In 1958 Bernard Malamud published his first short story collection
The Magic Barrel. Whereas stories like e.g. “The Magic Barrel” or “The
Lady of the Lake” were frequently discussed, “Take Pity” got only little
attention from the critics, although the story offers a wide spectrum of
possible interpretations and contains several stylistic devices. The main
focus of this term paper is the discussion of the realistic and fantastic
elements in chapter III.4 and the different dimensions of compassion
throughout the story in chapter III.5. The esteemed novelist and short story writer Bernard Malamud was
born on April 28, 1914, in Brooklyn, NY and grew up on New York's East
Side where his Russian-Jewish immigrant parents worked in their grocery
store sixteen hours a day. He attended high school and college during the
height of the depression. His family's experience was clearly echoed in his
fiction. Whereas the setting varies in his novels, in his short fiction it is most
often the East Side of New York. Malamud was also strongly influenced by
classic nineteenth-century American writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne,
Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, and Henry James. Moreover,
Malamud's works reflected a post-Holocaust consciousness in addressing
Jewish concerns and employing literary conventions drawn from earlier
Jewish literature. He began his career in the early 1940s by publishing
stories in non-commercial magazines. His first major period of work
extended from 1949 to 1961 when he was teaching at Oregon State College.
During this period he produced three novels and a collection of short stories.
Malamud won several fiction prizes, including the National Book Award in
fiction for The Magic Barrel in 1959. After Malamud had moved back to
Bennington College, his second working period (1961-1970) began, and
both his stories and his next two novels took a more cosmopolitan and
international direction. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Bernard Malamud
- III. Bernard Malamud's "Take Pity"
- III.1 "Take Pity"
- III.2 Major Characters
- III.3 The Realistic and Fantastic Elements in "Take Pity"
- III.4 The Compassion in “Take Pity”
- IV. Conclusion
- V. Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper analyzes Bernard Malamud's short story "Take Pity," focusing on its blend of realistic and fantastic elements and exploring the multifaceted dimensions of compassion within the narrative. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the story, examining its stylistic devices and offering multiple interpretive perspectives.
- Realistic vs. Fantastic Elements in Narrative Structure
- The Nature and Expression of Compassion
- Character Development and Motivation
- Social Commentary on Poverty and Charity
- Malamud's Literary Style and Techniques
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Bernard Malamud's "Take Pity," highlighting the story's relative lack of critical attention despite its rich potential for interpretation and stylistic complexity. It establishes the paper's primary focus on exploring the story's realistic and fantastic elements, and the various dimensions of compassion presented within the narrative.
II. Bernard Malamud: This section provides biographical context for understanding Malamud's work. It details his life experiences, including his upbringing in a Russian-Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn during the Depression, and how these experiences shaped his fiction. The chapter also discusses Malamud's literary influences, particularly those from 19th-century American writers and earlier Jewish literature, and his post-Holocaust consciousness which is reflected in his writing. His career trajectory, marked by periods of teaching and evolving literary direction, is also highlighted, underscoring his development as a writer and his preference for letting the story speak for itself.
III. Bernard Malamud's "Take Pity": This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of Malamud's "Take Pity," dissecting its narrative structure, character development, and thematic concerns. It explores the story's dual layers – Rosen's recounting of his interactions with Eva Kalish and his conversation with Davidov – and how these layers intertwine to create a complex and multifaceted narrative. The chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of realistic and fantastic elements and the various dimensions of compassion within the story.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Bernard Malamud, "Take Pity," short story, realism, fantasy, compassion, charity, poverty, character analysis, narrative structure, literary style, social commentary, Jewish-American literature, post-Holocaust literature.
Bernard Malamud's "Take Pity": A Comprehensive Overview - FAQ
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic paper analyzing Bernard Malamud's short story "Take Pity." It includes the table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the main themes explored in the paper?
The paper primarily focuses on the interplay of realistic and fantastic elements in "Take Pity" and explores the multifaceted dimensions of compassion within the narrative. It also examines character development, social commentary on poverty and charity, and Malamud's literary style and techniques.
What is covered in each chapter?
Chapter I (Introduction): Introduces the paper's focus on the story's realistic and fantastic elements and the different aspects of compassion. Chapter II (Bernard Malamud): Provides biographical context on Malamud, his life experiences, literary influences, and career. Chapter III (Bernard Malamud's "Take Pity"): Offers a detailed analysis of the story's narrative structure, character development, and thematic concerns, exploring the intertwining layers of the narrative. Chapter IV (Conclusion): [Content not provided in preview] Chapter V (Bibliography): [Content not provided in preview]
What are the key aspects of Malamud's "Take Pity" that are analyzed?
The analysis delves into the realistic and fantastic elements of the narrative structure, the nature and expression of compassion shown by the characters, the development and motivations of the characters, social commentary present within the story about poverty and charity, and Malamud's unique literary style and techniques employed in the short story.
What is the overall aim of the academic paper?
The paper aims to provide a thorough interpretation of "Take Pity," examining its stylistic devices and offering multiple interpretive perspectives on the story's complex themes and narrative layers.
What keywords are associated with this academic paper?
Bernard Malamud, "Take Pity," short story, realism, fantasy, compassion, charity, poverty, character analysis, narrative structure, literary style, social commentary, Jewish-American literature, post-Holocaust literature.
- Quote paper
- Axel Eberhardt (Author), 2003, "Take Pity" by Bernard Malamud, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/20285