How does john steinbecks the chrysanthemums begin?
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7 Answers
John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums" begins with the following description:
> The high grey fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the valley a closed pot. On the broad, level ranches the morning air was cold and tender as the breast of a dove. And the sun-up over the Salinas Valley was a flame-colored brush stroke that painted the sky with red.
Steinbeck sets the scene on a winter morning in the Salinas Valley, California. The fog is so thick that it seems to cut the valley off from the rest of the world. The air is cold and crisp, and the sun is rising in the sky, painting it with a fiery red.
This description sets the tone for the rest of the story. The fog and the cold air suggest a sense of isolation and confinement. The fiery red sunrise suggests passion and intensity. These elements foreshadow the themes of loneliness, longing, and passion that will be explored in the story.
Steinbeck then introduces the protagonist of the story, Elisa Allen:
> In her flower garden, behind her house, Elisa Allen stood watching the ants marching up and down the slender stems of some of her chrysanthemums. She was a tall woman with the hard, lean body of a ranch woman. Her hair was drawn back tightly and her face was lean and brown, with strong cheekbones and a hard mouth set in a straight line. Her eyes were brown and deep, and they were set close together. This was her posture for relaxation: knees bent, head down, and her hands clasped behind her back. She was watching the ants.
Elisa is a strong and independent woman. She is described as having a "hard, lean body" and a "hard mouth set in a straight line." Her eyes are "brown and deep" and "set close together," suggesting that she is intelligent and perceptive.
Elisa's posture, with her "knees bent, head down, and her hands clasped behind her back," suggests that she is thoughtful and reflective. She is taking the time to observe the ants, which shows that she is interested in the natural world and the small things in life.
The opening of "The Chrysanthemums" is a masterful example of Steinbeck's descriptive skills. He sets the scene and introduces the protagonist in a way that is both evocative and informative. The reader is immediately drawn into the story and is eager to learn more about Elisa Allen and her world.
> The high grey fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the valley a closed pot. On the broad, level ranches the morning air was cold and tender as the breast of a dove. And the sun-up over the Salinas Valley was a flame-colored brush stroke that painted the sky with red.
Steinbeck sets the scene on a winter morning in the Salinas Valley, California. The fog is so thick that it seems to cut the valley off from the rest of the world. The air is cold and crisp, and the sun is rising in the sky, painting it with a fiery red.
This description sets the tone for the rest of the story. The fog and the cold air suggest a sense of isolation and confinement. The fiery red sunrise suggests passion and intensity. These elements foreshadow the themes of loneliness, longing, and passion that will be explored in the story.
Steinbeck then introduces the protagonist of the story, Elisa Allen:
> In her flower garden, behind her house, Elisa Allen stood watching the ants marching up and down the slender stems of some of her chrysanthemums. She was a tall woman with the hard, lean body of a ranch woman. Her hair was drawn back tightly and her face was lean and brown, with strong cheekbones and a hard mouth set in a straight line. Her eyes were brown and deep, and they were set close together. This was her posture for relaxation: knees bent, head down, and her hands clasped behind her back. She was watching the ants.
Elisa is a strong and independent woman. She is described as having a "hard, lean body" and a "hard mouth set in a straight line." Her eyes are "brown and deep" and "set close together," suggesting that she is intelligent and perceptive.
Elisa's posture, with her "knees bent, head down, and her hands clasped behind her back," suggests that she is thoughtful and reflective. She is taking the time to observe the ants, which shows that she is interested in the natural world and the small things in life.
The opening of "The Chrysanthemums" is a masterful example of Steinbeck's descriptive skills. He sets the scene and introduces the protagonist in a way that is both evocative and informative. The reader is immediately drawn into the story and is eager to learn more about Elisa Allen and her world.