“For Esme – with Love and Squalor”

 

By J.D. Salinger

 

1. Describe the exposition of the story?
2. Define the literary term flashback, and describe how this story functions as a flashback.
3. Define squalor, and explain why Esme is interested in stories with squalor.
4. Provide five examples of jargon in the opening pages of the story.
5. How does the narrator’s short story, written for Esme, fulfill the requirement of including squalor?  Explain.
6. “Show it to ya later,” a line from the story, is an example of which type of diction?
7. Would you describe Esme’s language as more pedestrian or pedantic?  Explain, using several examples from her dialogue.
8. There are 3 levels to diction: name them.
9. How does one of those 3 levels play a significant role in the final line of the story?  Explain your answer.  What does the word or final line symbolize.
10. How does the wristwatch function as a symbol in the story?  What does it symbolize and why?
11. Identify and write out at least three clichés from the story.
12. Identify and write out at least one ex. of onomatopoeia from the story.
13. Identify one example of understatement, other than the one discussed in class.  How does its usage effect or impact the tone of the passage. Explain.