After having thoroughly searched the Norton Introduction to Literature for approximately thirty extremely long minutes I came across an intriguing little story entitled "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason. It is hard not to have an opinion, one way or the other, about a story that starts off with the brilliant line, "Leroy Moffitt's wife, Norma Jean, is working on her pectorals" (761). This story explains, with wonderful articulation, a marriage that is coming apart at the seams, a man with no real purpose in life, and a woman who is breaking down the barriers controlling her life. One might ask if I fancy this story. I would have to answer with a resounding yes, because I would not waste time to write a paper about a story I felt was hideous. One may also enquire why I favor this story so much. I will endeavor to answer that question to the best of my ability throughout the course of this paper.
First off I must declare that this story passed the infamous Middleton sleep test with flying colors. Right from the start Ms. Mason creates characters that I can easily relate to and that seem, not particularly "normal", but at least genuine and interesting. The story begins by relating how Leroy has recently been in a debilitating highway accident that has left him unable to continue his job as a truck driver. This leaves him free to spend more time at home with his wife than he ever has before. For reasons yet to be explained, this does not sit well with his wife, Norma Jean. Leroy spends his spare time, which also happens to be all of his time, constructing various things from craft kits. One day he is struck with the idea to build Norma Jean a full-size log house from a kit. Norma Jean, to say the least, is not thrilled by this proposal. .
From the beginning, the author deftly informs us of the subtle changes that start to take place in Norma Jean's physical and mental condition. This one of the things I found of particular interest.
This skirmish was the start of the Battle of Shiloh. ... They made a strong resistance to their right, near the Shiloh Church. ... Just east of the Shiloh Church was an area the Confederates named, "The Hornet's Nest." ... The bloodshed and gore that occurred at Shiloh was unprecedented. ... As afternoon approached, the Confederates found themselves as far back as the Shiloh Church. ...
ColorSet-1ColorPos-1StyleSet-1StylePos-1Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh was one of bloodiest battles of the Civil War. ... Before the Battle of Shiloh was fought, a lot of important things happened which made the battle very important. ... Meanwhile at the Union camp at Shiloh, the Federal troops spent a day drilling and merry-making. ... However, stiff resistance on the Federal right entangled Johnston's brigades in a savage fight around Shiloh Church. ... Shiloh's awesome toll of 23,746 men killed, wounded, or missing brought a shocking realization to both side...
We have examples of the above situations in the stories of "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason and "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" by Ernest Hemingway. ... In the short story "Shiloh", the wife says "I"ll go to Shiloh with you if you"ll stop staring at me." ... In "Shiloh", it's more about being independent. ... In conclusion, as I used the stories of "Shiloh" and "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber", there are similarities and differences between both authors. ...
Union Victory at Shiloh Tactics, Planning, and Attack Formations of the Shiloh Campaign The battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest fought in the western theater. ... The battle of Shiloh dashed all southern hopes of recovering west and middle Tennessee. ... He was, unfortunately for the Confederates, delayed by high waters, and arrived at Memphis three days after the battle of Shiloh.2 Also, the attack formations of the Confederate side bore too much on the Federal left. ... The first shot at the battle of Shiloh rang out at 0514 hours. ... The battle of Shiloh was decisive. ...
Analysis of "Shiloh" in Bobbie Ann Masson's "Shiloh" In Bobbie Ann Mason's story "Shiloh" she presents Norma Jean as a strong willed person but having emptiness within. ... She feels overwhelmed when her mother starts talking about Leroy and Norma Jean taking a trip to Shiloh. ...
Short Story Analysis In Bobbie Ann Masons, "Shiloh", a woman challenged the culture of masculinity. ... Another thing is how the mother is holding on to the past by wanting the couple to go to Shiloh and have a second honeymoon because she realizes that the marriage is not well. ... The story's title is appropriate because Shiloh is the influence in the story that changes everything. The more the mother suggests the trip to Shiloh, the more the couple dreads it. ... In Cooke's critique, he says, "Norma Jean walks quickly through the cemetery at Shiloh, pursued by the limping Ler...
A comparison of "Shiloh" and "Cathedral" The two couples in the stories "Shiloh" and "Cathedral" both experience a renaissance of their understanding of one another and of themselves. ... His wife has poured out her heart to someone else each time she sent him those tapes, the same way that Leroy in "Shiloh" poured out his soul to hitchhikers who passed his way. ... In "Shiloh", Leroy's accident that has him homebound and with lots of free time on his hand allowed him to see how far apart he and Norma Jean have grown. ... She was still that scared eighteen year old under her mother...
Bobbie Ann Mason's Shiloh is the definition of a normal short story, with its easy to follow plot as well as clear beginning and end. ... Its eccentricity does not take away from The Yellow Wallpaper it gives it added angles to read it from whereas Shiloh does not have that added depth. ... Nothing is out in the open and clear like it is in Shiloh, but instead everything is shrouded behind that wallpaper. ... With The Yellow Wallpaper and Shiloh the beginnings and endings fall into line with each other in that each woman has become free. ... Shiloh is very straightforward from beginning ...
Do not dwell on the past In Shiloh, by Bobbie Ann Mason, we see the beginning of an end to a marriage of Leroy and Norma Jean Moffitt. ... There are two main settings where the story takes place, Leroy and Norma Jean's hometown in Kentucky and the battleground of Shiloh. ... The battlefield, cemetery and bullet-riddled log cabin that Leroy and Norma Jean visit at Shiloh symbolize the past, present and the future of the relationship. ... The battlefield of Shiloh identifies with Leroy, an unchanging area marked by its history. ...
