The Chrysanthemums

Prereading - None

Plot - Elisa is planting the flowers, when a wagon comes by. A man comes out and talks to her she gives him the chrysanthemum sprouts. She gives him some pans to fix and he leaves in the wagon, she goes and takes a bath, gets all ready and pretty, sees that the plants are on the ground, ruined.

Questions - Why did she overreact over the flowers?

Why did e get rid of the flowers?

Quotes - "It was an old-spring wagon, with a round canvas top on it."

"She put on the dress which was a symbol of her prettiness

Chrysanthemums:

-self-esteem

-hope

Collective: angsty, rowdy, technologically advanced, bad, rebellious, dramatic, lazy

Women in 1930's: obediant, submissive to men, reserved, quiet, unintelligent, place in the home

Setting: Salinas Valley, Late 1940's on a small farm.

-Grey Flannel fog of winter.

-Black Earth

-bathed in cold sunshine

Characters- woman, loves her husband, but narrow and unexcited.

-lonely, hardworking, strong in mentality, enthusiastic about planting and gullible.

Tinker- Hustler, good salesman, cajoles Eliza to offering him work

Henry Allen- Flat character, puts effort into his work, boring, likes to attempt to pamper his wife.

Conflicts=

P vs. P Eliza vs. Tinker

P vs. Society Eliza vs. Society

P vs. Self Eliza vs. Self

Plot Line=

Climax- Eliza sees the Chrysanthemums on the side of the road

Symbols=

Chrysanthemums- hope, self esteem

Planter Hands- her strength

POV= third person limited [see into elizas thoughts]

Themes=

People who dont believe in themselves trust people easily.

A society can affect us as an individual

A collective identity can hinder a persons actions

Thesis-

Explicit= articulate on every line of an argument

Implicit= less direct

Basic Thesis= Thus, Eliza's perspective on life parallels the lifeless setting of “Chrysanthemums” through the diction of the setting, Eliza's internal conflict and the symbol of the chrysanthemum.