The+Portable+Phonograph+Questions

**__The Portable Phonograph:__ **
//By: Nfriedmann // 1. When is this story set? What has recently happened? Support your opinion with details from the story. The story is set in a time after a war, when the land is destroyed and uninhabited. The story time is in the future, around sunset, inside a cave.

2. What is the purpose of the men's meeting? Why does the author compare the unwrapping of the book bundle to a ceremonial rite? The purpose of the meeting, is to share things that are a connection to humanity, and their past life. The books are unwrapped very carefully, because they have to be preserved, because they are the only books that are left.

3.What is the significance of the books that were saved. The books signify their past life. They shows another world, where it all ends nicely. The books are a window to humanity, and how life was, and could be.

4. a) What do you think is the significance of Dr. Jenkins clutching the lead pipe at the end of the story? I think that what Dr. Jenkins was holding the pipe so tightly, because he wanted to make sure that he was armed in case someone came to steal his connections to humanity (the books, records, and phonograph).   b) What do you think might happen next? Discuss using references from the story. I think that Dr. Jenkins will go to sleep, and forget about his things, and then someone else might come to steal the items, and get away with it. Dr. Jenkins will get really mad, and go on a mad pursuit of his things, ready to kill the thief when he finds him, and figure out who it is ( The young and sick musician. ), but die in the battle where he is trying to kill the thier. The musician will then take it to start a new era of people, where he will be the worshipped one. Afterthoughts: Greed sucks! __ ** Short Stories - Literary Devises ** Title: The Portable Phonograph Point of View: 3rd person semi-omniscient. Protagonist: Doctor Jenkins What type of character is the Protagonist? Round and static.

Antagonist: The musician, and envirmonment.

Describe the setting It takes place in a worn land ravaged by war and destruction. It is around the start of winter, and most of the action takes place in a lonesome cave, around a smoky peat fire. The mood is solemn, and desperate.

Type of Conflict:  man vs man man vs environment man vs himself Describe the main conflict: When the Dr. plays his phonograph, and entices the others with the music. Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax in my opinion is when Dr. Jenkins brings out his precious phonograph, and plays music for the others. How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? I don't think that the doctor changes very much, but we know that he becomes more protective at the end of the story, because he hold the lead pipe to stop someone from stealing his stuff. Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. The title is The Portable Phonograph. The theme is to treasure what we have, and not get to far ahead of ourselves, otherwise we will turn into a "race of mechanical fools". The portable phonograph may be old, outdated by other "great" inventions, but it is still a treasure, and for the people in the story, their only connection to their humanity. How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The main conflict is when the Doctor plays his phonograph to the others, and entices them with the music, giving them their sense of humanity once more. How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? At the end, when Dr. Jenkins clutches his lead pipe to protect his treasures, he shows another characteristic of humanity: That we will usually defend the things or people that we love. //Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):// Simile: "My brain becomes thick like my hands." Metaphor: "That's more soul than we can use, Moby Dick is better." Personification:  Wild geese are flying south, and the author writes: "The faint plaintive notes of their expeditionary talk." Symbol: The scorched land is a symbol because it represents how things get destroyed, but can always live and get better: There is a solution to every problem. Foreshadowing (give both elements): "On the inside of the bed, next to the wall, he could feel with his hands, the comfortable piece of lead pipe." Irony: That tecnonology has advanced so far, but Doctor Jenkins still had "old school" things. Imagery: The frozen mud still bore the signs of the toothed impress of the great tanks."  Describe the relationships between the class theme of humanity and the story.  These people have lost their humanity, and are trying to get it back. They are so moved by even a small peice of music from an ancient gramaphone, that they start crying! They are so disconnected from their humanity, and living like animals in caves, trying to keep warm and have enough food. Is this what makes up humans? They are trying not to be animals, and trying to find a sense of humanity.  REvised total: 20/23   Link to Presentation:  https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AZmSjjqot99jZGZ6NWZnd3dfNWhtd2Q3eHZn&hl=en_US

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