THE END OF FEELING

By Amani AlShaal
I loved my wife. When we lost our only son, I did everything in my power to make her happy.
Baily was only five years old when he died of malnutrition. We were very poor and no matter how
hard I worked, I was never able to provide enough for my family. I was ridden with guilt and I always
felt responsible. Elizabeth never blamed me though, for anything. But I couldnt show her that I, too,
was hurting. I watched over her through nights when her nightmares caused her to wake up screaming,
sweating, and crying in pain. I thought that with time, shed go back to her old self and resume her
duties. That day never came.
As I walked through our village, I heard rumors and whispers of a great therapist that used
extremely helpful methods. I scoffed at the thought of a therapist. They still exist?
The people in our village slowly started to change. I was alarmed when I was heading to the
mines early in the morning and I did not hear the usual singing of the jolly baker as she kneaded her
dough. The people I passed by on the street were all staring at the ground as they walked. No more
hellos or good mornings. People became detached and numb. Everyday presented a new kind of
dullness, as if a shadow was cast over the whole village. Everyday, I felt more and more like an
outcast. Was I really the only one capable of feeling?
I came home one day and couldnt find my wife. Panic overtook me and I didnt know what to
do. I went around the village asking if anyone saw her. No one did. Everyone knew Elizabeth, they
knew who she once was. They all loved her and often stopped by to wish her well. Sometimes they
brought food. But that day, no one even offered to help me look for her. Not only was I worried about
my wife, but also about this indifference that had taken over everyone. I decided to set out to the
woods and look for her there, so I headed back home to gather my things. As I walked in, a fresh
aroma of pumpkin soup infiltrated the air. I walked to the kitchen and found my wife standing over the
stove, cooking. I could not believe my eyes. I ran to her and hugged her tight. Youre back, I
whispered in her ear, finally. She hugged me back but she didnt say a word. I couldnt complain too
much, I was happy to have my wife back.
Our days consisted of very little talk. But I was a patient man. I couldnt pressure her and I
would have been stupid to assume that shed ever be the same person I married. But I was willing to
wait, as long as it took, for her to be happy again.
A month after the pumpkin soup, I was rummaging through our desk drawers to find the
money I had stashed years ago in case of an emergency. I wanted to buy my wife a gift. Thats when I
found the leather-bound journal. I didnt know whom it belonged to and how it got there so I opened it

and saw my wifes name written on the very first page. I closed it and put it back, then I noticed that a
small note had fallen out of it. I picked it up and read the name Lilith Simon. I knew everyone in our
village and I was certain that this Lilith person wasnt from around here. I turned the note around and
saw a map drawn that lead to a small village about an hour away from ours. I had never been there,
and only heard stories about the people that lived there. Most of the stories were exaggerated, that I
knew, but I couldnt help feeling a sense of fear that arose from the thought of Cobweb Meadow. I had
to find out who Lilith is, and why my wife had directions to her house.
I told my wife I was going on a hunting trip that same day, and would be back later in the
evening. I set off to Cobweb Meadow, prepared for the worst. I had a pistol in my duffel bag that I
hoped I wouldnt have to use.
The walk wasnt as long as I thought it would be, but I felt weary. This village looked just like
ours, the people dead inside. I wanted to get out of there as soon as I could. I followed the map and
easily found Liliths house. As I got closer to the door, I saw a sign that said I can take it all away. I
didnt know what to make of that but I felt a sudden urgency and I needed to get this over with. I
knocked the door, and a lady who seemed to be in her early thirties opened it. She had long white hair,
but barely any wrinkles. She wore a long velvet dress, and her neck was covered with beads. I asked
her right away about my wife.
Oh yes, my dear boy, Elizabeth came to see me about a month ago and I helped her.
So I asked, what did you do? What do you do? And to my surprise, she said: Im a
therapist. I take peoples pain away. Quite literally. But as payment, I take their joy and happiness
away too.
Is this some sort of joke?? I asked.
Lilith looked me straight in the eye and said: people are tired of being in pain, theyre tired of
sadness, I take it away. But everything comes with a price, and mine is happiness. I take that away
too.
I want it back I told her, give me back my wifes feelings.
I dont do refunds, my dear.
It took me no longer than half a second to come up with a bargain: give me back my wifes
emotions, and you can have mine.
Lilith smiled and said: that can be done.. but beware of the consequences.

I ran back home like a madman. I had to see my wife. Lilith said she would only give me a
day with Elizabeth before taking my feelings away, and I was going to cherish every second of it.
I walked into our house and saw Elizabeth standing right in front of me, with a gun aimed at
her head and tears running down her face.
No, no no! Put that away I screamed.
Her hands were trembling and her knees were shaking, but the gun remained aimed at her
head.
Why would you do that, John? I gave it all up FOR YOU. I was miserable but I knew you were, too. I
did it to save us. I did it for you.
BANG!

SHORT STORY ANALYZING

A. Point Of Paragraph
1. Jhon loves his wife and will do anything in his power to make his wife happy.
2. jhon heard rumors and whispers of a great therapist that used extremely helpful
methods.
3. People became detached and numb. Everyday presented a new kind of dullness, as if a
shadow was cast over the whole village
4. Jhon not only was worried about his wife, but also about this indifference that had
taken over everyone.
5. Jhon was willing to wait, as long as it took, for her to be happy again.
6. Jhon had to find out who Lilith is, and why his wife had directions to her house.
7. Jhon set off to Cobweb Meadow, prepared for the worst.
8. Jhon found liliths house and asked her about his wife
9. She said: Im a therapist. I take peoples pain away. Quite literally. But as payment, I
take their joy and happiness away too.
10. Jhon took no longer than half a second to come up with a bargain: give me back my
wifes emotions, and you can have mine.
11. She would only give jhon a day with Elizabeth before taking his feelings away, and he
was going to cherish every second of it.
12. Her hands were trembling and her knees were shaking, but the gun remained aimed at
her head.
B. Character :
jhon : husband who love his wife elizabeth so much; responsible and patient man.
Elizabeth: wife of jhon, loyal and patient
Baily: son of jhon and elizabeth. He has died
People: villager
Lilith: a therapist

C. Characterization
jhon : round fully developed
Elizabeth : dynamic
Baily : static
People : static
Lilith : dynamic
D. Setting
House, liliths house, village, kitchen.
E. Point of view
In first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as I.
(jhon)
F. Plot
Progressive plot
G. Climax
It took me no longer than half a second to come up with a bargain: give me back my
wifes emotions, and you can have mine.
H. Resolution
The last paragraph : Her hands were trembling and her knees were shaking, but the gun
remained aimed at her head.
I. Theme
Love Story. We should accept anything is given to us in this world. Dont ever give up to
our life condition. Everything has risk.
ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

A. Theme
The theme is the central idea or belief in a short story, usually expressed as a
generalization. Theme is the life lesson the authoris trying to teach you in the story. Some
examples of theme: love,courage, perseverance, empathy,goodness of mankind,
honesty,loyalty, etc.
B. Character
A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a
short story or other literary work. There are two characters in short story:
Protagonist= the character who isviewed as the good person in the story.
Antagonist= The character who isviewed as the bad person in thestory.
C. Characterization

The description of the personalities of the characters in the story and the way in which
an author reveals their personalities. Types of characterization:
1. Individual - round, many sided and complex personalities.
2. Developing - dynamic, many sided personalities that change, for better or worse, by
the end of the story.
3. Static - Stereotype, have one or two characteristics that never change and are
emphasized
e.g. brilliant detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.
D. Plot
A plot is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict. The
sequence or order of events in a story. The plot includes:
o Exposition Statement - The part of the plot that tells how the story begins.
o Rising Action - The action in the story leading up to the climax.
o Conflict - Struggles or problems between opposing forces. The main character
is usually on one side of the central conflict.
o Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may be the readers point of highest
interest.
o Falling action - The action in the story after the climax is revealed.
o Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals the final outcome.

Conflict is generally categorized in the following ways:

o Man versus Man: this is an external struggle between two characters
o Man versus Society: this is an external struggle between a character and a
social force or condition produced by society, such as poverty, political
revolution, or a set of values
o Man versus Nature: this is an external struggle between a character and some
natural obstacle or natural condition
o Man versus Self: this is an internal struggle within a character, where aspects
of his or her personality may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be
emotional, intellectual, or moral.

Three types of plot structure:

o A Dramatic or Progressive Plot: This is a chronological structure which first

establishes the setting and conflict, then follows the rising action through to a
climax (the peak of the action and turning point), and concludes with a
denouement (a wrapping up of loose ends).

An Episodic Plot: This is also a chronological structure, but it consists of a series of

loosely related incidents, usually of chapter length, tied together by a common
theme and/or characters. Episodic plots work best when the writer wishes to explore
the personalities of the characters, the nature of their existence, and the flavor of an
era.

A Flashback: This structure conveys information about events that occurred earlier.
It permits authors to begin the story in the midst of the action but later fill in the
background for full understanding of the present events. Flashbacks can occur more
than once and in different parts of a story.

E. setting
Th e o ve ra l l s et t in g o f a n ar ra t iv e or dramatic work is the general locale,
historical time,and social circumstances in w hi ch i ts a c ti on oc cu rs . The setting of
a short story is the time and place in which it happens. Authors often use descriptions of
landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting.

F. Point of view
The story teller from whose point of view the story is being told, the narrator. Point of
view refers to the relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story. The types of point of
view are ;

In first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as I.

In third-person limited point of view, the narrator reveals the thoughts of only one
character, referring to that character as he or she.

In third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator knows everything about the
storys events and reveals the thoughts of all the characters.

The Elements of Literature

Characters

Setting

Narrative Point of View

Plot

Conflict

Theme

Style

Tone

*Story Example: Goldilocks and the three bears (video, interactive book)

Characters
1) Types of Characters:
Protagonist (hero): the central figure with whom we usually sympathize or identify
Antagonist (villain): the figure who opposes the protagonist and creates the conflict
Foil Character: the figure whose personality traits are the opposite of the main

characters. This is a supporting character and usually made to shine the

protagonist.
2) The ways characters are portrayed:
Flat Characters (stock, static characters or stereotypes): they have no depth

and no change; we only see one side or aspect of them. Most supporting
characters are portrayed in this way, for example, a strict teacher, a helpful
policeman, and an evil stepmother.
Round Characters (dynamic character): they have more fully developed

personalities. We expect the protagonists and antagonists to be rounded

individuals who express a range of emotion and change throughout the narrative,
usually toward greater maturity.
3) The ways characters are revealed:
What the narrator says about the character
What the other characters say about the character
What the character says about himself or herself
What the character actually does

Setting
1) The setting refers to the time, the geographical locations, and the general
environment and circumstances that prevail in a narrative. The setting helps to
establish the mood of a story.
2) Two types of setting:
Integral Setting: the setting is fully described in both time and place, usually found

in historical fiction.
Backdrop Setting: the setting is vague and general, which helps to convey a

universal, timeless tale. This type of setting is often found in folktales and simply

sets the stage and the mood. For example, "long ago in a cottage in the deep
woods" and "once upon a time there was a great land that had an Emperor."

Narrative Point of View

Internal Narrator (First-person Narrator; the narrator uses "I" to refer to

himself/herself): the narrator is a character in the story, often, but not necessarily,
the protagonist. This narrative point of view allows for a very personal touch in the
story telling.
Omniscient Narrator (multiple points of view; the narrator is "all-knowing"): the

narrator is not a character in the story but knows everything about the story. The
omniscient narrator can show the thoughts and experiences of any character in the
story. It permits the writer the broadest scope.
Limited Narrator (External Subjective Narrator; the 3rd person point of view): the

narrator is not a character in the story but looks at things only through the eyes of
a single character. This type of narrative permits the narrator to quickly build a
close bond between the protagonist and the reader, without being confined by the
protagonists educational or language restrictions.

Plot
1) The plot of a story is a series of interconnected events in which every occurrence
has a specific purpose. A plot is all about establishing connections, suggesting
causes, and showing relationships.
2) Four types of plot structure:
o A Dramatic or Progressive Plot: This is a chronological structure which first

establishes the setting and conflict, then follows the rising action through to a
climax (the peak of the action and turning point), and concludes with a denouement
(a wrapping up of loose ends).

 An Episodic Plot: This is also a chronological structure, but it consists of a series of

loosely related incidents, usually of chapter length, tied together by a common

theme and/or characters. Episodic plots work best when the writer wishes to
explore the personalities of the characters, the nature of their existence, and the
flavor of an era.

A Parallel Plot: The writer weaves two or more dramatic plots that are usually linked

by a common character and a similar theme.

A Flashback: This structure conveys information about events that occurred earlier.

It permits authors to begin the story in the midst of the action but later fill in the
background for full understanding of the present events. Flashbacks can occur
more than once and in different parts of a story.

Conflict
1) Common types of conflicts:
The Protagonist against Another
The Protagonist against Society
The Protagonist against Nature
The Protagonist against Self

2) A single story may contain more than one type of conflict, although one often
predominates. The conflict provides the excitement and makes possible the growth and
development of the protagonists character.

Theme
1) The theme is the main, underlying idea of a piece of literature. It is woven subtly into
the fabric of the story rather than being lectured or preached by the author.
2) Among the frequently found thematic issues in childrens literature are the problems of
growing up and maturing, such as adjustment to society, love and friendship,
achieving ones identity, and finding one's place in the world.

Style
1) Word Choice
2) Sentence Length and Construction
Short sentences best convey suspense, tension, and swift action.
Longer sentences work best when explanations and descriptions are needed.
Prose has rhythm just as poetry does. Its rhythm can be produced by the

juxtaposition of sounds, the use of repetition with a slight variation of patterns, and
the varied length of sentences.

3) Exposition: the narrators passages that provide background information and/or

introduce characters to help readers understand the events of a story. Children
prefer a balance between exposition and dialogue.
4) Dialogue: the words spoken by the characters, usually to each other, not to the reader.
Children especially enjoy dialogue as a realistic and convincing way of defining
character.

Tone
1) Tone refers to the authors mood and manner of expression in a work of literature.
The tone can be serious, didactic, humorous, satirical, caustic/sarcastic, passionate,
sensitive, sentimental, zealous, indifferent, poignant, warm, agitated, and so on.
2) Humor:
Incongruity is the foundation of humor. We laugh at the tension resulting from

something out of the ordinary.

Humor is elusive.
Humor tends to be age specific.
Humor can be either sympathetic or negative. One prerequisite is that the victim

must seem to deserve the fate or the harm must not be critical.
Ten Types of humor most common in childrens books (Kappas, 1967):
Exaggeration
Incongruity
Surprise
Slapstick
Absurdity
Situational humor
Ridicule/satire
Defiance
Violence
Verbal Humor: word play, name-calling, jokes and puns, malapropisms (the

unintentional misuse of language), or the misinterpretation of language.

3) Parody:

 A parody is a literary imitation of another piece of literature, usually using

exaggeration for comic purpose.

A parody implies a degree of sophistication that deconstructs the original story

and depicts the characters from a different perspective.

Parodies can demonstrate the vitality of literature and can suggest new ways of

interpreting old tales.

4) Condescending tones:
Condescending tones are inappropriate for children's stories, placing the adult

narrator in a superior position.

For examples, a moralizing, didactic, sentimental, or cynical tone is not appreciated

in children's literature nowadays.