Essay Questions

Explore the idea of growth as brought out in this literary work.

Being some of the youngest in a military camp is something that does not work out quite too well for the two protagonists of the short story, “Night Training.” In what can be termed as night training, Dave Kitchener has both Greg and Cam strip after which they do their nightly drill. However, as the two characters grow, their treatment in the camp improves and they develop a much more refined idea of life. In fact, Greg develops a longing for these times, having to wake up at night for the drill. Growth is what results in Greg’s improved understanding of life.

How is the idea of recovery after a loss portrayed in this work?

In the short story, “At Schindlers,” the protagonist, Jack has lost his father who went missing in the war. As time goes by both Jack and his mother exhibit a great deal of hope that his father and her husband would come back into their lives. However, with time Jack’s mother moves on with her life seeing as her husband is not around anymore. On the other hand, Jack does not seem to appreciate the idea of her mother bringing in other men to replace his father. While his recovery takes a little bit of time, he soon learns to live with the loss of his father and when he finds his mother in bed with Milt whom he seems to get along with quite well, his recovery is finalized. In a way, the story becomes one of the characters' roads to recovery after a loss.

Explore irony as brought out in David Malouf’s anthology Dream Stuff.

The heights of irony are explored in the short story, “Closer.” In this story, the protagonist’s family lives following the prescriptions of the Bible and is supposed to the emblems of Christianity and moral uprightness capable of forgiveness on top of promoting equality and not being judgmental and unreceptive of other people. However, the family becomes emblems of hypocrisy following their lack of acceptance of Charles who becomes a recluse. The family’s judgmental nature is brought out through Amy’s grandfather who calls Sydney Sodom. Even when Charles visits, the family does not welcome him as they leave him alone on the streets while they eat in the house. Being Christian, the family’s behavior with regards to Uncle Charles is quite ironic.