Postmodernist Anthropology, Subjectivity, and Science: A Modernist
“Game” Mr. Dent. Donald Barthelme 1931-1989 Postmodernist who is regarded as one of the most...
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Transcript of “Game” Mr. Dent. Donald Barthelme 1931-1989 Postmodernist who is regarded as one of the most...
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“Game”
Mr. Dent
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Donald Barthelme 1931-1989 Postmodernist who is regarded as one of the most versatile American stylists
Felt modern language no longer effectively communicated feelings
Made art out of language; played with words and fragments
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Donald Barthelme cont’d.
Plots are unconventional—episodic, absurd, slapstick; characters are types rather than developed individuals
Born in Philadelphia; raised and educated in Texas
Reporter; museum director; editor; professor; teacher
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Journal Entry
Discuss an extremely difficult decision that you have faced in your life. What was your behavior leading up to the decision? How did the stress feel? What did you decide? And, how did you feel once you went through with it?
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Prior Knowledge The two-man rule is a
control mechanism designed to achieve a high level of security for especially critical material or operations. Under this rule all access and actions requires the presence of two authorized people at all times.
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Prior Knowledge cont’d.Jacks is a playground game.
Oversight: an unintentional failure.Overture: a proposalStolid: showing little emotion
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Narrator
first person point of viewanonymousrepeats phrasesreveals crazy thoughts and
motives
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Characters
Narrator—he is going crazy; works in a nuclear weapon control center
Shotwell—coworker; doesn’t like to share
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Multiple Choice QuestionWhich of the following is NOT
evidence that suggests that Shotwell and the narrator are crazy?– A. repetition of words and phrases– B. narrator’s obsession with jacks– C. both men’s paranoia about the
weapon– D. the narrator’s random outbursts
about Shotwell
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Short Answer QuestionsWhat phrases are often repeated
by the narrator? How does this contribute to his characterization?
How does the title “Game” have both literal and figurative meanings?
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EXPOSITION– Shotwell is playing jacks and the
narrator wants to play with him. COMPLICATION
– Two mean have been in the control center for 133 days without any relief
RISING ACTION– Shotwell has a .25 caliber Beretta gun
strapped to his leg and the narrator has a .38 gun concealed in his case. They could kill each other at any time.
Plot
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Plot cont’d.
CLIMAX– Anti-climactic: Like many post-modern
stories, “Game” doesn’t have a climax. The tension continues to build but there is no turning point to show that Shotwell and the narrator could never be relieved.
RESOLUTION– In a twist, Shotwell and the narrator take
turns cradling and rocking each to sleep. The narrator is considering turning his key, which would launch a nuclear missile, just so he can play jacks with Shotwell.
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Conflict
Man vs. Man– Shotwell won’t play jacks with the
narrator– Both men assume the other will kill him
if he takes his eye off him Man vs. Himself
– Both men are driving themselves insane– The narrator writes descriptions on the
wall with an engagement ring– The narrator is tempted to turn his key
that will launch a nuclear weapon
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Themes
Too much isolation and pressure can cause a man to go crazy.
Something is wrong with society when two crazy men are responsible for the fate of the world = weapons are too powerful and can’t be trusted in the hands of people.
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Symbols
Shotwell’s jacks – narrator’s desire to interact with Shotwell; man’s desire for companionship
Narrator’s descriptions – narrator writes extremely long descriptions of objects with a diamond, engagement ring; represent his attempt to stay sane and connected to the outside world
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IronySITUATIONAL IRONY
– country can have control over any other country because of weapon but can’t control two men who turn the keys
– Men cuddle and rock each otherVERBAL IRONY
– “The bird flies” is actually launching a weapon of mass destruction; euphemism so as to not have to face the reality of this horrible weapon
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Answers#1: D, the narrator never lashes
out at Shotwell. He keeps his frustration hidden.
#2: “Owing to an oversight”; “I am not well”; “Shotwell is not himself” / The narrator sounds like a madman. It shows he is slowly going crazy.
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Answers cont’d.#3: Game refers to the game of
jacks that Shotwell plays. It could refer to the mind games that the men are playing with each other. Figuratively, it could be ironic that a nuclear holocaust could be started by two isolated, crazy men. Really, it’s not a game at all but the two men think it is.