“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussion

Literary Terms:Setting

–Time and place a story occurs

Irony–Discrepancy between appearances and reality (3 types in literature)

Motivation–Reason for characters’ actions

“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussionIronies in the names? Miss Strangeworth Pleasant Street

Discussion ideasWhat is Miss Strangeworth’s feelings regarding her

town and family heritage? Feels a sense of ownership over the town and is

very proud of her family history.

“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussion

What details suggest that something is disturbing Helen Crane, Miss Chandler, and Linda Stewart?

Helen Crane worries about her daughter’s development.

Miss Chandler’s hair is unkempt. Linda Stewart is crying in public.

“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussionWhy are Miss Strangeworth’s letters an

example of verbal irony? The letters are expressing the opposite of what she

has told them in conversation.

What are Miss Strangeworth’s letters insinuating to the following people:

Helen Crane That her baby is slow and “an idiot”

Mr. Lewis That his grandson is stealing from him

“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussion Miss ChandlerMiss Chandler

That Mr. Shelley’s first wife had died under mysterious That Mr. Shelley’s first wife had died under mysterious circumstancescircumstances

Mrs. HarperMrs. Harper Something might go wrong with her surgerySomething might go wrong with her surgery

Linda StewartLinda Stewart That the Harris boy was no good and troubleThat the Harris boy was no good and trouble

What is ironic about Miss Strangeworth’s notion of What is ironic about Miss Strangeworth’s notion of “taking care of her town and the people”?“taking care of her town and the people”?

She is creating problems for them.She is creating problems for them.

“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussionWhat type of irony is shown when the Harris What type of irony is shown when the Harris

boy notices that Miss Strangeworth had boy notices that Miss Strangeworth had dropped a letter?dropped a letter?

dramaticdramatic

What happens to the roses?What happens to the roses? Presumably destroyedPresumably destroyed

Who probably did this to the roses?Who probably did this to the roses? Mr. CraneMr. Crane

“The Possibility of Evil”—class notes and discussion

In what way does the story’s title reflect the ironies in the story itself?

Miss Strangeworth creates the possibility for evil in writing the letters.