1. Flash Fiction: Literary Analysis Guided Practice
“Bedtime Story”
By: Jeffrey Whitmore

2. “Careful, honey, it’s loaded,” he said, re-entering the bedroom.
Bedtime Story
“Careful, honey, it’s loaded,” he said, re-entering the bedroom.
Her back rested against the headboard. “This for your wife?”
“No. Too chancy. I’m hiring a professional.”
“How about me?”
He smirked. “Cute. But who’d be dumb enough to hire a lady hit man?”
She wet her lips, sighting along the barrel.
“Your wife.
By: Jeffrey Whitmore

3. Describe the protagonist of the story
Describe the protagonist of the story. What can we infer about the main character based on clues from the text?
Untrustworthy - Cheating on his wife
Dangerous criminal - Planned murder of his wife
Sexist - Thinks women are inferior to men
Protective - Keeps a loaded gun in the bedroom

4. Characters, Conflict, & Plot
Protagonist
“Somebody”
Who is the main character?
Motivation
“Wanted”
What does the main character want?
Conflict
“But...”
What is the problem?
Rising Action
“So”
What does the main character do?
Conclusion
“Then”
What happens in the end?
The protagonist is a cheating husband.
He wanted to be free from his wife.
But his wife is alive and they are married.
So he hires a hit man to kill his wife.
Then it’s revealed that the wife hired the “other woman” to kill the husband.

5. Characters and Conflict
What type of conflict does the protagonist experience?
Person vs. Person: (Husband vs. wife and husband vs. hit woman/mistress)

6. Theme
What may the protagonist have learned about life by the end of the story?
What is one possible theme of this story?
Women are just as capable and powerful as men
What goes around comes around
No one can be trusted
One should always watch their back
Those we know very well still surprise us

7. Group Literary Analysis
Your Turn -
Group Literary Analysis
1. Chose one story below to read in your group:
“Moment of Decision”
“On the 5:25 Suburban”
“Higher Education”
Complete the Literary Analysis PowerPoint questions as a group. (WebMailed to you on 3/17).
Submit completed PowerPoint through WebMail (one per group).