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Day 4

Flannery O'Connor's Stories Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    In the final scene of "The River," how does O’Connor depict the drowning from the viewpoint of the boy? Of Mr. Paradise? 

    O’Connor presents the act of the boy drowning as a pleasant change that will take him away from the sordid life he is forced to live with his parents. The current is described as "a long gentle hand," and when Harry drowns he is "overcome with surprise," and then "all his fury and fear left him." To the small boy, Mr. Paradise looks like a pig, something unclean and dangerous, instead of a would-be savior. In contrast, Mr. Paradise is described as an "ancient water monster." The way O’Connor describes the old man trying to save...

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Study Guide for Flannery O'Connor’s Stories

Flannery O'Connor's Stories study guide contains a biography of Flannery O'Connor, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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Essays for Flannery O'Connor’s Stories

Flannery O'Connor's Stories essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of short stories by Flannery O'Connor.

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