Author Question: What is about to happen to Baltasar Espinosa at the end of this story? What will be an ideal ... (Read 148 times)

iveyjurea · **on:** Jul 20, 2018

What is about to happen to Baltasar Espinosa at the end of this story?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The story takes place in the time span of a single hour. How does Hammett achieve such suspense and speed of narration? What elements of storytelling does he leave out that another writer might have included?

What will be an ideal response?

medine · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

If students dont understand Borgess surprise endingthe point, that is, where the overt and ironic narratives meetthey will not be able to figure anything else out. Most students will catch the ending at onceBaltasar Espinosa is about to be crucified by the Gutre family. However, it may be worth asking this basic question to make sure no one misses it.

Answer to Question 2

Hammett has stripped the narrative of everything extraneous, focusing on action and dialogue and conveying any necessary information in the briefest and most direct manner possible. Where another writer might have provided an opening expository paragraph or two to set the scene, identify the narrator, and sketch in the background (whatever has previously taken place that led up to the moment at which the action begins), Hammett starts things off with This is Mr. Chrostwaite, Vance Richmond said. At first we have no idea where we are, who Vance Richmond is, or why he is introducing Chrostwaiteall bits of information that emerge soon enough in context as things proceed. Hammett avoids slowing things down with elements that we might expect to find in a work of this kind, such as detailed descriptions of settings and people, speculations about what is taking place, analogies from previous cases the Op has worked that might have a bearing on this one, and general observations about life and human nature arising from the actions of the characters. He gets us in and out of the story in what feels like record timewhich further serves to underscore the implications of the title.