1. Memory and Reflection: The excerpt showcases Granny Weatherall's jumbled thoughts and memories as she reflects on her life and the people she loves. She thinks back on her relationships with her husband, children, and deceased daughter Hapsy. The author uses Granny's scattered thoughts and interactions with her family members to highlight her nostalgia and reflection on her past.
2. Fear of Death: Granny Weatherall's initial reaction to the storm and realization that she is dying reflects her fear of death. She expresses disbelief that it is her time to die and struggles to come to terms with it. The author develops this theme through Granny's internal dialogue and interactions with her family, showing her apprehension and uncertainty about what comes next.
3. Family and Relationships: The presence of Granny's children, particularly Lydia, and their attempts to comfort her and help her with the rosary highlight the theme of family and relationships. Despite her fear of death, Granny finds comfort in the presence of her family and their love and support. The author depicts the importance of family in moments of crisis and the role they play in providing comfort and reassurance.
4. Faith and spirituality: The mention of the rosary, Father Connolly murmuring Latin, and Granny's references to God and St. Michael demonstrate the theme of faith and spirituality in the excerpt. Granny's faith is a source of comfort and strength for her as she faces death. The author uses religious symbols and references to show Granny's deep-rooted faith and how it influences her thoughts and actions in her final moments.
Read the following excerpt from Katherine Anne Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"
Cornelia's voice staggered and jumped like a cart in a bad road. It rounded corners and turned back again and arrived nowhere. Granny stepped up in the cart very lightly and reached for the reins, but a man sat beside her and she knew him by his hands, driving the cart. She did not look in his face, for she knew without seeing, but looked instead down the road where the trees leaned over and bowed to each other and a thousand birds were singing a Mass. She felt like singing too, but she put her hand in the bosom of her dress and pulled out a rosary, and Father Connolly murmured Latin in a very solemn voice and tickled her feet. My God, will you stop that nonsense? I'm a marned woman What if he did run away and leave me to face the priest by myself? I found another a whole world better, I wouldn't nave exchanged my husband for anybody except St. Michael himself, and you may tell him that for me with a thank you in the bargain
Light flashed on her closed eyelids, and a deep roaring shook her Cornelia, is that lightning? I hear thunder. There's going to be a storm. Close all the windows. Call the children in... "Mother, here we are, all of us." "Is that you Hapsy?" "Oh, no, I'm Lydia. We drove as fast as we could." Their faces drifted above her, drifted away The rosary fell out of her hands and Lydia put it back. Jimmy tred to help, their hands fumbled together, and granny closed two fingers around Jimmy's thumb. Beads wouldn't do, it must be something alive. She was so amazed her thoughts ran round and round. So, my dear Lord, this is my death and I wasn't even thinking about it. My children have come to see me die. But I can't, it's not time. Oh, I always hated surprises
Identify four themes that are clearly developed in this excerpt of "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall." How does the author develop the two themes over the course of this excerpt? Be sure to use specific details from the text to support your answer.
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