“Love in Cornhusk” is a short story written by Aida L. Rivera-ford. She is a Filipina writer whose masterpiece delineates local colors and old identities. Short story as one of the genres in literature refers to a short work of fiction (Klarer 12).
Aida’s work recounted the story of Tinang who came to visit Señora. She, on the other hand, was troubled by his past romantic attachments with Amado. Senora told her about the letter in the post office. Along with her child, they left thereafter. While reading the letter and situating herself on a cornhusk, a serpent came in unexpectedly. The story concluded after she dropped the letter unconsciously as she maneuvered to secure her child (Rivera-ford 58-64). Throughout the narrative, she found herself congested with her past amorous relationship. However, she came to realize that her spiteful memory must be buried in the past. This story adhered in the illusion of the character’s intimate feelings. Grow asserts that parting and abandonment depict the thematic development in the story (42-45).
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DISCUSSION
3. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper aims to perform a critical analysis of Aida L. Rivera-Ford’s short story "Love in the Cornhusk" by examining the author's presence in the narrative and the story’s structural identities through the application of expressive and objective literary theories.
- Biographical synthesis of the author’s life reflected in the narrative
- Structural analysis of literary elements including plot, setting, and symbolism
- Application of expressive theory to link the text to the author’s personal experiences
- Exploitation of objective theory to scrutinize the form and motifs of the work
- Exploration of character dynamics and thematic development
Excerpt from the Book
INTRODUCTION
“Love in Cornhusk” is a short story written by Aida L. Rivera-ford. She is a Filipina writer whose masterpiece delineates local colors and old identities. Short story as one of the genres in literature refers to a short work of fiction (Klarer 12).
Aida’s work recounted the story of Tinang who came to visit Señora. She, on the other hand, was troubled by his past romantic attachments with Amado. Senora told her about the letter in the post office. Along with her child, they left thereafter. While reading the letter and situating herself on a cornhusk, a serpent came in unexpectedly. The story concluded after she dropped the letter unconsciously as she maneuvered to secure her child (Rivera-ford 58-64). Throughout the narrative, she found herself congested with her past amorous relationship. However, she came to realize that her spiteful memory must be buried in the past. This story adhered in the illusion of the character’s intimate feelings. Grow asserts that parting and abandonment depict the thematic development in the story (42-45).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the short story "Love in the Cornhusk," introduces the author Aida L. Rivera-Ford, and outlines the critical theories—expressive and objective—used to analyze the text.
DISCUSSION: Presents a detailed matrix comparing biographical data of the author with events in the story and identifies the literary elements such as setting, characters, conflict, point of view, and plot structure.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings, confirming that the story reflects the author's personal life and demonstrates how the narrative structure effectively delineates the significance of the work.
Keywords
Aida L. Rivera-Ford, Love in the Cornhusk, Expressive theory, Objective theory, Literary criticism, Philippine literature, Structural identities, Biographical synthesis, Symbolism, Narrative structure, Pastoral setting, Tinang, Short story analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper provides a critical analysis of the short story "Love in the Cornhusk" by Aida L. Rivera-Ford, focusing on how the story functions as a reflection of the author's own life and structural identity.
What are the central themes explored in the analysis?
The central themes include the influence of the author’s biography on her writing, the use of local color, the role of memory and past attachments, and the structural motifs within the short story.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to reveal the author's presence within the text through expressive theory and to analyze the story's structural identity using objective literary theory.
Which critical methodologies are applied in this study?
The researcher employs expressive theory to link the narrative to the author's background and objective theory to evaluate the story's form, plot, and literary elements independently of the author.
What is covered in the discussion section?
The discussion utilizes matrices to systematically map biographical facts against narrative events and breaks down the specific literary elements like characterization, symbolism, and plot structure.
Which specific literary elements are identified?
The study identifies the setting, main and supporting characters, the man-versus-himself conflict, the omniscient point of view, and the symbolic significance of the snake, cornhusk, and letter.
How does the author’s background manifest in the character of Tinang?
The analysis parallels Aida Rivera-Ford’s experiences—such as moving for studies, being a mother, and her marriage—with the experiences and lifestyle depicted for the protagonist, Tinang.
What does the "snake" symbolize in the context of this short story?
In the analysis, the snake is interpreted as a symbol of sensuality and temptation, reflecting the intimate connection and past romantic struggles of the protagonist.
What is the significance of the story’s setting?
The pastoral countryside setting is identified as a reflection of the author's hometown and is used to hone the character of Tinang while emphasizing local customs through the use of nativist diction.
- Citation du texte
- B.A English-Literature Kimberth Obeso (Auteur), 2020, Expressive and formalistic criticism in Aida L. Rivera-Ford's "Love in the Cornhusk", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/539780
