Literary+Devies-The+Portable+Phonograph


 * Literary Devices-The Portable Phonograph**


 * Point of View:** 3rd person/limited omniscient

What type of character is the Protagonist?: round, static
 * Protagonist**: Dr. Jenkins


 * Antagonist**: Himself, Musician,


 * Describe the setting**: A cold, deserted land wiped out by by an irresistible force. Serious, the mood is dreary and sad.


 * Type of Conflict**: Man vs himself, man vs. man, man vs. Environment


 * Describe the main conflict**: A group of men in a serious, confined, wiped-out nation, struggling to hold on to the remnants of their humanity through this phonograph.


 * Describe the Climax of the Story**: When the music plays, Dr. Jenkins becomes paranoid, and the musician becomes demanding.


 * How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?**: I don’t believe he does, because it is human nature to defend what is rightfully yours. Though being defensive it is not an admirable aspect of humanity, it is natural, and Dr. Jenkins let it get the better of him. Personally, I don’t believe he changed permanently as he was only being human.

It was discussed in class that some things are classic, meaning they are timeless; they will always be enjoyed. In the story, it seems that they are bordering on obsessed with the superior past, and this phonograph is one of those classic, timeless things that reminds them of the past, a time the was so much better than what they live in currently. In short, the phonograph is a symbol of the past they want so badly to return to.
 * Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.**

The theme is how human nature can so often get the better of us, as illustrated with the mentioned apocalypse and in the way Dr. Jenkins reacts to the musician's attitude and movements towards his phonograph. I believe that Dr Jenkins is a good guy, who after losing everything got over-defensive of what he thought to be rightfully his i.e. the phonograph. Though he preached goodness, he, ironically, failed to practice.
 * How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?**

The climax, i.e., when Dr Jenkins grabbed the lead pipe, further proved the point of human nature getting the better of us. Though Dr Jenkins was adamant about returning to the days of kindness and focusing on what is right, morally, not what gets us entertained, when his only prized possession was threatened, he went against what he spoke about, because he was just being human.
 * How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?**


 * Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):**

"....like a prehistoric priest."
 * Simile**:

"...little islands of an oiled pavement."
 * Metaphor:**

"..young trees trying again.."
 * Personification**:

The four flying stars
 * Symbol**:

Subtle: "the musician rose last, but then abruptly and quickly out the door without saying anything." Direct: "He believed that down to the by the pale alders he saw the shadow move." ‍
 * ‍Foreshadowing** (give both elements):

"On the inside of the bad, nest to the wall, he could feel with his hans, the comfortable piece of lead pipe." I believe that sentence is ironic, because he seems to become violently possessive over his phonograph, which is going against everything he spoke about earlier in the story.
 * Irony**:

"The red sunset, with narrow, black loud strips like threats across it, lay on the curved horizon of the prairie."
 * Imagery**:

Humanity is both good and bad, and in this story, some negative aspects are described, such as the violent rection by Dr Jenkins about defending his phonograph. Humanity is not perfect and though there are several things we aspire to be, sometimes we get in the way of ourselves. Dr Jenkins can be thought of as a bitter, paranoid person, but I see him as a regular, good-guy who's had a hard life and a lot taken from him, and he simply wants at least one thing to remain in his life.
 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.**

1. Set after a war, perhaps in the fall. The author describes a desolate, neglected land waste land e.g "out of the sunsunset, through the dead, matted grass..." 2.The unwrapping of the book bundle was compared to a cermonial rite, because it was the last of "sacred" things. Also, it meant a lot to the Dr. and he treated it as such. 3. The significance of the books saved were that they were themes still relevant to today's happenings. They are timeless, so few recent works are. 4. a) It represents the anger, defensiveness and possessiveness getting the better of him. b) I think Dr. Jenkins will "cool down" and perhaps share further with the musician. He wants to be a good person, sometimes human nature hinders us from being such. 4 Questions!
 * Questions**

Completion 5/5 Effort 4/5 Content 4/5 Questions5/8

revised total 18/23