Episode 228: Best of Series, The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, Ep. 15
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This week on The Literary Life, we are dipping back into the archives for one of our \\u201cBest of\\u201d series of episodes. In this week\\u2019s remix from Season 1, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discuss Guy de Maupassant\\u2019s short story \\u201cThe Necklace.\\u201d Before getting into the short story discussion, Cindy and Angelina chat about what a \\u201ccommonplace book\\u201d is and how they each go about recording quotes and thoughts, including the QuoteBlock app.
First off, Angelina gives us a little background on the author Guy de Maupassant and some information on French naturalism. Then she digs into her thoughts on how this story is a fairy tale in reverse and what that might mean in context. Cindy points out the perfection of de Maupassant\\u2019s writing and his economy of style. They also bring up some of the formal elements of the story, particularly the key role the reversal takes in the plot. The main themes they find in \\u201cThe Necklace\\u201d touch on common human struggles with ambition, discontentment, loss, suffering and gratitude.
If you want to find replays of the 2019 Back to School online conference referenced in this episode, you can purchase them in Cindy\\u2019s shop at MorningTimeforMoms.com.
Check out the schedule for the podcast\\u2019s summer episodes on our Upcoming Events page.
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Commonplace Quotes:
If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star, you\\u2019ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren\\u2019t so lazy.
Terry Pratchett, from Wee Free Men
\\u201cA vocation is a gift,\\u201d said Dame Ursula. \\u201cIf it has been truly given to you, you will find the strength.\\u201d
Rumer Godden, from In This House of Brede
On First Looking Into Chapman\\u2019s Homer
by John Keats
Much have I travell\\u2019d in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow\\u2019d Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star\\u2019d at the Pacific\\u2014and all his men
Look\\u2019d at each other with a wild surmise\\u2014
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
Books Mentioned:
Wee Free Men\\xa0by Terry Pratchett
Kristen Lavransdatter\\xa0by Sigrid Undset
In This House of Brede\\xa0by Rumor Godden
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Connect with Us:
You can find Angelina and Thomas at\\xa0HouseofHumaneLetters.com, on Instagram\\xa0@angelinastanford,\\xa0and on Facebook at\\xa0www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/
Find Cindy at\\xa0morningtimeformoms.com, on Instagram\\xa0@cindyordoamoris\\xa0and on Facebook at\\xa0www.facebook.com/CindyRollinsWriter. Check out\\xa0Cindy\\u2019s own Patreon page\\xa0also!
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