happy endings margaret atwood literary techniques

Happy endings margaret atwood literary techniques full#

The various plot iterations throughout the story illustrates the ways in which the elements of a story, when broken down into discrete units, are often so interchangeable with one another as to be virtually meaningless. In scenario F, the narrator attempts to complicate things further by imagining John and Mary as spies and counterrevolutionaries, but concludes that the endings of all of the stories are all ultimately the same.Īt the end of “Happy Endings,” Atwood meditates on the nature of plot and story, arguing that plot is ultimately less interesting than other aspects of storytelling. In scenario D, Fred and Madge brave a tidal wave, while in scenario E, Fred and Madge deal with illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. At the conclusion of the story, Madge remarries to a man named Fred and everything continues as in A. When John walks in on Mary and James having sex, he kills them and commits suicide. Since James is often away, Mary also engages in a relationship with John, who in this scenario is much older and already married to Madge. In scenario C, Mary is in love with James, an independent and adventurous young man with a motorcycle and record collection. John marries Madge and everything continues as in A. When Mary finds out that John is seeing another woman, Madge, she commits suicide. While Mary attempts to woo him with carefully prepared meals, her impeccable appearance, and sex, John remains unsatisfied and treats her poorly. In scenario B, Mary falls in love and attempts to pursue a romantic relationship with John, who is noncommittal and uninterested. The story starts off with a generic fairy tale ending in which a husband. Margaret Atwood uses different literary techniques that can alter the interpretation of the story’s theme. Perrine English 101 Sec003 Plot deals with where a story begins, and how it ends. In scenario A, John and Mary marry, buy a house, have children, and generally achieve a “happy ending.” A look At plot using, Happy Endings, by Margaret Atwood Stephen I. What happens next?” The story then proceeds through various plot iterations, describing different ways in which the tale might end. A man can learn so many things.Atwood begins the story with a simple setup: “John and Mary meet. “It is life, I think, to watch the water. “You don’t always get the waterfall shortcut in Mario Kart. And down the waterfall where ever it may take me, I know that life won’t break me when I come to call, she won’t forsake me, I’m loving angels instead.’ĩ0. Yet each day that touches us, and every man in the world is unique irredeemable over. We let time cascade over us like a waterfall, believing it to be never-ending. All this we say, as we sleepwalk our time through years of days and nights. ‘We say that life is sweet, its satisfactions deep. If I draw a mountain as a heap of human forms and paint a waterfall in the shape of tumbling human bodies, it is because I see in the mountain a heap of living things, and in the waterfall a precipitate current of life. A nude body is the truest and noblest symbol of life. It is always moving and there is always an uneven flow to it.”Ĩ7. “Life is like a waterfall, always moving.”Ĩ6. Mary and John buy a house and are used to going on fun vacations together. A persistent drop of water will wear away even the hardest stone.”Ĩ5. In version A, Mary and John meet and fall in love immediately. “When life places stones in your path, be the water.

“The idea is that flowing water never goes stale, so just keep on flowing.”įinally, we can’t go without waterfall quotes about life! Yes, we always need to have them somewhere handy so they can lift us up on gloomy days 🤗Ĩ4. For water thou art, and unto water shalt thou return.”Ģ4. “Sometimes, it’s hard to tell how fast the current’s moving until you’re headed over a waterfall.”Ģ3. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall.”Ģ2. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”Ģ1.

Happy endings margaret atwood literary techniques full#

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. “A waterfall is concerned only with being itself, not with doing something it considers waterfall-like.”Ģ0. “Do not feel sad for your tears, as rocks never regret the waterfalls.”ġ9. Cool and crystal clear, it falls gently on the sleeper, cleansing the mind and soothing the soul.”ġ8. “Grace is finding a waterfall when you were only looking for a stream.”ġ7.