Exposition (the beginning of the story, where the author sets up the story including characters,
setting, and main conflicts thus gives background of characters).

• Tanner is introduced

Background situation (family, place of origin, etc)

• Details of how Tanner and Kitty meet

• Setting the scene; they move to Hiruharama

Rising Action (The Rising Action occurs as you begin to move throughout the story. This is
where conflicts start to build).

• Revelation of the child

• Tanner going to the doctor, obtaining medicine

• Borrowing racing pigeons from Parrish

• Brinkman arriving for dinner while Kitty is in labor

Climax (The Climax is the turning point of the story. This point in the story is when things
finally start to move in a different direction and it may not always be a positive direction.)
• Tanner writing a letter to the doctor

• Tanner helping Kitty while Brinkman complains

Falling Action (Falling Action occurs after the climax as things start to work themselves out in
the story.)
• The doctor arriving right after the baby was delivered

• Tanner greeting the doctor, covered in blood

• Brinkman continuing to complain

Resolution (The Resolution is the solution to the problem)

• The doctor discovering that the “afterbirth” was a twin

• The narration ends, concluding with “Throw Nothing Away” and the lives of the two girls.

Setting and its Significance

The story "At Hiruharama" is a short story written by Penelope Fitzgerald in the year 2000

The time is significantly in the late 1920's or in the early 1930's.

The main scene is set at Hiruharama which is at the north of Auckland in New Zealand

The setting is also rural.

Characters and characterization

Mr Tanner (Narrator of the story): ambitious (does not play a very big role in the story).

Mr Tanner's grandfather (protagonist of the story): illiterate, good hearted, kind, worried,
anxious, apprehensive, distressed, uneasy, cautious, loving, caring, and honest.

Kitty (the grandfather's love and wife): placid, tranquil, calm, quiet, peaceful, calm, and
endearing.

Brinkman (Mr and Mrs tanners' neighbour): selfish, self-centred, reckless, careless, calm,
annoying.

The doctor (the Tanners' general physician, Kitty's doctor): helpful, honest, active doctor

(does not play a very big role in the story

Themes and Ideas

Loneliness- where they stay

Don’t throw anything away- Tanner accidentally throwing away a baby

Be prepared for the unexpected- When Kitty is pregnant.

Big things may come from small beginnings- The baby that Tanner threw away accidentally..

Try to adjust with the situation, however difficult it is.

Literary Devices

1. Foreshadowing: (a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to

come later in the story.)

-"Tanner turned over in his mind what he'd say to his wife when she told him she was going to
have a child"

- "Well don't ask me if it's going to be twins"

-"When you want me to come, you'll have to send for me"

2. Similes:

-"Tanner came out of the bedroom, covered in blood, something like a butcher."

- "He squeezed it as though he was wringing it out dry"

-This phrase also proves the elliptical style of the writer. Using the word "it" in a simile leaves

the readers in unison,

as we are not really sure of what "it" really is.

3. Situational Irony: (It is ironic since the doctor is the one who found the baby so he is
important unlike his claim.)

-"Often by the time I arrive, I'm not needed." It is ironic since the doctor is the one who found
the baby so he is important unlike his claim.

-"I'm going to look after the afterbirth, the father put it out with the waste"

-"You couldn't ask a woman to live out there"

4. Symbolism:

-The Title- At Hiruharama (is a symbol of good luck for Tanner and Kitty. Till then they lived
unsatisfactory lives working as servants. Once they move to Hiruharama, they find an abandoned
homestead and freely flowing water that is worth its weight in gold. Their farm thrives and they
become well off. They have twin girls one of which is saved from death at the nick of time. She
not only survives but also goes on to become a successful lawyer)

5. Flashback:

-"She had come out of England as a governess, and she too

was wanted a servant"

-"They had to start in a remote country place"