Classification. A realistic sketch, with emphasis on the situation: Mrs. Brooks dies; her “pretties” are divided.
The Characters. What is the chief method of the author for revealing character? How is the character of the dead woman indicated? What can you say of the dialogue by way of indicating feeling over (1) “Ma’s” illness, (2) her death? Describe the daughters.
The Main Scene. Is the story aptly entitled with respect to the main incident? What universal theme is struck in this well-developed scene between the girls in “Ma’s” room?
“The things enumerated in ‘Ma’s Pretties’ as found in her clothespress were part of the things my mother found in my grandmother’s clothespress after the latter’s death. I had to reject many items of course, and rearrange those which I selected as typical. You may be sure I spent a couple of weeks of hard work before I was satisfied with this piece of writing.”—Francis Buzzell.
Subordinate Scenes. Which scene do you regard as second in importance?
“The building up of the scene in which Ben Brooks carries the earrings in to ‘Ma’ was also a bit of conscious technique. I worked on that paragraph many hours before I was satisfied with the names of the flowers and had my tonal values right.”—Francis Buzzell.
Compare this story with Donn Byrne’s “The Wake.” Apart from the narrative element, do you receive a decided impression of national contrast?
Study the list of “pretties,” as you studied the list of objects, etc., in Miss Babcock’s “The Excursion.” Try to discover, here as there, their value in the reflection of reality. Certain small objects connote what larger objects? “Ma’s” switch, for example? Apply this question to your consideration of each detail. Have these apparently insignificant details a value similar to that of synecdoche and metonymy?