Analysis of "The Short and Happy Life of Francis Macomber" – Flashcards

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Francis Macomber
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-wealthy -married his wife for her beauty -lacks confidence and courage for the majority of the story -American -thirty-five years old
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Margaret (Margot) Macomber
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-wife of Francis -again beauty -bitch -has cheated on her husband in the past -kills her husband -thinks Francis is a coward for most of the story -American
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Wilson
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-professional hunter -from England -cheats with Margot -*******
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Hemingway Hero
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A character who exemplifies certain principles of honor, courage, and endurance
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Qualities of a Hemingway Hero
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-follows a specific code -excels in a certain skill area and follows all rules of conduct within it -does not talk about his beliefs -stoic (a person who can endure pain and hardship without showing emotion) -an advocate of self-discipline -defined by his actions, not by his theories or words -devotes life to all sorts of pleasures, such as food, drink, frivolous living, etc. -is constantly confronting or encountering death -provides his courage under pressure -he has a fear of death, but he must not be afraid to die
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Which animals were hunted on the safari?
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Lion, impala, buffalo
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Explain why you think Margot intentionally tried to kill Francis
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-she wanted the wealth -feared that Francis would divorce her due to his newfound sense of courage -Wilson's confession -she never apologizes for it, indicating that it was her intent to kill him -she didn't love him (she married him for money) -she felt guilty afterwards
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Explain why you think Margot killed Francis on accident
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-she's a bad shot because she's a girl -kept saying "stop it" to Wilson, indicating that she knew what she did and she was sorry -shows sorrow afterwards -she worried about the buffalo killing Francis -recoil messed up the shot
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Explain why this is an example of modernist writing.
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The author did not spoon-feed us the ending; he made us think critically about whether Francis' death was intentional or accidental.
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Why is Wilson a Hemingway Hero?
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-abides by the rules of hunting (never shooting in the car) -civil towards the Macombers -brave -a professional at his skill (hunting)
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What is the cathartic moment in the story?
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Buffalo hunting when Francis emptied his rifle
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Why is Francis a potential Hemingway Hero?
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-overcame his fears when buffalo hunting -generally civil to his wife and Wilson even though they irritate him -is not afraid to die, as demonstrated by his bravery when facing the buffalo
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What is the exposition of the story?
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Setting: on a safari in Africa Characters: Francis and Margot Macomber, Wilson
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What is unusual about the beginning of the story?
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The beginning of the story tells us about what happened after the lion hunt, which happened in the middle of the story. The author uses flashbacks to fill the audience in.
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