George Saunders, the narrator is fascinated by violent behavior, particularly a ritual where [22] Saunders won second prize in the 1997 O. Henry Awards for his short story "The Falls", initially published in the January 22, 1996, issue of The New Yorker. What are the themes and analyses for "In Persuasion Nation"? - eNotes He grew up in Oak Forest, Illinois, near Chicago, attended St. Damian Catholic School and graduated from Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois. The story touches on themes like peer pressure, The story ends on a sombre note, with the fathers death and disposal of the metal pole on garbage day. "Congratulations, by the Way: Some Thoughts on Kindness", "Trump days: up close with the candidate and his crowds", Choose Your Own Adventure: A Conversation With Jennifer Egan and George Saunders, George Saunders: The Art of Fiction No. Super Bowl week the pole was dressed in a jersey and Rod's helmet and Rod had to clear it with Dad if he wanted to take the helmet off. Conventional wisdom about writing is conventionally wrong. And if they dont know already, I hope they know by the end of the story, when they see themselves in the six crossed sticks their father plants around the yard. I loved your analysis. But, what the story is really about is a Dad's struggle with his relationships with his kids and his struggle with his inevitable death. Theres no healing implied for the grown children. The man is obsessed with his self-made crucifix. Is the fashioning of the metal poles into a crucifix suggestive of a kind of latter-day religion, a hollowed-out American Christianity based as much on sport (that Super Bowl reference) as Christmas? A control-freak father with anger issues. "Sticks" tells the story of a father who decorates a large pole in his front yard according to the theme of the upcoming holiday. Who am I to know? Flannery OConnor famously said that good endings should be surprising yet inevitable. While the ending of Sticks certainly fits this criteria, I cant help but think that the same could be said of this line. This, in turn, communicates a sense of respect for your reader. This research paper would explore the absurd expression of love and emotion by the protagonist character in George Saunders' "Sticks". When the father decorates the pole, he also seems to manifest a need of having control over something. Tenth of December is a collection of short stories by American author George Saunders.It includes stories published in various magazines between 1995 and 2012. they only had cupcakes at birthdays; nothing else. This timely volume explores the signal contribution George Saunders has made to the development of the short story form in books ranging from CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (1996) to Tenth of December (2013).The book brings together a team of scholars from around the world to explore topics ranging from Saunders's treatment of work and religion to biopolitics and the limits of the short story form. I wish I remembered absolutely anything about the day I first read this storymy surroundings, the weather, my mood. Two events which involve major change (literally seismic in the case of the latter) prompt the father to erect new decorations: Groundhog Day (where the arrival or non-arrival of spring is said to turn on whether the groundhog sees its own shadow) and an earthquake in Chile, a momentous event which perhaps acts as a catalyst for the fathers self-reflection. vided offspring by hammering in six crossed sticks around the yard. Tenth of December by George Saunders: Sticks For over three decades The Writers Studio has been helping students become stronger, more resourceful writers with more craft at their disposal, more knowledge of what makes a piece of creative writing satisfying to a reader, and more access to the full range of their emotions and imagination. Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Whether this was inherited genetically or by example cant be said for certain, but being exposed to their dads eccentricities wouldnt have helped. They begin to notice their father is decorating the pole in odd ways. Sticks, the second story in Tenth of December is the shortest in the collection. I dont think he was a bad man. The main character is the narrator's father. of 1 Sticks by George Saunders Every year Thanksgiving night we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he'd built out of metal pole in the yard. First, he did so by dressing it up and later, when it became a representation of his family, he used it to try and reach them. The author sets the story hostile the father realize is his actions towards his own family, he sees himself as someone who wants to spend as much time of doing something he loves. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Tenth of December. But we see a flawed human being in the father. Hes meager toward his children. This event prompts him to reflect on the allure Short Story Series: "Puppy" by George Saunders | LitReactor What themes are Important in Sticks by George Saunders? At least that's how I read it. ", Josie Tolin on how George Saunders uses a sense of familial inevitability "to both subvert and amplify what might otherwise be a run-of-the-mill, bad-dad situation" in his story "Sticks. Loved the analysis and the story especially towards the end painfully tugs our heart. There are a lot of changes in point of view, making it almost feel like there is . [3], A professor at Syracuse University, Saunders won the National Magazine Award for fiction in 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2004, and second prize in the O. Henry Awards in 1997. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. When their mother dies, he decorates it as an homage to her. in harmful activities. PDF "Sticks" - Mr. Webster, English He is pursuing his own imagined heroicsin this case, going into the wilderness to freeze to death in order to spare his wife and children the suffering of caring for him as his illness progresses. Thank you and well done! At least that's how I read it. When they are given the drug, they are very attracted to each other. "Get in here, you," Ma said. Similarly, to what extend should we look for symbolism in the fathers choice of garments and trinkets to adorn the sticks? He worked at Radian International, an environmental engineering firm in Rochester, NY as a technical writer and geophysical engineer from 1989 to 1996. Thank you so much, dear! Heres this emotionally ill-equipped, control-freak of a father, his actions finally guided by emotion as his life comes to an end. [18], Ben Stiller bought the film rights to CivilWarLand in Bad Decline in the late 1990s; as of 2007[update], the project was in development by Stiller's company, Red Hour Productions. another one of Saunders favorite themes seems to be language. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. He is stingy and mean in other areas. "Elliott Spencer," by George Saunders | The New Yorker His fixation intensifies to the point where he symbolically uses it and other sticks to represent himself and replace his family. peer pressure, conformity, and violence while acknowledging how individuals can be drawn How do we define bad? George Saunders, a writer with a particular inclination in modern America, carefully depicts the newly-emerged working class of America and its poor living condition in his literary works. on and we sold the house to a young couple who yanked out the pole and the sticks and left them by the road on garbage day. Tenth of December: Stories - Wikipedia The first time I brought a date over she said: whats with your dad and that pole? Its a mere two-paragraph story. He covered it with cotton swabs that winter for warmth and provided offspring by hammering in six crossed sticks around the yard. each other with sticks but remains interested until one member suffers a serious injury. Response to "Sticks" by George Saunders - Academia.edu "The Sticks." "The Old Man on the Bridge" by Ernest Hemingway An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. I dont know if theres any point summarizing a story as short as Sticks, but here it is. For example, why did the narrator simply blink when his date asked him about his fathers sticks? Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He paints it in autumn and covers it with cotton in the winter. How to Write Flash Fiction Stories - Writers.com We are introduced to an imperfect father by his adult son in this storya father with several quirks, including an obsession with a metal pole. Interesting Literature is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk. Sketching out a full story in two paragraphs. In "Escape From Spiderhead", Jeff, Heather and Rachel are all given mind-altering drugs to see if they can be pharmaceutically made to fall in love with each other, or to feel an attraction to each other They are also threatened with the use of another, darker drug that has horrible side effects. ", "Excerpts from McSweeney's Quarterly: Four Institutional Monologues", "Fox 8 by George Saunders review wisdom in the woods", "Aphoristic essay on brown paper Chipotle bag", "George Saunders Conducts a Cheery Class on Fiction's Possibilities", 10 Free Stories by George Saunders Available on the Web, "Adjust Your Vision: Tolstoy's Last and Darkest Novel", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Saunders&oldid=1151696886. he shrieked at his daughter for wasting an apple slice, he doesnt want them using much ketchup, and. You can read the story here before proceeding to our summary and analysis below. Sticks By George Saunders Analysis - generejaz He hung signs on the pole that said LOVE and FORGIVE?, which was attached to his pole children, with letters of apology on the string, as a plea to his family. On the Fourth of July the pole was Uncle Sam, on Veterans Day a soldier, on Halloween a ghost. Good to hear you liked the story and the analysis too. Tenth of December: Stories study guide contains a biography of George Saunders, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. . Theme Reveal for the 2021 #A2ZChallenge TINA SEQUEIRA, How I Reclaimed My Love For Reading Fiction Stories TINA SEQUEIRA, How I Reclaimed My Love For Reading Fiction Stories - Exclusive Global News. 'Home' by George Saunders - Berfrois George Saunders Short Story - The Red Bow - Esquire Despite the violence of this ritual, the narrator is drawn to it and even desires to be part of it. [31][32] In 2014, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Only members can read the full content. of violence and acceptance among peers. Its a flash fiction of 392 words. The short story "Sticks" by George Saunders explores the theme of control. The mans tendency to suck the joy out of his surroundings comes purely from his own mind. Although the metal cross is decorated for holidays, it is the only joy that the father allows in the family. The lesser the word count, the more challenging it gets. At first there was just the original pole which he used to dress up on special occasions, which the children were not allowed to touch. Underneath the unsettling imagery and narrative trickery, CommComm is a love story. PDF "Yes, certainly they'll fly. But the others. It's better not to think We see another example when the dad puts a fur on the pole for Groundhog Day and points a floodlight at it to ensure a shadow, which would mean six more weeks of winter. One of the motifs in the story collection is the use of mind-altering drugs. First released as an e-book in 2013, the story was later published in hardcover by Random House in 2018. A Lack of Order in the Floating Object Room. Thank you so much, Shalini! You can read his stories that have appeared regularly in The New Yorker since 1992. And something counts, especially from a man whos been stuck in his ways for as long as any of his kids can remember. PDF Drafting the Paper Thesis Statements - Massasoit Community College [19] Saunders has also written a feature-length screenplay based on his short story "Sea Oak". His first story collection, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, was a finalist for the 1996 PEN/Hemingway Award. Critical Analysis Sticks Being Human .pdf - Course Hero He paints signs which say LOVE and FORGIVE?. The narrative focuses on his passion for decorating a metal pole outside the house during . Sticks OneLimited At least thats how I read it. Would love to add and hear any thoughts on this piece, Saunders being my favorite living author and me anticipating literally any next thing he turns out. in creative writing from Syracuse University, where he worked with Tobias Wolff. Kill every mouse, every bird. You are now aware of two unlikeable characters in the story. The pole was Dads only concession to glee. What Makes George Saunders' "Sticks" Great? - Medium George Saunders, "Sticks" Senior Portfolio Workshop 2017 Take the aforementioned story Sticks by George Saunders, one of the strongest flash fiction examples out there. Works Cited. George Saunders is the award-winning author of eleven books. A Reading: "Sticks," by George Saunders - Muck Rack The end of a flash fiction story must surprise the reader in some way. All rights reserved. [Updated]"Underground Railroad" by Whitehead vs. "Sticks" by Saunders All of that was as usual. ISBN: 978--7734-1571-3 401pp 2011 Download Free PDF View PDF Call for Manuscripts 4 Diane Tuccillo In Memory of ZigZag to 'Zines 2005 The incident causes him to reflect on his own desire Often acclaimed as among his best short stories. [33], In 2013, Saunders won the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University). He hovered over us as we poured ketchup saying: good enough good enough good enough. story touches on themes of peer pressure, conformity, and violence while acknowledging how Both Callie and Maria only see what they want to; Callie's husband sells pets to families but kills the animals that don't sell. 'Tenth of December,' by George Saunders - SFGATE reminds me of the one story i had read during school, about old man and sparrows. Themes and message. His nonfiction collection, The Braindead Megaphone, was published in 2007. On-Time Delivery! resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Questions run in ones mind now. George Saunders's short story "Ghoul" takes place in a dystopian society. towards violent behavior despite recognizing its harm "Sticks" by George Saunders, the You can help us out by revising, improving and updating In this unfamiliar narrative world, characters live underground in a place referred to as the Region. Its a personality trait that doesnt seem to be brought on by circumstances. Another example is the women in "Puppy". By blending fact with fiction, Saunders intentionally chooses to expose the working class's hardship, which greatly caused by poverty and illiteracy . Thats the end of the story. The over the top decorations are a symbol of his escalating madness. What are some of the major themes in the short fiction of George Sticks - Short Story Magic Tricks The story explores themes of peer pressure, Listen to bestselling audiobooks on the web, iPad, iPhone and Android. Saunders's Tenth of December: Stories won the 2013 Story Prize for short-story collections[6] and the inaugural (2014) Folio Prize. [7][35][36][8] The collection was also a finalist for the National Book Award[37] and was named one of the "10 Best Books of 2013" by the editors of the New York Times Book Review. Sticks; Analysis [0] Structure. Richard tries to find solace in the sticks he collects, but this ultimately proves to be an inadequate substitute for real . Prompt - Your paper should describe the mood and theme of "Sticks," by George Saunders, and what the . As a member of PrimeStudyGuides.com, you get access to all of the content. George Saunders, "Victory Lap". The short story of "Sticks" uses realism and its deviations in order to highlight different forms of relationships besides human contact. I hope hes always cared, and I believe he may have. But he cannot do this directly: he doesnt know how. Super Bowl week the pole was dressed in a jersey and Rod's helmet . We can surmise that its because he is realising how odd his fathers ritualistic behaviour is, but that is all it is: a surmise, or a tentative guess. [26], In 2006, Saunders was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. One of themes is the grey area between true love and society pressuring . Otherwise, he was strict and frugal to an almost extreme degree, only allowing his children to play with one coloured crayon at a time, and telling his children off for wasting food. A man has a crucifix he built from a metal pole that he stands in his yard, near the road. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. [4], His story collection In Persuasion Nation was a finalist for the Story Prize in 2007. Callie knows that this is an inexcusable thing to do but does not want to upset her husband so remains silent. "He painted a sign saying LOVE and hung it from the pole and another that said FORGIVE?" Saunders writes. imagery and raw emotion, Saunders effectively portrays the damaging effects of peer pressure They realised that they were starting to resemble their father in terms of their meanness and stinginess. After that theres a Sticks analysis that includes a look at themes, symbol and meaning. Sticks by George Saunders | Structure The Red Bow. George Saunders does wonders with his short storySticks, laden with subtext, imagery, and metaphors. I hope this Sticks analysis, summary and look at themes was helpful. , Loved the story sombre yet deep and your analysis too Why you should read George Saunders - The Advance-Titan The final line of the story presents the irony . Poetry, Short Stories, Writing, Fiction, Blogging. The story explores themes of peer pressure, conformity, and violence The mans general joylessness is acknowledged as a main character trait by the narrator when he says, The pole was Dads only concession to glee. We see evidence of this in a few ways. Copyright Fiction Writers Review, 2008-2023. [11][15], Since 1997, Saunders has been on the faculty of Syracuse University, teaching creative writing in the school's MFA program while continuing to publish fiction and nonfiction. At first, the pole seems to simply serve, as the story suggests, as the father's "one concession to glee," a place where he commemorates holidays and other special occasions. A Summary and Analysis of George Saunders' 'Sticks' [21] He is a student of Nyingma Buddhism. But he was self-aware towards the end. intrigued by violent behavior, particularly in the form of a ritual where teenagers hit each other the short story is "Sticks" by George Saunders. Please read the Listen to Tenth of December by George Saunders with a free trial. for violence and acceptance. In the storys second paragraph, the narrator tells us that he and his siblings grew up, left home, and became parents themselves. But then, you see the father slowly slip into oblivion when he lives in an empty nest. (LogOut/ Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. And by the second half, the pole has becoming something else entirelyno longer simply used to commemorate sporting events and holidays: Dad began dressing the pole with more complexity and less discernible logic. A contentious prize, the . It touches on a similar theme: the need for even the slightest sense of control. "[12], In 1988, he was awarded an M.A. teenagers hit each other with sticks. 'Sticks' Every year Thanksgiving night we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he'd built out of metal pole in the yard. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, when he loses his wife, the pole becomes a symbol of his declining mental health, as the decorations become more and more elaborate and outlandish the more he unravels emotionally. . I am actually leading a discussion lesson in school about that short story and your analysis really helped me. This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 17:23. He wasnt different for telling me; the only thing that was different was that he was dying. But despite how that sentiment inflects the ending, theres another way to read the final sentences; a more hopeful way, I think. The story follows a man named Richard, who is experiencing a profound sense of loneliness due to his wife's death and his estrangement from his son. When an earthquake struck Chile he lay the pole on its side and spray painted a rift in the earth. is intrigued by a ritual where teenagers take turns hitting each other with sticks. #BlogchatterA2Z . ", Its unavoidable. QUESTION 1 Read the short story 'Sticks' by George - Chegg The erecting of six little poles around the main one indicates that it is his children he is seeking forgiveness from, including the (grown-up) narrator of the story, for a lifetime of strictness and frugality and very little joy. He provides children for the pole by adding sticks around the yard. First, they were exposed to their dads odd behavior as children, not realizing how strange it was. You can read the short story online here. Books, reading and more with an Australian focus written on Ngunnawal Country, What i would like to read if i were a writer. He also puts personal keepsakes at the base. When Jeff refuses to comply with the instructions of the experiment, a court order is obtained to give him yet another drug that will alter his mind in such a way that he becomes compliant and obedient. Sticks by George Saunders | PDF - Scribd We see the fathers human side when he expresses his feelings through the metal pole towards the end of the story. A through line in all the above Sticks themes is the negative effect they have on the family. [17], Saunders's fiction often focuses on the absurdity of consumerism, corporate culture, and the role of mass media. Since modernism in the early twentieth century, many modern short stories have contained characters who undergo a kind of epiphany: a revelation or realisation which prompts them to reassess their view of the world or of themselves.
sticks by george saunders themes