In "The Cremation of Sam McGee," a narrative poem by Robert W. Service, the exposition introduces the harsh setting of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, creating a vivid backdrop for the story. The main characters are the narrator and Sam McGee, who is described as a man from Tennessee that cannot tolerate the cold. The central conflict arises from Sam's fear of being buried in the freezing ground, as indicated when Sam expresses his desire to be cremated: “You’ll warm my heart, you’ll keep me from chill” (Service). The narrative is told from a first-person point of view, which allows readers to experience the narrator's perspective and feelings regarding Sam’s plight and the surrounding environment. The exposition effectively sets up the challenges the characters face due to the treacherous conditions of the Yukon, creating an atmosphere filled with tension and foreshadowing the unique solution the narrator will later undertake.
"The Cremation of Sam McGee," What important information is introduced in the exposition?
What conflict is introduced in the rising action? What events occur that push the narrator to face the conflict?
What decision does the narrator make in the climax?
How does the decision in the climax help resolve to conflict in the falling action?
What is the result of the conflict being resolved? What happens in the resolution?
Write a paragraph of 5–7 well-developed sentences about the exposition and literary elements of your selected narrative text. Your paragraph should achieve the following:
be 5 or more complete sentences in length
include the title and author of the narrative text
describe what occurs in the exposition of the text
describe the character(s), conflict, point of view, and setting of the text
cite at least two pieces of evidence from the text that support your answers using in-text or parenthetical citations
1 answer