Literature provides a concentrated, imaginative vision of the world. The type of literature known as the short story deals with every conceivable subject. An author can dramatize any aspect of human nature or the human condition: youth, happiness, marriage, divorce, nonconformity, growing old, dying. The narrative gives life to the idea, but what an author wants to convey about some aspect of life is what makes the story significant and meaningful.

* The central idea, or theme, of a story is the motivating force that influences the author's choices. In “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck tells the story of Elisa, the 35 year old wife of Henry, a rancher who is unaware of the state of her loneliness. One day a 'tinker' arrives and taps into Elisa's repressed passion and desire in order to 'con' her out of a pot. He flatters her ability to plant and raise flowers, but in reality could care less. Lisa is taken in and gives him a pot with some of her flowers only to see later that evening (as she rides toward town with her husband) that the tinker has tossed the flowers away. Through Elisa's story, Steinbeck shows us how women who are unhappy can be easy prey. OPENING Summary of the story followed by a one-sentence statement of the theme*. OPENING Summary and Theme

The plot of “The Chrysanthemums” is chronological. Elisa is tending to her garden when the tinker arrives and talks her into giving him a pot. After he leaves. Henry offers to take her to dinner and on their way she sees that the flowers have been tossed aside. Steinbeck does no tell us that the tinker has done that until Elisa sees them. By doing this he has saved the revelation of the betrayal so that we share it with Elisa and so, feel her pain. PLOT SECTION Briefly outline the major events of the story, identify whether or not they are presented in chronological order and if they are not, explain why. PLOT Chronological?

The conflict in the story is internal, within Elisa. She is torn between her mundane life which is devoid of excitement and adventure and the world described by the tinker, filled with travel and exotic experiences (or so she believes.) Sadly, this conflict is not resolved, as Steinbeck suggest she will always be as she is, for in the end "she was crying weakly--like an old woman." CONFLICT SECTION Identify the conflict, explain whether it is internal or external and what it is 'between‘ followed by support for your 'claim CONFLICT Between?

CHARACTER SECTION Brief description of each character followed by the character's type (Round or Flat, Static or Dynamic) and if he or she is a stereotype. With support for each choice. There are only three characters in this story. Elisa is the most developed. Her character is round and dynamic. She has many facets to her character; she is a wife and she is an extra-ordinary gardener, but she is childless and has substituted her flowers for the children she (or, perhaps, Henry) cannot have. By the end of the story, she is a different woman. She knows she has been played for a fool. Henry and the tinker are flat and static. They have only one side to their character and they do not change. CHARACTER Round/Flat Static/Dynamic

The story takes place in the Salinas Valley in California, probably in the 1930's. In those days, situations like Elisa's were not uncommon. And travelling tinkers like the pot mender were not unusual. One of the major roles of the wife of a farmer or rancher in those days was to provide children to work the farm or ranch. Elisa had none so she is relegated to one of the few things available at that time--gardening. Had this story taken place today we would likely be wondering why Elisa didn't have a career of her own or why she didn't leave her sad situation. SETTING SECTION Identify where and when the story takes place and what impact that has on the theme of the story SETTING Where/When

POINT OF VIEW SECTION Identify the narrator The story is told by an omniscient narrator. Although Steinbeck doesn't delve into the minds of the characters he provides many clues as to how they feel through their actions. As they talk, Elisa's "breast swelled passionately" and the tinker looks "away self- consciously." But Henry's conversation is filled with 'blundering' and 'bewilderment.' We can tell how they feel and the ending of the story, when Elisa cries, is a clear indication of her emotional state.

Steinbeck uses a variety of language elements in this story, including metaphors, similes, symbolism, irony, and dialogue. His description of the Salinas valley where Elisa lives uses a simile to describe the 'trap' she's in as well as a foreshadowing of the pot repairman's visit.("The high grey- flannel fog...sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot.") Steinbeck also uses symbolism to describe how Elisa's Chrysanthemums have come to replace the children she does not have. Even her husband seems to be aware of this. LANGUAGE SECTION Identify the language elements and what they contribute

CONCLUSION Restate the interpretation and sum up the paper It is through Elisa's story that Steinbeck shows us the sad plight of women like Elisa whose station in life makes them easy prey for unscrupulous people like the tinker. Her character's internal conflict, the setting of the story, the events that make up the plot, and the language, with its overtones of sexual frustration, work together to produce a tale that is unforgettable. It makes us feel better to know that such situations are less likely in today's world where women are free to pursue their dreams

A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Major events of the story in chronological order Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Internal or external and what it is 'between Major events of the story in chronological order Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Brief description of each character followed by the character's type Internal or external and what it is 'between Major events of the story in chronological order Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Where and when the story takes place Internal or external and what it is 'between Major events of the story in chronological order Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS Brief description of each character followed by the character's type

Where and when the story takes place Internal or external and what it is 'between Major events of the story in chronological order Brief description of each character followed by the character's type The narrator [Omniscient, First Person?] Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Where and when the story takes place Internal or external and what it is 'between Major events of the story in chronological order Brief description of each character followed by the character's type The narrator [Omniscient, First Person?] Identify the language elements and what they contribute Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS

Where and when the story takes place Internal or external and what it is 'between Major events of the story in chronological order Brief description of each character followed by the character's type The narrator [Omniscient, First Person?] Identify the language elements and what they contribute Restate interpretation and summarize the discussion. Summarize the story; conclude with one- sentence statement of the theme. A COMPLETE ANALYSIS