Cazac Nadejda

Group EF43Z
19.09.2017

Text Analysis of Yours by Mary Robison

Formalist Approach

The story Yours is a short one, but it focuses on such universal concepts as love, relations
among people and the cycle of life and death. In this story the author tries to illustrate, by
means of the language and the main characters, that love may be unconditioned Clark was
much older-seventy-eight to Allisons thirty-five, relations among people have to be
reciprocal Allison and Clark gutted and carved the pumpkins together and the cycle of life
and death is inevitable That night, in their bedroom, a few weeks earlier than had been
predicted, Allison began to die. The idea the author intends to transmit is that it would be
good for people to live intensely today's day, because nobody knows when the last day
arrives.

At the first sight the story seems to have a classical structure: the exposition where we find
out about the characters (Allison and Clark) and settings (on the twig-and-leaf-littered porch
behind the house). The rising action seems to occur when Allison finds an unpleasant letter,
and it continues with their work on pumpkins. The turning point pretends to emphasize the
fact that Allison's pumpkins are uglier. And just when the action seems to fall down, the
veritable climax of the story is emerging Allison began to die. The resolution in this story is
practically absent; we just know that Allison is filling worse than previously her pulse cords
were fluttering under his fingers. and we also know that Clark was speaking into the
phone. So, it is an open ending story, and it is up to the reader to decide what happened.

Trying to analyse the characters I observed that the text transmits a limit of information
through the direct statements, but, at the same time, he is filling the text with sense and
meaning through indirect methods. The first mechanism that comes into notice is the title
Yours which, at the first side, seems to be inappropriate and foreign for the text. But when
penetrating into the essence, the title which is represented by the possessive pronoun yours
reflects Allisons emotions, feelings and love he gives Clark, all her essence of a human being
is his, so she is devoting her life to him, idea that may be proved by the next statements:
Clark was much older-seventy-eight to Allisons thirty-five (here it is seen that she
sacrifices her youth and all her beauty for him, even though he is older); and he is devoting
his life to her too a few weeks earlier than had been predicted, Allison began to die even if
it was predicted that she would die, Clark didnt cease to be with her. While speaking about
pumpkins; Clark says Yours are far better here the pronoun yours represents Allissons
work, and soul that she dedicates while making these jack-o-lanterns.
Allison, in fact, is a courageous, kind and self-conscious woman, these features are
emphasized trough the following sentences: Alison struggled away from her white Renault,
limping with the weight of the last of the pumpkins - even if she is ill, she is trying to enjoy
her life, fact that proves her strength of character; Allison wore a natural-hair wig she
doesnt want to show everybody that she is ill, she wants to look as beautiful as people know
her; she doesnt make the differentiation between her and others late, late Allison and
Clark gutted and carved the pumpkins together. Although she suffers a terminating disease
she keeps to be pride in being a woman Dont look at me if my wig comes off, withal
underlining her love and attitude towards Clark, we may presuppose that she wants him to
remember her as beautiful as she was previously. She is also very kind and caring, even if she
is ill she is trying to make some children happy she volunteered afternoons at a childrens
daycare center.
Clark is a reflexion of Allison they were both quite tall and looked something alike in their
facial features and this also emphasizes the fact that they are a good couple. Clark is a
careful, attentive and loving person, he is always beside her Allison and Clark gutted and
carved the pumpkins together; even if Clark was a watercolourist and cut beautifully the
pumpkins and Allison cut just triangles instead of eyes and noses he encourages and supports
her Your jack-o-lanterns are much, much better than mine, Yours are far better. Clarks
enormous love towards his wife is demonstrated by the sentence He wanted to get drunk
with his wife once more and the fact that he needs her, and he is unable to live without her.
he is worried and very restless when Alisons pulse is fluttering at the telephone Clark had a
clear view out back and down to the porch.
The story Yours is the representation of an ideal couple, that is supporting each other, and the
representation of an ideal behaviour in the case you know you will die. Nothing is to do about
a terminable disease, but you may enjoy the last moments of your life, making those who are
around you happy.