"Get in here, you," Ma said. But its a story that reminds us that all humans are essentially flawed. Josie Tolin is a fiction writer from Indiana. Saunders, George. Sticks by George Saunders. During the week of the Super Bowl, he would dress it in a jersey (presumably the jersey of the American football team he supported) as well as a helmet (belonging to the narrators brother, Rod) worn by American football players. First, he did so by dressing it up and later, when it became a representation of his family, he used it to try and reach them. The short story of "Sticks" uses realism and its deviations in order to highlight different forms of relationships besides human contact. The pole was Dads only concession to glee. An editor And other things are hinted at by those final signs which exhort the reader to LOVE and FORGIVE?. [21] He is a student of Nyingma Buddhism. The attachment with a metal pole and absurd characteristics . Inside were piles of newspapers on the stove and piles of magazines on the stairs and a big wad of hangers sticking out of the broken oven. Today, we will readSticksby George Saunders. among teenagers while bringing attention to how individuals can be fascinated by violent At least that's how I read it. The man is stingy with his family, which severely limits their enjoyment: The shrieking aside, these acts would be more understandable if the family was extremely poor, but theres no indication that they were. Tenth of December: Stories (2013) is American author George Saunders's fourth short story collection.Saunders is widely regarded as one of the modern masters of the short story form, and this collection features stories written between 1995 and 2012, some of which were previously published in various literary outlets. The short story "Sticks" by George Saunders has a chronological structure and presents events that spread over decades. Its a flash fiction of 392 words. [13][16] In 2006, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and a $500,000 MacArthur Fellowship. #BlogchatterA2Z . Both Callie and Maria only see what they want to; Callie's husband sells pets to families but kills the animals that don't sell. Heres this emotionally ill-equipped, control-freak of a father, his actions finally guided by emotion as his life comes to an end. Prompt - Your paper should describe the mood and theme of "Sticks," by George Saunders, and what the . Wed stop by and find odd talismans from his youth arranged around the base: army medals, theater tickets, old sweatshirts, tubes of Moms makeup. She tries to sell a puppy to her neighbor Maria, who at first wants to purchase him for her kids, However when she catches sight of Callie's son chained to a tree to keep him from wandering out of the yard, she decides to pull out of the sale, so that she doesn't have to have any further interaction with her neighbor. In his 392-word masterpiece, "Sticks," George Saunders uses this sense of familial inevitability to both subvert and amplify what might otherwise be a run-of-the-mill, bad-dad situation. Although it is an example of flash fiction and only has two paragraphs, the story has a plot and complex characters. They realised that they were starting to resemble their father in terms of their meanness and stinginess. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tina Sequeira 2023. 60 pages.My Chivalric Fiasco - A janitor at a medieval theme park stumbles across his boss raping a co-worker, and in the effort to insuring his silence, finds himself promoted to playing one of the . In Sticks, we meet a father who decorates a pole in his front yard to process his personality and later, his bitterness. He is stingy and mean in other areas. You can read the short story online here. Sticks by George Saunders, 1995 The magic trick: Sketching out a full story in two paragraphs It's not coincidence that this story follows "Victory Lap" (as featured last week on SSMT) in Saunders's Tenth Of December collection. But despite how that sentiment inflects the ending, theres another way to read the final sentences; a more hopeful way, I think. It just happens. He dresses it to commemorate Groundhog Day, an earthquake in Chile and his wifes death, complete with her baby pictures. The narrative focuses on his passion for decorating a metal pole outside the house during . He co-opts the impersonal and national or universal commemorations the sticks are used to observe, and transforms his sticks into a personal means of communication with his grown-up children. He is rejected from participating but his interest persists The book was published on January 8, 2013, by Random House.One of the stories, "Home," was a 2011 Bram Stoker Award finalist. This piece of flash fiction, which was included in . However, when he loses his wife, the pole becomes a symbol of his declining mental health, as the decorations become more and more elaborate and outlandish the more he unravels emotionally. But then, you see the father slowly slip into oblivion when he lives in an empty nest. among teenagers. After that theres a Sticks analysis that includes a look at themes, symbol and meaning. We see displays of love, guilt, and regret via the pole. Keep reading. You can read the short story online here. For example, at Thanksgiving the narrators father would drag a Santa costume out to the sticks and adorn them with it in the run-up to Christmas. The story then takes a slightly darker tone, as the narrator tells us that these seasonal rituals were the only joyful things his father did. : 265 'Sticks' is a very short story by the contemporary American writer George Saunders (born 1958), who is perhaps best-known for his 2017 Booker-Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo. It may not be the apology of his childrens dreams, but its self-aware and its something. Its not coincidence that this story follows Victory Lap (as featured last week on SSMT) in Saunderss Tenth Of December collection. by a violent ritual where teenagers take turns hitting each other with sticks. [3] Or, rather, how this line is what makes the ending feel that way. His children grow up and see the same meanness in themselves. By George Saunders ( Random House ; 251 pages; $26) It's tough to think of a living short-story writer - or even a dead one - who garners as much peer approval as George Saunders. Conventional wisdom about writing is conventionally wrong. Well this story does get you thinking. Did the father suffer from any mental illnesses? "[12], In 1988, he was awarded an M.A. "Tenth of December: Stories Symbols, Allegory and Motifs". When their mother dies, the father adorned the pole with Death (the Grim Reaper) and a photograph of his late wife when she was a baby. . Question Strategy in harmful activities. There are a lot of changes in point of view, making it almost feel like there is . The knight is a symbol of chivalry and this is why he decides to tell that he has seen his boss raping a co-worker - as a knight he is wired to rescue the damsel in distress, because knights symbolize all that is gallant, good and chivalrous. View podcast page. We see his happiness manifest during the Holidays in the first paragraph and get the hint when the son says it was his fathers only concession to glee. towards such behavior "Sticks" by George Saunders, the narrator's fascination with violent Tenth of December: Stories study guide contains a biography of George Saunders, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. in Geophysical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. He draped some kind of fur over it on Groundhog Day and lugged out a floodlight to ensure a shadow. He knows death is coming for him. They engage in typical teenage activities like drinking and smoking. The humor here is soon inflected with something darker, however, as we learn of the mans authoritative parenting and bad temperament: The pole was Dads only concession to glee. The Tina Edit uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on the website. And if they dont know already, I hope they know by the end of the story, when they see themselves in the six crossed sticks their father plants around the yard. Take the aforementioned story Sticks by George Saunders, one of the strongest flash fiction examples out there. Looking forward to reading more flash fiction throughout the month. The story of George Saunders's Victory Lap is written in a style that makes reading feel more like watching through a slideshow of the events. Themes and message. Two aspects illustrate this in particular: the restrictions the father places on his children and the almost religious commitment to keep decorating the pole according to whatever American holiday was celebrated at the time. Otherwise, he was strict and frugal to an almost extreme degree, only allowing his children to play with one coloured crayon at a time, and telling his children off for wasting food. In "Sticks" by George Saunders, a group of teenagers hang out in a wooded area known as Underneath the unsettling imagery and narrative trickery, CommComm is a love story. When they are not given the drug they have no particular feelings one way or another. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 17:23. I had recently attended an Instagram Live session of Andaleeb Wajid, who spoke at length about writing flash fiction along with recitals of her own brilliant stories in various genres. "Sticks" tells the story of a father who decorates a large pole in his front yard according to the theme of the upcoming holiday. And then, on top of that, I love the strain of minimalist American fiction writing: Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, Tobias Wolff. The Question and Answer section for Tenth of December: Stories is a great Who am I to know? Poetry, Short Stories, Writing, Fiction, Blogging. reminds me of the one story i had read during school, about old man and sparrows. We were allowed a single Crayola from the box at a time. This event prompts him to reflect on the allure One of the boys, Rod, has to clear it with dad if he wanted to take the helmet off. This tells us the dad would be upset if he looked at the pole and saw the helmet missing without any warning. Answer -The father's self-imprisonment behind his decorative bars creates a theme of entrapment within the story. He paints signs which say LOVE and FORGIVE?. Short stories are trickier to write than they seem. towards violent behavior even when they recognize its negative consequences "Sticks" by Most people would welcome an early spring, associated with rebirth and renewal, but the dad prefers the figurative death of winter. The story explores themes of peer pressure, conformity, and violence among Saunders often win, but it's not glorious; they're victories with protagonists whimpering the whole way, eyes wide in terror, only to emerge safe on the other side. Is the fashioning of the metal poles into a crucifix suggestive of a kind of latter-day religion, a hollowed-out American Christianity based as much on sport (that Super Bowl reference) as Christmas? The lesser the word count, the more challenging it gets. The man gets enjoyment from dressing the pole but is otherwise joyless. O pretty Ruth lies at base of tree I just have am blotto have just knocked Ruth right Ruth, on ground, holding stuffed bear I gave her: You break my heart, Elliott, I wouldn't marry you if you . There is no way one can read and not be blown away by the impact of this tiny tale as you ponder over its layers. Creators. All rights reserved. By blending fact with fiction, Saunders intentionally chooses to expose the working class's hardship, which greatly caused by poverty and illiteracy . It is about the narrator's love for his murdered parents; a misanthropic employee's dedication to his disabled wife; a Christian zealot's acceptance of another man's child as his own. towards violent behavior despite recognizing its harm "Sticks" by George Saunders, the By the same token, the details included in a story this short are very important, so well touch on a few possible themes. His eccentricity of dressing up the pole isnt evidence of a mental problem in itself, but his obsession with it seems to push it into that territory. [25], In 2001, Saunders received a Lannan Literary Fellowship in Fiction from the Lannan Foundation. The text shown above is just an extract. [7][8] His novel Lincoln in the Bardo (Bloomsbury Publishing) won the 2017 Booker Prize. I just hope I dont embarrass myself by making it longer than the real thing. The analysis is good because the story is so. of 1 Sticks by George Saunders Every year Thanksgiving night we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he'd built out of metal pole in the yard. Despite Nelson being twenty-five and looking it, I believed this scene each of the ten times I watched this movie with my brothers, and I believe it now. Two events which involve major change (literally seismic in the case of the latter) prompt the father to erect new decorations: Groundhog Day (where the arrival or non-arrival of spring is said to turn on whether the groundhog sees its own shadow) and an earthquake in Chile, a momentous event which perhaps acts as a catalyst for the fathers self-reflection. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Making a purchase through one of these links could result in a commission for me. For other people named George Saunders, see, In the "Author's Note" to the 2012 paperback reprint of, Promotional chapbook of essays, limited to 500 copies to accompany the book, Convocation speech delivered at Syracuse University for the class of 2013. You can read his stories that have appeared regularly in The New Yorker since 1992. In this video, I discuss the theme of coping with a lack of control and. Of his influences,[13] Saunders has written: I really love Russian writers, especially from the 19th and early 20th Century: Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Babel. He is pursuing his own imagined heroicsin this case, going into the wilderness to freeze to death in order to spare his wife and children the suffering of caring for him as his illness progresses. The short story contains a foreshadowing element when it presents the fathers tense relationship with his children. But theres a suggestion that the narrator didnt realise that such behaviour was unusual, until he brought a girlfriend back to the house and, when she asked about his fathers strange obsession with the sticks, he found himself sitting there and blinking, unable to answer. "Ive read 'Sticks' so many times, Ive accidentally memorized it. It touches on a similar theme: the need for even the slightest sense of control. 4. The father doesnt appear to be urging others to forgive people in general, but rather to be begging for forgiveness for his own sins or errors (note how he had previously taped notes to the sticks, notes which are described as letters of apology, admissions of error, and pleas for understanding). George Saunders's short story "Ghoul" takes place in a dystopian society. Certainly it would appear that Saunders is encouraging us to reflect on the innate human need for ritual, for observing anniversaries whether these are religious (Christmas), national (Thanksgiving, Independence Day), or personal (his wifes death). Having the radio on, as if to keep him company, suggests there was no one else there at the time. A notable escalation occurs one winter when he covers it with cotton, as if to keep it warm. The final line of the story presents the irony . George Saunders was born December 2, 1958 and raised on the south side of Chicago. George Saunders' "Sticks" is a story about a Dad and his odd hobby of decorating a pole in his front yard. Keep stopping by! teenagers hit each other with sticks. thissection. And thats quite a trick on Saunderss part. I especially notice it in Sticks but its also there in Escape from Spiderhead when the narrator is going through his little epitome at the end. The story explores themes of peer pressure, conformity, and violence In 2006, Saunders received a MacArthur Fellowship and won the World Fantasy Award for his short story "CommComm". 2 Without question, Dad's negativity is central to the story. Later, he witnesses one of the members being One of the motifs in the story collection is the use of mind-altering drugs. [9], Saunders was born in Amarillo, Texas. Kill every dog, every cat, she said slowly. A Summary and Analysis of George Saunders' 'Sticks' - Interesting Literature . The Red Bow. they only had cupcakes at birthdays; nothing else. The story focuses on the narrator, who recalls growing up with a strict father. It touches on a similar theme: the need for even the slightest sense of control. He was a Visiting Writer at Wesleyan University and Hope College in 2010 and participated in Wesleyan's Distinguished Writers Series and Hope College's Visiting Writers Series. Help me parse "The Mom of Bold Action" 1st read: parallels between Saunders and our nameless writer-protagonist's anxious examining toward the causes/effects of her own writing. However, Kill every fish. with sticks. Throughout his short fiction, he is largely a seriocomic witness to the absurd and dystopian aspects of modern life; "Jon," to which you link above, is a painful story that clearly belongs in, and pushes forward, a line of. Tenth of December does not have quite the same repetitive feel as CivilWarLand, although I did thoroughly enjoy that collection.The pattern you describe above can be a bit redundant or stale when employed too often (or read back-to-back). Today's short story is a one minute piece of flash fiction that contains an entire life full of frustration and regret. We see the fathers human side when he expresses his feelings through the metal pole towards the end of the story. Thank you so much, Shalini! And by the second half, the pole has becoming something else entirelyno longer simply used to commemorate sporting events and holidays: Dad began dressing the pole with more complexity and less discernible logic. Good to hear you liked the story and the analysis too. He hovered over us as we poured ketchup saying: good enough good enough good enough. True to form, the man stayed focused on his pole, using it to communicate his feelings. Meanwhile, their father begins to dress his metal pole in a more erratic and illogical fashion. At least that's how I read it. He grew up in Oak Forest, Illinois, near Chicago, attended St. Damian Catholic School and graduated from Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois. His eccentricity of dressing up the pole isn't evidence of a mental problem in itself, but his obsession with it seems to push it into that territory. More books than SparkNotes. "Sticks" by George Saunders Anyone objects, kill them too. [27] Also that year, he received a MacArthur Fellowship;[28] his short-story collection In Persuasion Nation was a finalist for The Story Prize;[29] and he won the World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story for his short story "CommComm", first published in the August 1, 2005, issue of The New Yorker. As a member of PrimeStudyGuides.com, you get access to all of the content. The beginning of the story introduces the main characters the narrators father, and the narrator and his siblings: Every year Thanksgiving night we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he'd built out of metal pole in the yard. Then, the readers find out that decorating the metal pole is a tradition that the narrators father is very fond of: Super Bowl week the pole was dressed in a jersey and Rod's helmet and Rod had to clear it with Dad if he wanted to take the helmet off. seriously injured during the stick beating. Later, the dad believes he has the power to extend winter by pointing a floodlight at his makeshift groundhog. I love the way they take on the big topics. This isnt a socially acceptable way to acknowledge a death. However, witnessing In fact, Ive quoted nearly the entire thing so far. He also contributed a weekly column, American Psyche, to The Guardian 's weekend magazine between 2006 and 2008. highlights the dangers of group dynamics and how individuals can be coerced into participating a ritual where they hit each other with sticks. It touches on a similar theme: the need for even the slightest sense of control. Another example is the women in "Puppy". short stories are really trickier to write. Through this story, Saunders explores themes such as peer pressure, conformity, and violence The over the top decorations are a symbol of his escalating madness. The story delves into themes of . Sticks by George Saunders, 1995 The magic trick: Sketching out a full story in two paragraphs It's not coincidence that this story follows "Victory Lap" (as featured last week on SSMT) in Saunders's Tenth Of December collection. Many reviewers mention his writing's satirical tone, but his work also raises moral and philosophical questions. [30][4], In 2009, Saunders received an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. "The Old Man on the Bridge" by Ernest Hemingway An old man with steel rimmed spectacles and very dusty clothes sat by the side of the road. . For example, they are allowed to take only one crayon from an entire box if they want to draw. Not affiliated with Harvard College. [23][24], His first short-story collection, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, was a finalist for the 1996 PEN/Hemingway Award. Let's Start. Due to the brevity of Sticks, there arent a lot of supporting details for interpretations of theme. On the Fourth of July the pole was Uncle Sam, on Veterans Day a soldier, on Halloween a ghost. Despite the violence of this ritual, the narrator is drawn to it and even desires to be part of it. For over three decades The Writers Studio has been helping students become stronger, more resourceful writers with more craft at their disposal, more knowledge of what makes a piece of creative writing satisfying to a reader, and more access to the full range of their emotions and imagination. 3. Read the Study Guide for Tenth of December: Stories, Realist Expressions: Adherence and Divergence in George Saunders's Sticks, View Wikipedia Entries for Tenth of December: Stories. Great analysis by you. Although he is rejected from participating in the ritual, his fascination with violence "Sticks," George Saunders. Running to just two paragraphs, Sticks can be regarded as an example of flash fiction. Its those little things that make us think we have a handle on fate. (LogOut/ He covered it with cotton swabs that winter for warmth and provided offspring by hammering in six crossed sticks around the yard. Online version is titled "Who are all these Trump supporters?". He painted a sign saying LOVE and hung it from the pole and another that said FORGIVE? These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders. [39] One of the stories in the collection, "Home", was a 2011 Bram Stoker Award finalist.[40]. Jeff, Heather and Rachel are all given a drug that he believes can control the level of attraction one person feels for another. Note how Easter, the one annual holiday for which a crucifix has actual significance and symbolism, is notable by its absence from the list of holiday observances which the father makes. As text is revised, it . Listen to Tenth of December by George Saunders with a free trial. The story explores themes of peer pressure, Richard tries to find solace in the sticks he collects, but this ultimately proves to be an inadequate substitute for real . In "Semplica Girl Diaries", the possession of a Semplica Girl is a symbol of affluence and success; Lilly's father purchases two Semplica Girls for her, so that she can keep up with her wealthy and popular friends at school, and they symbolize the fact that they are a well to do family who can afford the luxury of a human ornament. One Christmas Eve he shrieked at Kimmie for wasting an apple slice. Super Bowl week the pole was dressed in a jersey and Rods helmet and Rod had to clear it with Dad if he wanted to take the helmet off.
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