Carver and Cheever study questions

Due Sunday, April 26th

 Write your name in the document and also name the document with your name
 Aim for circa 150-word paragraphs for each question
 Use the materials in the Dropbox folder for help

1. Trace patterns of similarities in the Carver stories you’ve read. Think about the
notion of the objective correlative. Are there any objects that appear in the stories
that bear a particular significance?
2. Discuss Carver’s style. What “school” does he belong to?
3. What is your favorite Carver story and why did it leave such an impression on you?
4. Discuss the symbols in the Cheever short stories. Are there any similiarities between
these two stories?
5. Explain what you think is happening to Neddy Merril.
6. Trace the similarities and differences between Carver and Cheever. Think about
style, but also content (hints: class).

Answers:
1.
2.
3. The Carver story that stood out to me was A Small, Good Thing which is a story of a
tragedy that befalls a family of three. The realistic way in which the story was told is
what grabbed my attention and persisted throughout the remainder of the story. I
related to the characters and their reactions to this unfortunate situation and the
parents' love and worry for their child was very touching for me. The way in which the
story encompassed and dealt with emotions such as loss, grief, desperation, loneliness
and compassion in a realistic manner, as real people would. Throughout the story a very
dour and unbearable view of the world is presented, with a sudden hit-and -run that
takes the life of an innocent child and with parents who are left alone wondering how
their lives had suddenly taken such a dark turn in the blink of an eye. Another small,
good element that left an impression on me is the way the story subtly touched upon
the idea of finding compassion among each other in the darkest of moments, no matter
our differences. While her son's life hangs in the balance, the mother encounters a
fellow grieving African-American family in the halls of the hospital, and immediately
relates to their plight, as they are also awaiting news on their son as he is battling for his
life. This is a very human emotion that unconsciously appears in the darkest of times,
 and represents how people are not so different from each other and rely on the
comfort and sympathy of others.
4. The seemingly abrupt journey that the character of Neddy Merrill takes represents the
passage of time and the transition of a young, energetic and vibrant man into an older
man going through a mid-life crisis and becoming disillusioned with his life. The entire
story has a very surreal feel to it and through a fantastical and unique lens presents a
man who as his life goes on becomes more and more isolated from his family and
friends, and whose marriage and family life begins to crumble around him. His inability
to recollect parts of his life and hearing from others about his apparent debt and money
problems, as well as the state of his daughters suggests a man growing older. During his
voyage, Neddy comes across an empty, dried up pool, which brings him to a stop just as
a midlife crisis interrupts the previously normal lives of men and women in society. The
sudden change in behavior of his neighbors and friends, as well as his mistress towards
him could further support this theory, as a midlife crisis also brings change into a
person's life that cannot be controlled or anticipated. As the journey continues, his body
begins to fail him as well, and he becomes more and more tired unlike the active and
energetic man he was when he began his journey on a whim.
5.