Paragraph Answer for "The Woman of the House"
Write an answer that is based on information found on the page you have been assigned. Try, as best you can, to connect what happens on that page to events that occur either before or after in the story. Use at least one literary term (setting, conflict, plot, irony etc.) in your answer. Quote the story at least once, but no more than 20 words, maximum, for all quotes. Identify the page number, please, as a heading before your paragraph. See my model answer for more ideas on what to do.
Write between 150 and 200 words. Bring your word processed work to class on Wednesday.
Online copy of the story for quoting.
18 comments:
On the first page, William Trevor introduces three from four main heroes of the story: the crippled man and two brothers. The author sets up the first conflict, the bargain between the man and brothers about the price to paint his house. The man pretends to be a hard bargainer; he says a figure which were nineteen years ago. Also, he speaks too much repeating his offer. In reality, his position looks weak and unrealistic. In contrast, the brothers act perfect. Keeping silence, they have “a ploy of theirs to pretend not to understand, to frown and simulate confusion” which helps them to win in the bargain. Asking “Are ye Polish?” the man accepts his defeat in the negotiation. Appearing two brothers in the old farm house is a new factor, a trigger, which destroys some kind of a balance in Martina’s soul and forces her to kill the crippled man.
- 151 words
Page 8
On this page, the mystery of what has happened to the crippled man deepens. The painters are curious and note Martina’s strange behaviours. But what seems most important here is William Trevor’s use of setting to help create meaning. One way he does this is through contrast: Martina’s home compared to the painter’s “dwelling.” She has closed all the windows, avoiding any contact with the two men, “watching the hands on the kitchen clock” until she could open the windows and doors again. She has a warm and secure place, notwithstanding the difficulty she had with the crippled man. In contrast, the painters build a place using “fallen stones,” a “few timber beams” and “sheets of old galvinized iron for the roof.” But, “they’d known worse.” Their satisfaction with this rough home stands in contrast to the modest farm where Martina will live on in comfort after their prying eyes are gone. It can’t be any better said than by Trevor in his final paragraph: “Their circumstances made them that, as hers made her what she’d become.” 177 words
Page 2
The starting of page 2 shares a secret with us. It's ironic that the painters lied and have claimed to be polish when they are not. They have done this to get work for survival because that’s the reason why the crippled man has hired them. The crippled man believes that they are “good boys” because they are catholic, the same as him. In addition, Martina is introduced with a secret as well. She allows herself to be touched by Costigan to hustle a few bucks that she can secretly save in the gold flake tin. Both are doing this because of their circumstances: the painters are Gypsies travelling around to find means; and Martina suffers from a failed marriage which left her homeless. It is despicable in the end when Martina was still going to be collecting the pension cheques even though the cripple man is dead. The painters knew too, but they weren`t going to say or expose anything because they were going to be paid in the end. It just proves that everyone is selfish in their own means. For that one chance of survival, you can do just about anything.
- 198 words
Page 1
After reading the women of the house by William Trevor we soon realize that the women being mentioned in it is not really the crippled mans wife. Or if she is she is not faithful to him, as she receives free meat from the butcher in exchange for sexual favours. Keeping the money that the butcher doesn’t take from her in a “gold flake tin” that she hides from her significant other. The two men coming to paint the house are not Polish like they said they were when the crippled man asks them, it never specifies really what they are. With Martina already not being faithful to him with anything, towards the end of the story we can put two and two together that she is receiving some sort of income from his disabilities. This selfish act is noticed by the painters but is never brought up, for they want her to feel comfortable in order for them to maybe get paid for the work they have done. The mystery of the story is what actually happened to the crippled man? The newly dug up garden doesn’t ever reveal its contents. – 194 words
Page 7
On this page, William Trevor sets up a plot in which the brothers have to suspend their painting work because of rain. But, accidentally, they find another temporary job which will require them to leave the farmhouse for some time. Meanwhile, because of the rain, Martina has to stay at home, and this also leads to much more conflict with the crippled man― “they had worn out the subject of the pension,” and the crippled man repeats his most regular request. Martina seems to reach the limit of her patience but still has to tell him “What he knew.” In this plot, Trevor uses setting to suggest that the conflict has reached a climax, and it also foreshadows Martina's killing the crippled man. When the brothers come back, they note that some strange things have happened at the farmhouse, “The place was quiet" without even the sound of a radio playing which they often heard before. The woman seems to forget their previous arrangement because the tea comes without additions and at varying times. In this way, through the brothers’ observations, Trevor implies that something ominous has happened at the farmhouse and with Martina.
- 194 words
Page-6
On this page Martina was taking care of her crippled cousin because he was a source of money (pension) that she needs. She gives him food on time and medicine when he needs it, but he always tries to dominate her by asking questions. William Trevor creates an external conflict when they argue about “painting” and “pension”. She was patient with the crippled man and even with the painters “when they didn’t understand” her. She was quite punctual to serve them tea, and was well behaved even though she felt tired. The painters guessed she was the crippled man’s wife, they didn’t show any interest in their arguments. Another conflict appears when “ceaseless rain” didn’t allow the painter to do their work and for that they have to pay for the stuff they borrowed and didn’t use. “They guessed and wondered, supposed, surmised when the crippled man disappeared from the house. In short, the crippled man’s behavior causes his mysterious disappearance in the story. The painters wanted to make her comfortable by ignoring his absence because they thought “she will have found the courage, and know we are no threat” and with the crippled man’s pension “she would pay for the painting”.
Word-202
Page 3
On page three, the event in the lives of Martina, the crippled man and the two brothers continue. The two brothers and the crippled man agree upon the price of the painting job as they celebrate with a bottle of whiskey. A celebration which leads to a twist of events in Martina’s life and her unthinkable actions. Although the “good catholic boys” are pleased that they have found work, the older brother note that “we are no threat” to Martina and they sense that “impatient, anger had not allowed a woman who had waited too long to wait again, until she was gone.” On the other hand, it is ironic that Martina has enjoyed “the moment of deception” bearing her silence and her secret behind the crippled man’s back where the only proof is the money in her Gold Flake tin. Finally, the deception symbolizes Martina’s evil character, her selfishness and her personal intentions only because of money.
-174 words
Page 9
In this page was when the two brothers suspicion with Martina grew. In contrast the author, William Trevor showed us tremendous details about the surrounding on page 9. For example, when the younger brother explore the yard which "led him, through a vegetable patch given up to weeds". It was also mentioned that the two brothers were concern and worried for the crippled man on the previous page. Only because, the payment of the painting was discussed by the crippled man, not with Martina. Which caught both of the brothers attention because Martina was not present when the price was agreed on. At the end of page 9, was when the older brother said that "the crippled man is dead. Which in my opinion not a big shocked to the both of them because "No one would miss the crippled man". In conclusion, both brothers saw it coming from the day they came back after the rain and the crippled man was no where to be found.
-165 words
Page9
On the page 9 Mr. William Trevor explains how Martina is trying to avoid the painters, “hurrying in the morning because she wanted to leave before the men came”; moreover he is discussing the concern of the painters about the cripple men, “ since the understanding about payment for the painting had been made with him”. the job is almost done and still there is no sign of the cripple man, so they decided to ask Martina about him and she says, “ he’s in the other room. A room better then here.” Unclear about the situation , they come to an agreement that the cripple men is dead, and they have to collect the money from the women of the house .
Page 5
After I read the story “ The Woman of The House” by William Trevor, On page 5 in the beginning of the story it shows us Martina had an affair with Costigan in exchange of extra money. In this page Martina and the crippled man were both in need of each other’s help and accompany. However, people of the farm house do believe the crippled man was died, due to Martina never mentioned his name or took him out of the house .Trevor mentioned “ Often people assumed that he had died, never saying a word, but you could tell.” In this page it shows that even if Martina didn’t care much of the crippled man, she was taking care of him by making his food on time. Although, Trevor shows that Martina and the crippled man had a conflict in between each other about the house painting. At the end of the page it shows that Martina couldn’t take out the crippled man out of the house, because she was getting heavy to carry him out.
Word count:180
Page 7
On the seventh page of the story " The Women of The House " , William Trevor introduces the four main characters : the crippled man, the two brothers and Martina .William Trevor unveil the story by setting a plot in which the two brothers have to discontinued their painting work because of the heavy rain and the storm .They drove to Carragh where they learned that a builder is hiring . He agreed to employ them on a day to day basis . The two brothers worked at the Mill conversion for longer than they might have even though the finer weather had come. However; William Trevor use contrast to compare the two jobs .At the mill conversion, the pay was better and there was talk of more employment in the future while as, the crippled man's job, the pay was not good and it was only for a short term .When the painters return to the farmhouse , " the place was quiet" without even a sound .Martina seems to have forgotten their previous arrangement with the time when their food surpass to be there. Through this observations, the brothers suspected that something bad has happened in the farmhouse .
page 8
On page height, the writer describes the role of the two brothers in Martina’s life from the point of view of latter. The brothers are intruders who disturb the regular life of Martina. They change the world she had been used to and had always refused to share. For example on page four the two brothers discover the place where the money Martina’s cousin own is hidden; which makes her angry. A similar attitude is perceived, when on page height, the brother’s presence, scrutiny and interest in what is happening into the house, bothers Martina .In fact as much as intruders, by their attitude, the two brothers become observers whose introduction into Martina’s life shows the ugly side of it. They reveal to Martina the sad, deep and hidden reality of her life. In that sense the use of term such as “good catholic boys” by the writer to describe them, strengthen their role as judges and witnesses and give us a meaningful explanation about Martina’s attitude where “she didn’t want to see them, as all day yesterday she had managed not to.” Hence, the fact that the brothers become for Martina, the eyes of God the witnesses of her sin, and as God, latter in the story, the only one who could forgive her and forget about her crime.
220 words
Page 5
At the beginning of this page, it discusses more in detail of Martina’s character. She was indulging herself by passing and allowing her cousin Costigan to play around with her underclothes and embracing her roughly. The way I see the connection in this story by William Trevor is; he unfolds the story with exposition in which he presents the main characters and describes them well. An example of this is when: “They were distantly related and had been together in the farmhouse since his mother died twelve years ago”. This is where I see the action plot rises to a climax. Therefore, Costigan is limited due to being crippled, and in time Martina would inherit of what’s left from him. According to the story, it’s “legal stipulation”. She wouldn’t talk about him to anyone unless they brought it up. This concluded that they aren’t in a good relationship and thus I clearly understand, there is a turning point in this story that conflicts between the two characters.
- 167 Words
Page 2
In this story, Trevor almost mentions two story lines, Martina with the crippled man and both brothers, parallelly. On this page, as a part of setting, Trevor choose to describes some details of characters for leaving foreshadowings in the later development of the story. For example, Trevor depicts some interesting details in the bargain between the crippled man and both brothers: For taking on painting house business, both brothers pretend to Polish, which is their survival skill that “sometimes they said that, sometimes they didn’t, depending what they had” ascertained. This detail could help readers to know what is both brothers survival environment and why they always take on any job as soon as possible. On the other hand, Trevor depicts more details about Martine’s character, such as her “old Dodge” which belong to “the antique brigade,” why Costigan “no longer invited her to accompany him to the deep freeze.” Furthermore, Trevor portrays some of shadows in earlier Martina’s life as her background, for instance, her “careless marriage,” “leaving her homeless.” These shadows should result that Martina may have more materialism and indicate or foreshadow that the developing plot in the later story is reasonable.
[195 words]
Page 1
The Woman Of The House
The story “The Woman Of The House” opens with a crippled man debating over the coast to paint his house with two brothers who offered to do the job at a price. This conflict is unique because the crippled man initiates and carries it through his dialogue; however, his words works against him in the debate and he ends up on the losing end of the deal. On the other hand, the two brothers are men of few words “not saying anything, only nodding and gesturing.” This actually words to their advantage in the conflict because their silence is a strength. They “pretend not to understand, to frown and simulate confusion” during the conversation. This deceitful move is aimed at compelling the crippled man to compromise for their benefit. And because he is out of touch with the reality outside, he can be easy being ripped off.
page
On page four, William Trevor reveals more details about the "good Polish boys." In the beginning the way that the author wrote the story makes readers think that these two brothers are the antagonists. Therefore, the author explains more about the characters and their purposes. The two brothers are " born into a community of stateless survivors in the mountains of what had once been Carinthia." They had left their family at thirteen and fourteen without regret. They had managed their lives however they wanted. Their purpose of painting the crippled man's house is the need of survival. The writer tries to trick his readers by using the title "the woman of the house" to make the readers predict that Martina is in charge and plays the role of a good women in the house. The irony is that " the woman of the house" is supposedly the crippled man. He is the owner of the house and brings in the pension money. Also, the woman of the house in this story could mean several things. For one, she could be owning the house and the pension money, just like the ending of the story. After all, she did become " the woman of the house."
207 words
Page 8
Where the crippled man is and who is going to pay, the painters seem to be asking themselves. William Trevor is describing a series of events that leads one to another, by using the plot. In the beginning, the painters had noticed that the crippled man “was not is his chair by the range” and, “they had not heard his voice since they had returned” which is making them feel uneasy about the payment of their work. They also started to wonder if Martina is going to pay them, because they saw her strange behaviors. The author purposely creates a scene between the painters and the protagonist to intensify the conflict: “They wondered why the woman still wasn’t as she’d been at first.” Despite the fact that the painters are put in a confused situation by the course of actions – the sudden disappearance of the crippled man – the initial conflict, the payment, is resolved, being paid by Martina. William Trevor is telling a story about how life brings the people together due to their more or less controlled circumstances.
179 words
I found that page three of the story portrays a clearer, more in-depth impression of who the characters in the story were. The pair of brothers, who very eagerly enjoy doing honest work in hopes of acquiring a better life, are pleased they were hired to paint the man’s home. The crippled man’s alcoholic tendencies and how they affect those around him. How his cousin Martina helps to take care of him enduring his continual belligerence. This page also features parts of the story whereby you can get a stronger sense of Martina’s frustration toward her cousin’s behavior. We see how she must continually cater to her cousin, not only because he is a cripple but because he has no one else. This is also the part of the story that shines some light on Martina’s secret love life with Costigan “she had enjoyed these moments of deception” her escape from a rather meager life and existence. This section of the story entails several interesting and important key factors in “The woman of the house”.(168words)
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