CLASSIFICATION. This is, primarily, a love story, having a strongly
marked struggle between the first and second characters, and a
complicating thread of interest drawn from the relations between the
first and third characters. It is of the familiar “triangle” type, but
of a unique individuality.
The struggle appears to be motivated by something like hate; but the
dénouement reveals that the acts resulting from apparent hatred or
contempt were only negative or distorted expressions of the real or
positive passion.
PRESENTATION. The narrator is the author (third person), who focuses
the spot-light on Angel.
PLOT. Analyze the plot, marking out the main steps. What is the turning
point in the struggle, or the dramatic climax?
Compare the manipulation of the plot elements with the management of
those in “The Yellow Cat” plot. Which is simpler?
SETTING. Among the Portuguese on Urkey Island. The time is the present.
CHARACTERIZATION. The racial type chosen is one, through which
passionate and contradictory expression might well flow. A
colder-tempered, more logical people, would here be impossible. Or if
individuals of the milder tempered race were chosen, the task of making
them convincing (as a group) would be an added difficulty.
What impression of Peter Um Perna do you receive at first? By what
method or methods of portrayal is this impression conveyed?
Where is the second Peter, his second self, first revealed? Where
in full? What is the significance of the relationship of the one who
explains him?
What is the chief trait of Angel? How is your opinion of her maintained
or changed? At what point, and why, does she leave off caring for
Man’el?
What marked characteristics of Peter and Man’el are contrasted? (See
e.g., page 329: “Yeh!” He had planned to lie about that.”)
What is the value of the older characters--the Avo and Mena?
Why are the life-savers numbered 1, 2, 5 and so on?
DETAILS. Is there anywhere a clue to Angel’s love for Peter? To his for
her?
Wherein lies the element of suspense? Where is your curiosity first
satisfied? What becomes a new cause for reading on? How is suspense
increased near the final outcome?
Why at first reading are you not sure of the place at which Angel no
longer loves Man’el? What purpose of the author leads him to leave the
reader doubtful?
What vividness is given to the description of the setting, in the first
paragraph?
What plot convenience exists in the Avo being Peter’s laundress?
How is the name Philomena used? In what other story of these
collections do you find it similarly _non_-descriptive?
Why is the title “Down on _Their_ Knees”?
What indications in this story, in the way of color and form, do you
find of Mr. Steele’s being also an artist of the brush?
What plot purpose does Man’el perform in his dare to Peter, to “go
fishin’”? Does he serve to get the situation over the _impasse_? Is it
a too obvious trick?
The struggle in the last lap of the action is one against the elements.
What are the two subdivisions of this struggle? Is the outcome
satisfactory? What symbolic value has the final sentence?