Ann and the Baker
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Eng B1b (MWF, 8:10-9:15)
Prof Mitchell
February 24, 2003
Ann and the Baker
The opening of a story is a significant part of a story especially a short story; it introduces the characters as well as sets the mood of the story. It is clear that Raymond Carver put a lot of thought into the introduction of his short story, A Small, Good Thing."
The characters of Ann and the baker were developed early in the story. The baker's coarseness and Anne's quickness to make assumptions were laid out in the opening. The most obvious aspects of the two characters were their differences, but as the story progresses the reader learns that the two are not so different and their assumed differences bring them together at the end.
Carver sets up the baker's character as a disgruntled man, who is abrupt, not friendly, and does not want to socialize. He is only there to get his job done, which is contrary to the typical character of a baker; bakers are jolly, and out going with rosy cheeks. Carver describes the baker as, " an older man, with a thick neck." It is clear that his coarse features resemble his personality
At the meeting of the baker, Anne began making assumptions about his abruptness. She thought, in-between ordering the cake, "everyone, especially someone the bakers age a man old enough to be my father- must have children who'd gone through this special time of cakes and birthday parties...