The+Portable+Phonograph


 * Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: ** The Portable Phonograph


 * Point of View: ** Third Person


 * Protagonist: ** Dr. Jenkins


 * What type of character is the Protagonist? ** Dynamic, Round


 * Antagonist: ** Environment/Musician


 * Describe the setting: ** The story is set just after a World War that has destroyed much of the Earth’s livable habitat. The only place still habitable is presumably very far north, because it is freezing, dark, icy, and barren. It is sunset on one of the first days of winter. There are two moods in this story; one is depressed, sad, and dismal, the other is hopeful, and expectant. The story starts dismally, but at the prospect of listening to the phonograph the mood is hopeful. Wile listening to the phonograph, it is content. After, it is sad. The most amount of time is spent in Dr. Jenkins' one-room home. It is a small space with a dirt floor, and rags for a bed.


 * Type of Conflict: ** Man vs. Environment/Man vs. Man


 * Describe the main conflict: ** The main conflict is between is between the men and the environment. The musician becomes sick because of how cold it is outside. All of the men appear cold, and it is so difficult to stay warm. The inferable conflict is between the musician and Dr. Jenkins, over the phonograph. The theme is people trying to find a connection to who they were before their world was destroyed.


 * Describe the Climax of the Story: ** The climax of the story is when Dr. Jenkins hears the coughing outside of where he lives. That is the point in the story where all of the tension is built, and the suspense has mounted. The climax leads us to believe that the musician was going to try and steal the phonograph away from the Dr. Jenkins.


 * How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? ** Dr. Jenkins changes from a kind, generous man who is trying to spread hope, to a defensive man, who is relying on one of his most primitive instincts; protectiveness.


 * Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. ** The theme of the story is that no matter what experiences a person has gone through, their human instincts will still guide them. This relates to the title “The Portable Phonograph”, because the inferable fight is over the phonograph. If they had not been fighting over the phonograph, we would not get to see Dr. Jenkins protective instinct shine through.
 * How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? ** The inferable conflict between Dr. Jenkins and the musician highlights how despite the war and bloodshed that has just gone on, humans will still hurt each other because of their protective instincts. I do not think that Dr. Jenkins specifically wanted to hurt the musician, but if he came anywhere near the phonograph, I am sure that he would have because of his instincts.


 * How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? ** The climax is what triggered all of Dr. Jenkins’ protective instincts. After he hears the coughing he is “nervous”. Dr. Jenkins hides his books and phonograph, all because he hears a cough that could belong to the musician.


 * Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes): **
 * Simile: ** “…black cloud strips __like__ threads across it…”“...with a single opening, __like__ the mouth of a mine tunnel.”


 * Metaphor: ** “The wet, blue-green __notes__ tinkled forth from the old machine, and were individual, __delectable presences__ in the cell.” This is a metaphor because it is telling us that the notes are equal to the delectable presences.


 * Personification: ** “…beginning of a __flying__ cloud…” Clouds float, they do not fly. Flying requires a dynamic force. Since clouds do not have that force, this is an example of personification. ”…blizzards __paraded__ for days…” Blizzards cannot parade, so this is personification.
 * Symbol: ** “...young trees trying again.” This is a symbol for trying to maintain and carry on after a disaster, just like the men are trying to do.
 * Foreshadowing (give both elements): ** “They seemed to be waiting for something.” This leaves the reader with the impression that there is something even more astounding to come. “You wish to hear the phonograph...” This tells the reader what that astounding thing is, as well as makes the reader feel sure that they will listen to it. “At the first notes of the piano...” This tells the reader that the characters did indeed get to hear the phonograph.


 * Irony: ** The irony in the story is that the instincts that caused the war have not left the people who survived. When Dr. Jenkins hears the cough outside of his home, he immediately becomes defensive, and grabs a pipe that he could hit the musician with. Despite the violence of the war, he is still willing to use violence to get what he wants. “...he could feel with his hands, the __comfortable__ piece of lead pipe.”


 * Imagery: ** The first two pages are almost all painting images for the reader. “...through the veil of dusk...” “...came faintly the protracted howl and quick yap-yap of a prairie wolf.” There is a lot of imagery in this story, and it is mostly describing the post apocalyptic world, the characters, and the climate.


 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. ** The class theme of humanity relates very well to The Portable Phonograph. At the end of the story, Dr. Jenkins hears the same cough that the musician had, outside of where he lives. From that Dr. Jenkins inferred that the musician was still in the vicinity because he wanted to steal the phonograph. Dr. Jenkins then hid everything he could, and went to bed with a lead pipe. Presumably Dr. Jenkins would defend the phonograph, no matter what. Even in the wake of a devastating war Dr. Jenkins would still injure or even kill a fellow human. That protective instinct is one of the many instincts that make us human. So, despite the circumstances, the human instinct to protect what you love still holds firm. The author showed us Dr. Jenkins true humanity.


 * 1. When is the story set? What has recently happened? Support your opinion with details from the story. ** This story is set at the beginning of winter when all the geese are flying south. It is set at sunset, just after a large war that has wiped out most of the habitable land. “They were the scars of gigantic bombs...” This is what has happened to the Earth. It has turned into a wasteland.


 * 2. What is the purpose of the men’s meeting? Why does the author compare the unwrapping of the book bundle to ceremonial rite? ** The purpose of the men’s meeting is for Dr. Jenkins to share with them the inspiration he received from the phonograph and the books. The author compares the unwrapping of the book bundle to the ceremonial rite, because that is exactly what is happening. The gathering is like a ceremony to give hope to the men through the books and music.


 * 3. What is the significance of the books that were saved? Why are there no recent works of fiction included? ** The books that were saved were books with soul. The books that were saved were some of the books with the most inspiration. They were ment to give the men hope in the darkest night. None of these works were very recent because many books gain meaning as they get older; and so many books have been written that when try to pick out the most inspirational, they will be the older books.
 * 4.a) What do you think is the significance of Dr. Jenkins clutching the lead pipe at the end? ** I think that Dr. Jenkins was clutching the lead pipe, to defend the phonograph from the musician. This is significant because it shows that despite the tragedy of the war, the human quality of protection still overtook Dr. Jenkins. This proves the theme, that despite past experiences human instincts will always be directly related to human actions.
 * b) What do you think might happen next? Discuss using inferences from the story. ** Based on the fact that Dr. Jenkins heard coughing outside of his home, I think that the musician may have tried to steal the phonograph. When the musician tried, he may have gotten a surprise as Dr. Jenkins may have protected the phonograph by attacking the musician with the pipe. I would assume that one of them would have ended up at least injured, or possibly even dead. “…a sound of suppressed coughing.” “…the comfortable piece of lead pipe.”

Completion 5/5 Effort 5/5 Content 5/5 Questions 8/8

total 23/23

HERE'S THE SLIDE SHOW!!!! [|Sarah, Emily, David] One of your partners has the breakdown of the rubric score for your presentation.