S. Crane (1871-1900)

“The Bridge comes to Yellow Sky”
• What techniques does S.Crane use to convey the characters’ emotions?
• Can we say that S. Crane interprets his characters in naturalistic terms. Why? Give your reasons.
• Analyse S.Crane’s means of characterisation in the story.
• Almost always he paid special attention to the effects of light and colour, tried to give an accurate rendering of the scene as a whole rather than concentrating on details, as the impressionist painters of his day were doing. Does the author use these effects in this story? Give examples.
• S.Crane belonged to a group of writers who called themselves ’naturalist’. They thought that their writing should embody their beliefs about the nature of existence, they used every possible means to express their ideas about life with stark honesty. They found symbolism especially effective for this purpose. Does Crane sound as a naturalist in this story? Prove your point.
• How does the description of Potter and his bride at the beginning of the story contribute to understanding these characters?
• How do you understand the following lines: “this plain, under-class countenance, which was drawn in placid, almost emotionless lines”?
• Why did Potter feel so embarrassed? Why did he feel that he had committed an extraordinary crime?
• Comment upon the passage “At San Antonio he was like a man hidden in the dark...”. Why does the author oppose San Antonio to Yellow Sky? Is the name of the town significant? Why?
• What was he going to do when he reached the town? What was his plan?
• Why was Scratchy Wilson so notoriously known in the town?
• What did usually inhabitants of Yellow Sky do when S. Wilson “went on the war-trail”?
• How did the author create the atmosphere of anxiety and bewilderment in the bar?
• How was S. Wilson described by the author in part III? Comment upon it.
• Who was S. Wilson’s ancient antagonist?
• What was S. Wilson’s reaction to the news?