THE ESSAY QUESTION: Discuss what Hulga Hopewell loses and gains in Flannery O’Connor’s short story “Good Country People.” What does she learn about being human? What has believing that humans are mere objects cost her? How does Manley Pointer, who also believes in nothing, affect her? You do not have to treat every question in this prompt, but you need to address the overall question: What does Hulga Hopewell lose and gain in this short story?. See the discussion below to help you prepare your essay. See Also: The Alternative Prompt (below).
WHAT HULGA HOPEWELL LOSES & GAINS IN “GOOD COUNTRY PEOPLE”
HER LOSSES AT HOME:
Sense of Self-Identity–“Joy” __________________________
“Joy” — _________________________________________
“Hulga”– ________________________________________
Adult Relationships__________________________________
__________ — ___________________________________
__________ — _______________________________-_____
HER LOSSES TO MANLEY POINTER:
Tangibles (Objects of symbolic importance)
Wooden Leg — ____________________________________
__________ — ____________________________________
Untangibles–
Ignorance ______________________________________
Arrogance ______________________________________
HER GAINS AT THE CLOSE OF THE STORY:
Insight into reality __________________________________
Insight into human nature– __________________________
______________________________________________
Understanding her own human vulnerability — ___________
_____________________________________________
IRONY IN FLANNERY O’CONNOR’S “GOOD COUNTRY PEOPLE”
TERMS: 1) Verbal Irony–“involves what one does not mean” (literary devices.net/irony)
2) Situational Irony–occurs when the reality of a situation differs from its appearance
and neither character nor reader (nor audience) realizes this (literary devices.net/irony)
CHARACTERS & IRONY:
1. Their names appear ironic.
Mrs. Freeman – _________________________________________
Mrs. Hopewell – ________________________________________
Joy (“Hulga”) Hopewell – __________________________________
Manly Pointer – _________________________________________
2. Their lines prove ironic.
Mrs. Freeman – _________________________________________
Mrs. Hopewell – ________________________________________
Joy (“Hulga”) Hopewell – __________________________________
Manly Pointer – _________________________________________
3. Their situations prove ironic.
Mrs. Freeman – _________________________________________
Mrs. Hopewell – _________________________________________
Joy (“Hulga”) Hopewell – __________________________________
Manly Pointer – __________________________________________
ALTERNATIVE PROMPT: Discuss Flannery OConnors use of irony in her short story titled
Good Country People. You may focus on ironic situations, such as Mrs.
Hopewells not understanding rudeness though she lives with it, or Hulgas
fantasy about being with Manley Hopkins compared to her reality. You may
discuss how the title Good Country People points to irony evident within
the characters. However you address OConnors use of irony, do so in a
well-organized and well-expressed, polished essay of 600 to 900 words.
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