The Rocking-Horse Winner

RWH A fairytale style or folk tale style 3rd person omniscient narration Involves a dysfunctional family Notion of what it is to be lucky Possible child abuse Class consciousness

Imagery Eye imagery pg. 19 “Only she herself, and her children themselves, knew it was not so. They read it in each other’s eyes.” pg. 20 “the boy watched her with unsure eyes.” Pg. 21 “his eyes had a strange glare in them. The little girls dared not speak to him.” (establishing character) Pg. 21 Referring to the RH “its big eye was wide and glassy-bright.” link to Paul and the horse Pg. 24The boy gazed at his uncle from those big, hot, blue eyes, set rather close together. The uncle stirred and laughed uneasily. (establishing mood) Pg. 27 “The boy watched him with big blue eyes, that had an uncanny cold fire in them, and he said never a word.” (notice the author hear lets characterization speak in place of actual dialogue)

Atmosphere/mood Personification Pg. “And so the house came to be haunted by the unspoken phrase: There must be more money! There must be more money!” Repetition reinforces the impact of personification Objects on pg. 20 – the rocking horse, doll and puppy hear the secret whisper: “There must be more money~”

Cause and Effect No luck Pg. 20 “It’s because your father has no luck,” said Paul’s mother when asked why they were poor.

Foreshadowing Reference is made to the supernatural when Paul told his mother that he was a lucky person. Pg. 21 “He stared at her. He didn’t even know hwy he had said it. “God told me,” he asserted…..He did mother!” Pg. 25 “We’re all right when we’re sure,” said Paul. “It’s when we’re not quite sure that we go down.” Pg. 28 In relation to the continued whispering of the house. It was said that “Paul could not bear up against it.” Pg. 31 Paul has his rocking horse moved to his own bedroom. His obsession will have deadly consequences - marks a passage of time

Other Lit terms Alliteration Pg. 22 “Now!” he would silently command the snorting steed.” Simile Pg. 2 Bassett was serious as a church

Diction Characterization through diction. Paul reveals his youth when he claims that Uncle Oscar pronounces Filthy lucre as filfthy lucker. Diction can have the purpose of revealing character.

Theme Statements Materialism vs Unconditional familial love (Topic not a statement) When financial wealth and security are placed above the open expression of unconditional love, a destructive and dysfunctional family dynamic is created. Destructive power of obsession Dedicating oneself obsessively to achieving a goal can create an unhealthy imbalance in the mind, emotions, and / or body.