Tobias Wolff
Hunters in the Snow
Questions adapted from Holy Huddle
1. Describe the development of Frank and Tub’s relationship after Kenny is shot. What factors are at play here? Do you find it believable that they leave Kenny in the back of the truck while enjoying the warmth of a roadhouse—twice? Why or why not?
2. Lying is a common theme is Wolff’s stories. Identify places in the story where there’s a disconnect between what the characters think/feel/assert, and the reality of their situations. Are the characters actually lying? Deluding themselves?
3. In what ways are Kenny, Frank, and Tub products of our society?
4. Discuss the three principal characters in this story. How are they motivated? Who is the most sympathtic? What themes are suggested by their interactions?
5. When asked to list his favorite books, writer David Sedaris had this to say about In the Garden of the North American Martyrs: "[Wolff’s] stories are like parables, and after reading one I always vow to become a better person." Assuming that Sedaris subscribes to the dictionary definition of parable, how is "Hunters…" like a parable?
parable
(n): a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle
WRITING
When you finish your questions/discussion, I would like you to begin planning for your first major writing piece. You can do one of the following:
- Choose another prompt provided on Monday
- Develop/expand the prompt you already started
- Generate your own idea for a story (let's hope to be able to workshop next Thursday)
HMWK:
Read Cynthia Ozick's "The Shawl"
1. Once Kenny is shot, Tub and Frank finally have the chance to fully interact with one another without Kenny’s constant insults and remarks. His abrasive personality forces them to separate, but once he is injured, the men realize they are both victims of his mockery and start to open up to one another. This similarity that they realize in one another is a driving force in the strength of their relationship. Frank is now able to speak about the babysitter, his fifteen year old girlfriend, and Tub confides in him about weight issues. While I do not think that a person in the real world would have such little care for human life, I find it believable that Tub and Frank acted in the way they did in terms of the story. The two men are constantly battered by Kenny and now that they are in a superior position, either consciously or subconsciously they address their own wants and needs and when they get cold, they justify leaving Kenny in the back of the truck because of the horrible way he treated them. The fact that they did it twice just highlights the deep psychological complexity of the situation, making it more believable.
ReplyDelete2. Tub is the most prominent case of a liar out of the three men. He lies about his weight problems having to do with his glands; he really just eats too much and it can be inferred that this is a result of some sort of stress or low self-esteem. He blocks the image of deer tracks and poop on his side of the creek because he is preoccupied with finding the other men, but this can be construed in a way that relates to lying. In addition, when Tub leaves the directions at one of the rest stops, Frank says that he remembers the directions pretty good so it is no big deal, but then they get lost and never make it to the hospital. Also, Kenny’s continually assertion that he is going to the hospital, prompted by Frank, is the furthest thing to what he truly feels. He is fearing for his life and must say these words to keep himself sane, knowing that the men have little intention of helping him, especially after they leave him in the truck bed in the cold twice. In all of these situations, only Tub’s eating problem seems to be traditional lying. All of the others are either mistakes based on other occupations or an attempt at comfort that is obviously not there. They attempt to convince themselves that their actions are moral and would be understood even when society would most likely prohibit them.
3. Kenny is fueled by the misery of others evidenced by his violent tendencies and habit of insulting everyone around him, a bit of schadenfreude if you will. American society and media often glorifies violence and there is a propagation of superiority and dominance being the only way to survive. Kenny prescribes to this. Frank is driven by desire and attraction, fed up with his home life and looking for something new, in this case a much younger girl. These sort of actions are seen as “acceptable” for many men in societal standards, even though it is truly disgusting and adulterous. If a woman did the same thing, she would be labeled with derogatory names, but men are only “exploring”. There is a clear sense of male supremacy and patriarchy in modern times and Frank lives along these lines. Tub is the image of every American’s anxiety and coping methods. A man with low self-esteem who is fat and cannot keep up with other people is perceived as ugly because of the propagation of an impossible ideal. Tub labels himself as other and tries to make up for it by lying about the reason for his weight. People are not embraced enough in our highly polarized society, the outcome of this clear in Tub.
4. Kenny is motivated by others’ misfortune and takes pleasure in careless violence. Frank is motivated by physical desire and the need for variation in his life. Tub is motivated by his craving for friendship and a need to defend himself and his situation against ridicule. All of these motivations are a product of each man’s lack of confidence and yearning for acceptance, although it materializes in different ways. Tub is the most sympathetic character in the story because he is ridiculed and is unable to protect himself against his friends. He cannot be himself and only opens up when Frank orders food for him at the rest stop and can finally be comfortable in his own skin. The reader can relate to his struggle to find a place where he belongs and only noticing the flaws in his own character. Themes of friendship, betrayal, and bullying are all present in the story. Kenny’s treatment of the other men can easily be seen as bullying, Tub and Frank leaving Kenny to his death, whether it be intentional or not, is a sign of betrayal, and the interactions between Frank and Tub foster a sense of friendship. Relationships are complex and difficult to traverse, but these themes are all present in different forms.
ReplyDelete5. A parable, by definition, is a story that is used to promote a moral or lesson. In terms of this story, it is like a parable for it highlights the pitfalls of the human race, specifically in their treatment of other humans and what it means to be “good”. All three men in this story are flawed and certain things that they do make the reader sick, but they are all human. The story teaches us how to accept other people and that everyone deserves to be loved and cherished, although none of the characters do this for all of the others. The fact that all of the men are the opposite of role models makes a statement about American culture and exemplifies that no human is completely moral, teaching a lesson to the ignorant world.
Frank Cruz
ReplyDelete1. Frank and Tub systematically become closer after Kenny is shot, they both were thinking Kenny was going crazy. Some factors at play here is the inner fear of dying themselves, guilt that their friend going to die, and the metaphor of the cold getting to them and not caring. I find it to be quite unbelievable to leave their friend out in the cold if they really wanted to help him, they intentionally let him die.
2. Tub lies to himself about his problems with over eating, he will make it seem like he’s starving to other people in his life then will purge on many snacks when he’s by himself. Also, Frank and Tub lie to Kenny in telling him that they’re going to get him help while they never actually planned to.
3. Kenny, Frank, and Tub are products of society in the way that they act in the way that could be described as the typical american. Kenny being bully that makes others feel pain because he is going through his own pain. Tub in that he has low self esteem and tries to cover it up with lies and excuses. Frank in that he feels like men are above all women.
Dan'Nae and frank
DeleteKarina Le, Isabella Watts, Tamaron McKnight
ReplyDelete1. Several factors for the development between Frank and Tub comes mostly from the fact that Kenny is shot by Tub himself. Prior to the shot, Frank and Tub’s relationship can be described as volatile, as Frank is rather closed off to Tub, and constantly picks him for his weight—possibly through the influence of Kenny, as it is shown that Frank and Kenny are more of a duo than Frank and Kenny and Tub are a trio. However the change is facilitated through Kenny’s shot, and they reconciled with each other. We do not find it believable that they simply left Kenny in the roadhouse, since 1) he was shot and slowly bleeding out and 2) they were taking their sweet time talking and going around the old couple’s house.
2. In a very simplistic view of the story, the characters lie very often. Whether it be from their weight (Tub), or lying to Kenny about where they’re really going. However, under each simplistic layer of the prose, such as characters actively lying, the prose itself lies sometimes. There is a discontent between some scenes that can be symbolic of the story keeping things from the readers, such as the sequence in which Kenny shoots the dog, Tub questions his actions, Kenny professes his hate, and then Tub shooting Kenny. It’s too fast, too quick, too left at the action to be considered the truth, almost.
3. I suppose the trio is a product of trying to keep appearances, the adult facade so to speak. While Frank struggles with his adultery, and Tub being frustrated with his lies and anxiety that comes from protecting this lie (thus making the two of them inhibited by society), Kenny embraces it. Kenny’s embracing of society can be described as his mean disposition, of how he constantly picks and pries at anyone who pays him any attention. Frank and Tub are struggling under the weight of society’s expectations, and Kenny is seemingly taught to use this weight against others.
4. The trio of men are rather different in character. Kenny is reckless and violent with his disregard for others, even animals. Frank is motivated by his escapism, as shown through his adultery and then deciding to go on a hunting trip while having a child and wife at home. Tub is motivated with the need to feel normal, and is defensive when other people mention is peculiarities. Though all of them are relatively “trash” and have their fair share of qualities, one can argue that Tub is the most sympathetic, if barely. The reason why he’s most sympathetic is because he is the one bullied the most throughout the story, even if Kenny is the one who is wounded and hinted at being dead. The themes of friendship and dysfunction are what is seen through how they interact with each other.
5. The short story is a parable, a moral story, in the way that the reader can understand why the “victim” (Kenny” was afflicted with his wound; it is the consequence of his actions and words. Had he not bullied Tub, perhaps Tub may have not shot him in retaliation to the dog. Had Kenny been kind, perhaps the other two would have tried to help him, rather than leave him for dead. Be kind to people, and perhaps they will be kind to you.
ReplyDelete1. After Kenny is shot, Tub and Frank have more opportunities to talk and interact without Kenny’s insults and negative presence. They are better able to relate to one another and confide in one another. I think that it is justifiable, at least in their own minds that they do this because of the aggressive negativity that Kenny has caused in their lives, and the now superior position that the two men are in. The action is very complex, as situations like this often are in reality.
2. Tub often lies throughout the story, most concerning the cause of his weight. He blames his dysfunctional glands for the gain, but in reality, he eats too much as a coping method. The other two men lie more to themselves than anything else, having to convince themselves that their situations are not as bleak as they seem in order to maintain their sanity. They often delude themselves in order to make sense of their lives and make excuses for the things around them.
3. Kenny is a product of our society in that he values his own superiority over others, demonstrated through his pleasure from the pain of others. He is seen as the superior to the others due to his abusive behavior which is commonly seen in society. Tub is the embodiment of what the modern America views as ugly, being an overweight and self-conscious man with very little. He has used eating as a way to cope with the events in his life, which is a commonality amongst many. Frank represents the true presence of the patriarchy that persists in society. His primary drive is sexual desire, shown through his affair with a much younger girl, a minor. Especially regarding the sexual assault stories arising in many industries, this carries weight in society, finally starting to be seen as unacceptable, though it has been going on for many, many years.
4. Discuss the three principal characters in this story. How are they motivated? Who is the most sympathetic? What themes are suggested by their interactions?
Kenny is motivated by the pain of others, Tub is motivated by the need for validation and self-respect, and Frank is motivated by sexual desire and excitement. Tub is the most sympathetic character as he is constantly bullied without the means to defend himself. The themes suggested by these interactions are friendship, betrayal, and bullying, concerning the bonds that are broken and built as a result of conflict.
5. This story is a parable, being a story with a moral or lesson in it, because it demonstrates the complications in human nature and the presence of good and evil within everyone. The three men in the story are obviously flawed but there is certain behavior perceived as more evil than other behavior, and some characters seen as good, though many of their actions display lack of morality. The story conveys the idea that no one is completely moral.
4. Kenny is motivated by mischievous actions, whether it be shooting things or physical desires. Frank is motivated by immediate gratification and the idea of change in his life. Tub is motivated by a need for companionship and a reason to defend himself against taunting. Themes suggested are about the innate human nature.
ReplyDelete5. Hunters in the Snow is like a parable because it illustrates how everyone is human and has flaws, but despite these flaws we must learn to accept and love each other.
Alexis and Liana
ReplyDelete1)After Kenny is shot Frank and Tub become closer. At first Frank is upset when Tub shoots Kenny. After they go to the cabin with the old Frank admits to Tub that it is not his fault and that he would’ve done the same thing. It’s like shooting Kenny bonded them, making them closer. I do not find it believable that someone would leave a wounded person in the trunk while going to enjoy the warm of the indoor. This is not believable because gun wounds are extremely time sensitive being hunters they should know that someone could bleed out in seconds.
2)When Kenny was in the back of the trunk he kept repeating that he was going to the hospital. It was like he was trying to convince himself of this, knowing that in reality that is not where they were going.
3)All three characters exemplify the selfish nature of our society. Their friend is lying bleeding out in the back of their trunk yet they are more interested in getting some warmth in the road stop. Frank when talking of how he loved his wife but cheated on her with someone who he felt was more interesting is another example of selfish desire. Kenny did not like the dog so he shot it. Tub did not like Kenny’s decision so he shot him. All in their own self interest not thinking of the effects of their actions.
4)Frank seemed the most sympathetic, being upset about the dog and Kenny being shot. Later on in the story he went along with Tub’s intentions which were more crude in nature. All characters are motivated by their own interest and how they view each other. When Frank calls Tub fat and saying he doesn’t pay attention this upsets him motivating them to have a discussion that brought the two closer.
5)“Hunters” is an example of human intention taking control of people. Anything they dislike can be killed and if their desires risk someone else's life so be it. This story is a cautionary tale making people understand that following their own wants solely can cause great disarray.
1. In the beginning Frank is upset with that Tub shot Kenny but they became closer. Frank then tells Tub he would have done the same thing and because of that they form a strange bond.
ReplyDelete2.Through the story Tub lies. Tub almost used his lies to convince himself that things were okay. He kept telling himself that he was going to go to the hospital when Kenny is in the back of the trunk. Both men uses lies to comfort themselves in this disturbing situation.
3. Every character has selfish tendencies. They believe that they are superior over the other. Tub didn't like a decision that Kenny had made so he shot him. They thought how they felt was most important.
4.Each character was motivated by their own wants. The only one that showed any sign of remorse was Frank when Kenny shot the dog.
5.Hunters is parable because it is a story of morals and desires. Each character has major flaws that are exhibited through the story. This shows that following your own desires and not caring about anyone else creates a big storm cloud.