Essay Questions

What is the link between the main subject in the story "Matisse’’ and the title of the story?

The title of the story may be a reference made to a famous French painter with the name Henri Matisse. The painter is considered as being one of the fathers of neoimpressionism, a style of painting which aims to present an individual’s impression about something and which focuses more than often on the different ways in which someone can perceive an object. This story is a form of neoimpressionism in itself, the narrator choosing to focus on the ways in which different people can perceive the same situation in completely different ways and thus create different images. The story can be seen as an exercise in which the narrator presents a myriad of different perspectives, the result of individual experiences which can shape the perception we have when it comes to our present experiences.

Why is Napoleon named the "first’’ in "If I Told Him, A Completed Portrait of Picasso’’?

The name Napoleon refers here most likely to Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who lived in the 19th century. Napoleon gains a reputation for himself as being a conqueror, carrying his army into a large number of territories and countries which he took over. Napoleon started as an officer and served as such until the French Revolution in 1789. He continued to fight during the years following the Revolution but then was forced to flee in 1793. Napoleon gained a lot of followers during his time away from France and then returned to his home country, becoming Emperor in 1804. Up until that point, France only had kings and Napoleon was the first to be considered an Emperor. Even though his reign was short, he can still be considered as being the first and also the last emperor in France.

What are the packages that women carry in "Idem the Same: A Valentine to Sherwood Anderson’’?

The packages appear in the beginning and also in the end of the opera. The packages are described as being white and black and are always carried around. At the end of the story, some of the women give up some of their packages to the men around them. Unfortunately, the men do not appreciate those packages and thus they lose their value. The packages could be used here as a symbol to suggest a woman’s feelings and desires. Unfortunately, many women do not have their feelings reciprocated and are left instead to suffer on their own while the men ignore the importance of their packages.