analysis "From W.S."
Analysis of the text “W.S.”
The text under analysis is an extract from a short story “W.S.” by Leslie Poles Hartley, a well-known British novelist and short story writer best-known for his novels which include “Eustace and Hilda” trilogy (1947) and “The Go-Between” (1953). The story “W.S.” comes from “The complete short stories” of L. P. Hartley published posthumously in 1973.
The story “W.S.” is about a novelist Walter Streeter who one day gets a postcard from Forfar signed W.S. He doesn’t pay any attention to this as he is used to get letters and he tears it. Later he gets 2 more postcards from Berwick-on-Tweed and York Minster. Getting them Walter Streeter becomes interested in the author. He notices that the author has the same initials as he has and that makes him think about him more. His friend supposes W.S. to be a woman who has taken a fancy to Walter Streeter. When he gets the 4th postcard he becomes afraid as it was from Coventry and W.S. writes about his coming nearer. That makes Walter Streeter go to the police but they think it to be a hoax and advise him to come if he get some postcards more.
The main character of the story is Walter Streeter. His character is round and dynamic. He is not stable throughout the extract. In the beginning of the story his attitude to the postcards is quite indifferent, but later when the postcards acquire more perilous nature, Walter Streeter feels less confidence and he is even a bit threatened. The author uses indirect method of characterization; L. P. Hartley just gives clues about what kind of person Walter Streeter is through his words, actions and reaction of the other characters to him, in particular his friend’s attitude, who is difficult to be called a friend, and the police’s attitude to him. The author perfectly shows his personality through his thoughts: Walter Streeter compares himself with many famous people even if he is unknown beginner writer. Walter Streeter is a very inattentive person as he
The text under analysis is an extract from a short story “W.S.” by Leslie Poles Hartley, a well-known British novelist and short story writer best-known for his novels which include “Eustace and Hilda” trilogy (1947) and “The Go-Between” (1953). The story “W.S.” comes from “The complete short stories” of L. P. Hartley published posthumously in 1973.
The story “W.S.” is about a novelist Walter Streeter who one day gets a postcard from Forfar signed W.S. He doesn’t pay any attention to this as he is used to get letters and he tears it. Later he gets 2 more postcards from Berwick-on-Tweed and York Minster. Getting them Walter Streeter becomes interested in the author. He notices that the author has the same initials as he has and that makes him think about him more. His friend supposes W.S. to be a woman who has taken a fancy to Walter Streeter. When he gets the 4th postcard he becomes afraid as it was from Coventry and W.S. writes about his coming nearer. That makes Walter Streeter go to the police but they think it to be a hoax and advise him to come if he get some postcards more.
The main character of the story is Walter Streeter. His character is round and dynamic. He is not stable throughout the extract. In the beginning of the story his attitude to the postcards is quite indifferent, but later when the postcards acquire more perilous nature, Walter Streeter feels less confidence and he is even a bit threatened. The author uses indirect method of characterization; L. P. Hartley just gives clues about what kind of person Walter Streeter is through his words, actions and reaction of the other characters to him, in particular his friend’s attitude, who is difficult to be called a friend, and the police’s attitude to him. The author perfectly shows his personality through his thoughts: Walter Streeter compares himself with many famous people even if he is unknown beginner writer. Walter Streeter is a very inattentive person as he