GENERAL. “Realism isn’t popular--is it?” Half assertively this inquiry
comes from a certain fiction writer. It is, perhaps, in proportion as
the story has obvious significance. This sketch about “Ma’s Pretties”
reflects in miniature the whole of an American community, but in
a manner which escapes him who seeks and appreciates only surface
values. It is the kind of writing which acquires relative importance
when placed alongside examples which reflect other communities, other
nationalities.
The narrative is not a short-story, in the technical sense. Mr. Buzzell
feels this to be no adverse criticism, since he says himself, “I am
not particularly concerned about the short-story as such. I am using a
short narrative form as a means of expression simply because this form
seems the most natural to me. There are many things which I wish to
record from my own particular slant. It is to accomplish this, rather
than to produce short-stories, that I am writing. Naturally, then, I
am not particularly concerned with the technique of the short-story,
but on the other hand I am very much concerned with the technique of
effective writing and have spent several years of hard work trying to
perfect my craftsmanship.”
CLASSIFICATION. A realistic sketch, with emphasis on the situation:
Mrs. Brooks dies; her “pretties” are divided.
THE CHARACTERS. What is the chief method of the author for revealing
character? How is the character of the dead woman indicated? What can
you say of the dialogue by way of indicating feeling over (1) “Ma’s”
illness, (2) her death? Describe the daughters.
THE MAIN SCENE. Is the story aptly entitled with respect to the main
incident? What universal theme is struck in this well-developed scene
between the girls in “Ma’s” room?
“The things enumerated in ‘Ma’s Pretties’ as found in her clothespress
were part of the things my mother found in my grandmother’s
clothespress after the latter’s death. I had to reject many items of
course, and rearrange those which I selected as typical. You may be
sure I spent a couple of weeks of hard work before I was satisfied with
this piece of writing.”--_Francis Buzzell._
SUBORDINATE SCENES. Which scene do you regard as second in importance?
“The building up of the scene in which Ben Brooks carries the earrings
in to ‘Ma’ was also a bit of conscious technique. I worked on that
paragraph many hours before I was satisfied with the names of the
flowers and had my tonal values right.”--_Francis Buzzell._
* * * * *
Compare this story with Donn Byrne’s “The Wake.” Apart from the
narrative element, do you receive a decided impression of national
contrast?
Study the list of “pretties,” as you studied the list of objects, etc.,
in Miss Babcock’s “The Excursion.” Try to discover, here as there,
their value in the reflection of reality. Certain small objects connote
what larger objects? “Ma’s” switch, for example? Apply this question to
your consideration of each detail. Have these apparently insignificant
details a value similar to that of synecdoche and metonymy?