... written or on screen, usually employ setting as a backdrop and having no direct relation to the actual storyline progression. This, however, is not the case in Raymond Carver's tale "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love." In this short story, a single element - sunlight - reflects(no pun intended) the progression of ... two couples are joking with each other, smiling and being affectionate as we see when Nick admires Laura's fingers and also kisses her hand. (Carver 170) Their main point of discussion is about Terri's ex-boyfriend, Ed, and how mentally unstable he was. During this ...

• Word Count: 1424
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

What Mel Talks about When He Talks about Love Raymond Carver's story "What We Talk about When We Talk about Love" begins with two couples, Mel and Terri and Nick and Laura, sitting at the kitchen table talking and drinking gin. Carver uses the character of Mel McGinnis, who becomes noticeably antagonized by the conversation the ... deem real love. This kind of love involves dependence, vulnerability and need. In Mel's world, love is disposable, and disposable love is an oxymoron. Carver's story helps the reader to see that although love can take many different forms and different levels that t...

• Word Count: 1109
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of kindness. No matter who you say I love you to or how you show your love, not everybody believes it to be said or shown the same way. In the Raymond Carver's short story "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," two married couples, all four being previously married to other people, are together drinking and talking about ... their reasons on why they are right while Nick and Laura do not really say much: "He was dangerous. If you call that love, you can have it"(Carver 358). This quotes comes after Mel was telling about Terri's ex husband and the events that occurred during and a...

• Word Count: 981
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In Raymond Carver's short story, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," the characters have a conversation about love. Yet throughout their dialogue, they never come to an understanding of what it really means to love(Carver). Terri insists she knows love by telling stories of her ex husband Ed, who used to beat her. Mel seems at one point seems ... wife Laura seem to know the most about love. Even though they didn't define love, they seemed to show love by means of affection and physical contact. In his story, Carver relays the message that sometimes, love isn't something that can be ...

• Word Count: 472
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... About When We Talk About Love." each person has a different opinion on what love is and what love should be. In the story, the characters idealizes his/her situation however, Raymond Carver refutes the notion of idealism by unmasking the realities of their lives. Mel and Terry are a couple who are arguing about what love is and what it should not be ... ...

• Word Count: 929
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Raymond Carver's short story "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" takes place while two couples are sitting around a table drinking heavily from a bottle of gin and discussing past and new relationships. Through Nick, the narrator of the story, a picture is painted about the personalities of...

• Word Count: 1030
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School