Final answer:
Travis playing with an untraditional 'toy' signals a unique environment that might lack conventional playthings, indicating creative or economic differences. The trickster aspect in a narrative adds humor and challenges norms, which resonates with readers and invites reflection. Toys also play a role in teaching children about gender roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Travis goes outside to play and ends up playing with an untraditional "toy," it suggests that his environment is likely devoid of conventional children's toys or that it encourages imaginative play. Without more context, it is difficult to determine exactly what the "toy" is; however, the excerpt provided implies that the environment in which Travis plays does not conform to typical expectations of a child's play setting. This deviation could speak to a myriad of possible conditions, from economic circumstances to a creative or rural setting where conventional toys may be replaced by natural objects or found items. Examples of such "toys" could be anything from sticks and rocks to household objects repurposed for play.
The role of a trickster in narrative literature is to add humor and unpredictability, often through mischief or clever deception. This rhetorical device can create dynamic and engaging stories that promote reflection on societal norms and personal behaviors. In the excerpt featuring McTeague and Trina, the use of toys as a seemingly inappropriate gift could be interpreted as a trickster tactic, introducing absurdity and causing Trina to laugh uncontrollably. This has an impact on the reading audience by adding unexpected levity and perhaps prompting questions about the characters' circumstances and relationships.
The notion that children learn gender roles through play is highlighted by the discussion of how parents usually give boys and girls "gender appropriate" toys. These toys reinforce societal expectations of masculinity and femininity through the types of play they encourage. Thus, the toy(s) that Travis plays with could also be reflective of gender norms being imparted by those around him or, alternatively, his departure from those norms.