Question

Read “The Whole Story” a few times, looking for clues about its form. (See page 2 of this worksheet.) As you read the entry, write notes about parts of the piece that are characteristic of poetry versus a short story, or vice versa

Step 3: Decide whether the entry is a narrative poem or a short story. Make a list of
characteristics that make it poetry or not-poetry.

Step 4: Write a brief analysis of the entry that includes your decision regarding the
controversy. Use what you learned from your careful reading of the contest entry and your
review of the concepts and skills from this module to explain the thinking behind your decision.

Step 5: Identify and display parts of the poem that support your decision. Include direct
quotes from the entry in your analysis, or make a copy of the entry and mark it up with notes
that show the process you used to make your decision.

The Whole Story

In the attic, I find piles of small things

in boxes. Like this: a photo of my first friend

in our new town, her sharp laugh, the spools

of printer paper we used to make our secret

plans. How she hated her brother, how when

his face crumpled in a sob she laughed with glee.

The phrase I was trying on how to be cruel floats up

out of the attic dust and unsettles me.

Then this: my own brother, only three

and clumsy in his little limbs, wanting to join us

as we hover over our games. Only slightly

older, there I am, wondering what it might be like

to laugh mercilessly, then trying it out

on him. Then there are these

empty boxes where a memory should be:

whatever words I said to the other first graders

the day my mom brought my brother to school

to visit me, whatever made them point at him

and tease and tease. The story part of the story

has gone missing. What’s left is one scene—

my classmates crowd his still-small face

like petals on a daisy, and laugh until they transform

into the sound itself—which I can still hear

now, which drowns out the other sounds,

which is why I can’t remember why I did it

or what I did, just how I knew it wasn’t right.

Answer 1

Answer: Based on the analysis of "The Whole Story", it can be argued that the entry is a narrative poem. Here are some of the characteristics that support this conclusion:

Poetic language: The language in the entry is rich in imagery and figurative language, such as the use of metaphors, similes, and personification.

Musicality: The rhythm, meter, and musicality of the language contribute to the overall feeling of the piece and are characteristic of poetry.

Reflective tone: The tone of the entry is introspective and reflective, which is common in poetry.

Emotional intensity: The entry is emotionally charged, which is another characteristic of poetry.

Lack of plot structure: The entry does not have a traditional plot structure, which is common in poetry, but instead focuses on a series of memories and emotions.

On the other hand, here are some characteristics that suggest that the entry is not a short story:

Lack of character development: The characters in the entry are not fully developed, which is typical in poetry but not in short stories.

Lack of dialogue: There is no dialogue in the entry, which is another characteristic of poetry but not of short stories.

In conclusion, "The Whole Story" is a narrative poem. The use of poetic language, musicality, reflective tone, emotional intensity, and lack of plot structure all suggest that the entry is a poem. The lack of character development and dialogue further supports this conclusion.

Step-by-step explanation: