The+Lamp+at+Noon

The atmosphere is very dark and sad. The family of three has been going to tough times, and have been very tense in the past few days. Ellen, the mother, begs her husband Paul to move to a town or city so that at least they won’t starve. The setting affects the setting because the dust clouds block out all sunlight so that even though it is noon, there are lamps lit so that Ellen and Paul can see as they work. The storm is described: “In din, fitful outline the stable and oat granary still were visible; beyond, obscuring fields and landmarks, the lower of dust clouds made the farmyard seem an isolated acre, poised aloft above a somber void.” This illustrates how it is dark, and that the buildings that are close by are still barely visible. The darkness makes the mood mysterious and unwelcoming. “There was dust everywhere. Her own throat parched with it. The table had been set less than ten minutes, and already a film was gathering on the dishes. The little cry continued, and with wincing, frightened lips she glanced around as if to find a corner were the air was less oppressive.” This illustrates a very sad time, where it is dark and scary, and dust seems keep coming back no matter what. Ellen wishes the family would move to a better place, but Paul is very adamant.
 * 1) Describe the atmosphere or mood of this story using references from**  **the story.**

**2) Is the ending optimistic or pessimistic? Explain your answer.** The ending is pessimistic because their baby has died, and so has their last hope of farming the land. The story says "The child was quite cold. It had been her arms, perhaps, to frantic to protect him, or the smother of dust upon his throat and lungs.". From this the reader can infer that the child has died. When Paul finds Ellen, she has gone crazy, and is saying that it will be okay when it it really won't. The storms have eaten away all the usable land, and left it "...black, naked. Beaten and mounded smooth with dust as if a sea in gentle swell had turned to stone."

**3) Why does Ellen run away? In your opinion, could the tragedy have been avoided? Why or why not?** She runs away because she feels that everything bad that can possible happen has happened. Her baby has died, and she is assured that farming is now impossible. She was probably trying to run to her family, where she wanted to go to for a long time. This tragedy could have been avoided if Paul had agreed to move, and if he had realized that there was little hope for the farm. It would have also helped if he had knowledge of farming, and had grown crops in cycles so that the land was usable.

**4) Which of the two characters do you feel more sympathy for? Defend your choice.** I feel more sympathy for Ellen because Paul, her husband, never listens to her. She had good judgment, and begged Paul to move to a town or city. Paul doesn't listen because he was raised by a farmer, and decided that farming is all he wants to do. He doesn't want to sweep floors in Ellen's father's shop, and would rather go through years and years of suffering and poverty.

**5) What is the author saying about the effect the Depression had on human relationships?**  The author is saying that the Depression isolated Ellen and Paul from each other. Paul was focused on farming, while Ellen was stuck inside the house with the baby, when they both had no food, no money, and their clothes were torn. They each went their seperate ways. They had to basically fend for themselves. Since she was used to having money as a child she wanted to move back to the city. But, he had his mind set on farming. When the Depression was over, Paul found Ellen and they both came back to the farm together. The Depression, along with the baby dying built up a better trust between them. They both had to trust each other for support when the Depression was over.

Title : __The Lamp at Noon by__ __Sinclair Ross__
 * Short Stories - Literary Devises**

Third Person
 * Point of View:**

Ellen
 * Protagonist:**

Dynamic Round
 * What type of character is the Protagonist?**

Paul
 * Antagonist:**

The story takes place on a small farm in the plains. There is a small house,and a barn for animals. There is also a farm outside where Paul plants his crops to sell.
 * Describe the setting:**

Man vs Nature Man vs Man
 * Type of Conflict:**

Man vs Man
 * Describe the main conflict:**

The climax of the story is when Paul goes looking for Ellen, but she is missing. The storm is coming to an end, but both Ellen and the baby are gone.
 * Describe the Climax of the Story:**

Ellen starts off angry and annoyed because her husband Paul does not want to move somewhere other than the farm. He tells her they will stay on the farm because the farm will make them rich. She argues with him and they both get angry. Near the middle of the story, Ellen becomes less angry and tries to convince Paul with calm reasoning instead of having a heated argument. She doesn't get angry, and remains calm even when Paul accuses her "I told you this morning, Ellen; we keep on right where we are. At least I do. It's yourself you're thinking about, not the baby."
 * How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?**

The title hints to the situation of the dust storms in the 1930's, the theme is depression can cause people to do things that they wouldn't normally do. The title creates an image in one's mind of how dark and sad it is but that there is hope. At the end of the story Ellen even in a state of shock has hope.
 * **Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.**

Ellen was depressed and she just wanted to get away from this life, but Paul was hanging on to his dreams of being a better farmer and supporting his family. The living conditions were terrible, the baby was always crying, Ellen was hoping that Paul would agree with her idea to move back with her ideas, but Paul couldn't give up and move away from his life and his work.
 * How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?**

The baby was dead, Ellen was very sick and Paul felt terrible he had let this happen to his family. He could have prevented this from happening if they hadn't ended their discussion with out a solution. Ellen was in a state of shock but she had hope.
 * How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?**

"The cry of a woman with eyes like those that watched him through the dark."
 * Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):**
 * Simile**: "... the sun raced like a wizened orange."

"stripped naked" is a metaphor for how he lost everything, including his wife and child." "it's a desert" there is nothing to eat or do."
 * Metaphor:**

"...the first wind sprang inside the room, distraught like a bird that has felt the gaze of talons on its wing;..." "The one sought refuge in the eaves, whimpering, in fear;..."
 * Personification:**

the two winds that are chasing after each other and fighting were a symbol for Ellen and Paul. dust is a symbol of sadness, death
 * Symbol:**

" See, Paul - I stand like this all day. I just stand still-so caged! If I could only run!"
 * Foreshadowing (give both elements):**
 * Foreshadow:**
 * Flashback:**

Paul didn't want to live on "charity" with Ellen's parents but he was willing to live on the governments money. **
 * Irony:

"In dim, fitful outline the stable and oat granary still were visible; beyond, obscuring fields and landmarks, the lower of dust clouds made the farmyard seem an isolated ace,..." "There were two winds: the wind in flight, and the wind that pursued. The one sought refuge in the eaves, whimpering, in fear; the other assailed it there,..."
 * Imagery:**

Depression is one of the worst situations humans can be in. It makes people act out and be very vulnerable. The class theme of "Humanity" is related to the theme of the story because, within the story there is hope, doubt, not giving up, sadness all aspects of humanity. **
 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.**

__**Lamp At Noon**__ - Character Sketch Assignment Choose __one__ of the two characters listed below from “The Lamp at Noon” and complete the prewriting activity before writing the character sketch.

**Paul** Choose three words that describe the inner workings of Paul 1. Proud

2. Blind

3. Optimistic

Find three pieces of evidence to support your describing word choices. Include at least one quote. 1. "Even as a desert it's better than sweeping out your father's store and running his errands. That's all I've got ahead of me if I do what you want."

2. "Listen Paul - I'm thinking of all of us - you, too. Look at the sky - what's happening. Are you blind? Thistles and tumbleweeds - it's a desert. You won't have a straw this fall. You won't be able to feed a cow or a chicken. Please, Paul, say we'll go away-"

3. Paul thinks that if they do not give up on the land, the land will bring them great wealth and happiness.

Using your choices above write a well constructed paragraph that includes all three describing words and corresponding evidence. 4. It should also have a strong conclusion. This leaves the reader with a final thought that encapsulates the meaning of the whole paragraph. 5. Develop and provide evidence of your ideas between the topic sentence and the conclusion. 6. A character sketch does not tell what a character //does//, but who he or she //is//. Finally, before you are finished, __read your piece out loud__ to yourself or have somebody else edit it for clarity, style and grammar.
 * REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:**
 * 1) It is formally written, avoiding slang and colloquialisms.
 * 2) It is written in the third person, avoiding first and second person pronouns (“I”; “you”).
 * 3) There is a strong topic sentence, which introduces both the character and the story… …in addition to giving the reader an idea of where the piece is going and providing a hook so the reader is compelled to read on.


 * Character Sketch - Paul **

Full of patience and hope, Paul, in “The Lamp at Noon” seems to have a passion for farming, but not much knowledge of it. Having been raised on a farm and taught to farm, Paul doesn’t seem to want to do anything else but to work the land until he strikes gold. Unfortunately for Paul, drought and dust storms have been ravaging the land for many years, and they keep coming back. The soil’s nutrients are depleted, and the land has all been blown away, leaving only sand. "Even as a desert it's better than sweeping out your father's store and running his errands. That's all I've got ahead of me if I do what you want." Paul’s pride in farming keeps him from foreseeing catastrophes, and potentially avoiding disaster. He didn’t want to lose his pride and work in small shop sweeping floors, so he settled for failure. It was obvious that Paul was optimistic that the farm was going to bring them great wealth. He . He always dreamed of the day where the land brings him wealth and he can live happily ever after. The blindness of Paul’s actions is evident in the story. Even Ellen, his wife, acknowledges: “...Are you blind? Thistles and tumbleweeds—it’s a desert. You won’t have a straw this fall. You won’t be able to feed a cow or a chicken. Please, Paul say we’ll go away–“. Paul was taught to farm by parents, but he didn’t even know to grow crops in rotation so that the soil retains nutrients. Paul’s bad decisions led to the death of his precious baby, the possible loss of his wife and a lifetime of agony.

Character Sketch - Ellen Ellen is keen because she wants to move back to the city, when Paul wishes to stay on the farm. So she chooses to run away with the baby. She is thoughtful because she takes care of Paul, the baby, and keeps the house maintained. She cooks for the family and cleans up after them. Also, she has stayed for years along side Paul while their farm has been heading to a dead end. She hasn't caused much of a dilemma, until now when there is absolutly no hope in the farm surviving through another dust storm. She has always said her opinions in a pleasant way, so she would not upset Paul. She is strong willed because she doesn’t give up on her decision to leave for the city when Paul refuses to leave. She decides on what she thinks is best for her and the baby, and she was willing to proceed with her plan if Paul was by her side or not.