Literary Analysis Of Fire On His Mind

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Fire On His Mind
Is it possible that being too protective over your child may cause an outcome that is disappointing rather than one that makes a person proud? In some situations, letting a child learn on their own is better than always telling them what to do. In Fire on His Mind, by Pamela Carter Joern, the theme of how our young ones affect us is fully explored through the use of plot, character and setting. Through the use of plot, the narrator gives us an early picture of who the boss is. In this short story, the boss is the dad Tom. As readers, we find out early in the story that he is very controlling. Tom demands, “When you hear this whistle, I want you to see fire. I want you to smell fire.”(40) While reading the story, we are informed …show more content…

“He could be dangerous.”(43) Before Tom has a chance to say a word to the new kid, he immediately wants to protect his boys from him just because of something he saw that kid do. Tom doesn 't let his boys say much about the new boy, Manson, even though he is is Trent’s class. No matter what his kids say in any situation does not affect the way Tom’s thinks. Tom truly just believes what he is doing will always help his boys. Another piece of evidence that shows how character has an impact is when Tom hears his son say, “I tried to be a fireman.”(48) This affected Tom horrendously. It got his thoughts flowing, making it so he could not even bare to sleep. Just by six words said by Trent changes the way Tom looks at the situation and goes up to the hospital. He sits with Manson’s parents and realizes how his dad is sitting, “He fisted his hands on his thighs. Big hands and hard, like knots of wood.”(48) With Manson’s dad sitting like that it makes a picture for the readers on how the dad feels and how his son being hurt is really affecting him but little does he know he is talking to the boys dad who hurt his son. With Trent hurting Manson it really plays a huge role in how young ones affect their parents because it now is making Tom think about the situation as if it was one of his …show more content…

Knowing that his kids know what to do in a situation if there was a fire does have a positive impact on his thinking. As readers, we call tell that having Tom’s family know what to do when there is a fire has a huge impact on him because of the situation he was in and having to drive by the house that burnt down to see, “The concrete foundation lay exposed, littered with blackened wood and debris. Particles of ash drifted through the air whenever the breeze stirred.”(43) This setting tells us why he has such a fright about fires and being able to sleep at night with his family knowing what to if a fire were to occur. I believe that since two kids did not make it out in that fire that he never wants to be put in that situation with his own. Tom’s boys play a huge concept on Tom making sure they are all safe. One last piece of evidence to wrap up Joern’s short story is the last place we visualize where Tom is, which is at the park on a swing just sitting and thinking.

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