The dramatic climax is the securing of the proper young man as bridegroom for her daughter.
With the dramatic climax is bound up the climax of action (of the largest struggle): the Menorah must be sold.
Characterization. The story is told, as was “Zelig,” from the omniscient author’s point of view with the omniscience exercised over the chief character. Study the portrayal of Lea, as you were recommended to study that of Zelig. What is the purpose of Reb Schloime? Compare him with “Paw” Haynes in “The Path of Glory” as to his function.
Details. These two stories by Benjamin Rosenblatt perform a service for the Jewish people, in rationalizing the desire for money, a desire about which volumes have been written. It is to be observed in these narratives that the possession of worldly treasure in each case is secondary to another ideal. In Lea’s case it is her love for her ancestors and their glory joined to a sensitiveness at the fall in her worldly station. What is the primary ideal in “Zelig”?
What clue to the disposal of the candelabrum occurs earlier in the narrative?
What national and racial customs intensify the setting?
“To me, a narrative that has for its aim to interest the reader in its plot is an anecdote, be its plot ever so thick. A narrative that aims to interest the reader in a slice of palpitating life—the joys or sorrows of people—be its plot ever so thin, I call it a short story.”—Benjamin Rosenblatt.
THE SURVIVORS
Classification. This work, and the following one, “Penance” might be characterized as stories that are short, rather than short-stories. If the point were argued, however, it might be said that because of the situation, the theme quality, and the historic interest, all of which contribute to unity of effect, the two are outlying specimens of the genre. The time of the action, here, is forty years. So it is in “The Waiting Years” (Page 172), but whereas there the time of the action is only twenty-four hours (see the management) here it is the full forty.
Plot.