The+Portable+Phonograph


 * Short Stories - Literary DevisesTitle:** The Portable Phonograph


 * Point of View:** Limited Omniscient and Third Person


 * Protagonist:** Dr. Jenkins


 * What type of character is the Protagonist?** The Protagonist is round and static.


 * Antagonist:** The Musician and Dr. Jenkins

The setting takes place sometime in the future after a devastating world war. The red sunset, with narrow, blackcloud strips, which lays on the curced horizon of the prarie, highlights the muddy pits made by gigantic bombs from the war. By the creek, in the bank above it, there is a cell-like hole dug, with a single opening. Within the cell there is a little red of fire which shows dull through the opening, like a refection or deception of the imagination. Three men huddle around the smoldering peat, watching intently at their host.
 * Describe the setting**

Mans vs. Self
 * Type of Conflict:** Man vs. Man

The main conflict is that the men are trying to preserve their humanity, but find it hard to do so because of a devastating world war., which has left them with nothing but each other and a few precious items. The other conflicts are that it is vert cold where the four men are currently living and someone is trying to steal the phonograph and books.
 * Describe the main conflict:**

The climax of the story is when Dr.Jenkins hears a man coughing in the dark.
 * Describe the Climax of the Story:**

The protagonist changes over the course of the story, especially in the end, because he gets paranoid and thinks one of the three men is going to come and steal the phonograph. He was easy going and prestegious-like first, but now he's looking scared, as if he's going to loose his most valuble possesions to someone.
 * How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?**

The relationship between the title and theme is that the title; portable phonograph, symbolizes a way to preserve humanity; theme, by demonstratiwhat man kind could do and can do again.
 * Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.**

The main conflict helps illustrate the theme because they're both demonstrating the same thing; that the men are trying to preseve their humanity.
 * How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?**

The climax helps illustrate the theme by showing that not everyine is capable of controlling thier humanity, like the man coughing outside Dr.Jenkins door, who may or may not steal the valuble items.
 * How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?**

"Oh, don't!," cried the young man, as if he were hurt. Koolaid is like water, but sweeter. The air was still cold, and in it settled the mute darkness and greater cold of night. He has a heart of stone. "..obscured by the begenning of a flying cloud.." Walking desks take over town. Needles. Dr.Jenkins uses the needles to play music that connects him to his hummanity, so therefore, the needles that Dr.Jenkins is so relentuant to use are a symbol of him trying to hold on to his humanity. Colour is a symbol to me because colour makes life more interesting, so colour represents my friends, who make life more interesting, to me. The musician who keeps coughing and practically can't bear the sound music coming from the phonograph, and another foreshadow is given by the author whenDr.Jenkins hears a cough outside. There was an old man. He was extremely sick. He passed away the next day. (He was very sick, and the man was very old are the foreshadowing details in this short story) Dr.Jenkins is dictating the three men on humanity and, in the end, Dr.Jenkins hears someone coughing outside his home, who I suspect is going to steal the phonograph. So, ironically, even though Dr. Jenkins was trying to teach the other 3 men good aspects of humanity, he himself got a lead-pipe in the conclusion to defend himself even if it meant hurting the musician. Tom got Jerry in trouble. Because Jerry got in trouble, a set of chain events caused Tom to take the blame. (Tom gets Jerry in trouble, but the joke's on him since he's the one who is going to take the blame) The red sunset, with narrow, black cloud strips like threats across it, lay on the curved horizon of the prairie. The popcorn smells like always,delicious, buttery, and salty.
 * Give examples of each of the the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):**
 * Simile:**
 * Metaphor:**
 * Personification:**
 * Symbol:**
 * Foreshadowing (give both elements):**
 * Irony:**
 * Imagery:**

The relationships between the class theme and story is that they both represent humanity; good aspects and bad.
 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. **

The class theme, humanity, and the story, "The Portable Phonograph," are related because they both represent humanity. The class theme is humanity, and the story's theme is humanity. The phonograph represents what humans could and will do. This story is set somewhere in the future, after a devastating war. I know this because Dr. Jenkins is trying to preserve works of art like the books in the story, as well as the phonograph. That proves that not allot of works of art are left in in the world. Maybe, in the process of the war, it was all destroyed. The purpose of the men's meeting was so they could watch the unwrapping of the book bundle. The author compares the unwrapping of the book to be a ceremonial rite because it's an important moment for the men since we can assume that most of the world's fine arts has been destroyed from the war. The significance of the books that were saved is great because in my opinion they are one of the few books saved from the war. The other significance was that the books somehow helped the men preserve their humanity (at least for the time being). There are no recent works of fiction included because they wouldn't be as meaningful as the books in the bundle (they are classic tales) and plus there was a devestating world war, so there is hardly any paper to write on, nevermind men to write it. I think the significance of Dr.Jenkins clutching the lead pipe at the end of the story is that he has no problem hitting the person who might come steal his valubles. I think the musician will come back for the phonograph and books. I came to that conclusion because while Dr.Jenkins stood outside after the three men left, he heard a sound of supressed coughing. The musician kept trying to supress his cough at Dr.Jenkin's home, so I think it's reasonable to assume it was him.
 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.**
 * Responding Questions:**
 * 1. When is this story set? What has recently happened? Support your opinion with details from the story.**
 * 2. What is the purpose of the men's meeting? Why does the author compare the unwrapping of the book bundle to be a ceremonial rite?**
 * 3. What is the signifcance of the books that were saved? Why are there no recent works of fiction included?**
 * 4. a) What do you think is the significance of Dr.Jenkins clutching the lead pipe at the end of the story?**
 * b) What do you think might happen next? Discuss, using references from the story.**

Completion 5/5 Effort 3.5/5 Content 4/5 Questions 7/8 total 19.5/23

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQNxcj3xspT7ZGQ3eGozcGdfMGYzNDk3ZGZ6&pli=1 One of your partners has the breakdown of the rubric score for your presentation.