Final answer:
The story "Stray" is about family, loyalty, and discovery, focusing on a young girl named Doris who finds a stray dog and wants to keep it, leading to emotional growth and a resolution that emphasizes compassion and connection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The story "Stray" by Cynthia Rylant is a short story about family, loyalty, and discovery. The main character, a young girl named Doris, finds a stray dog during a snowstorm and wants to take care of it despite her father's reluctance. What I really love about this story was the emotional depth and the development of the relationship between Doris and the dog, showing the power of compassion and the bonds that can form between humans and animals.
The story dives into the conflict of Doris wanting to keep the stray dog against her father's wishes, representing an external conflict between her desires and her family's situation. Over the course of the story, Doris experiences character growth and her persistence pays off, leading to a heartwarming resolution.
"Stray" likely refers not only to the dog's status but also to the themes of feeling out of place or looking for where one belongs. These resonate with Doris as she advocates for the dog, and metaphorically, with the universal human experience of seeking connection or finding a place in the world.