Short Story Analysis “Seventeen Syllables”

- Point Of View

This story using 3^rd point of view.

- Plot

Exposition: The author introduces us with the condition in the beginning of the story, about Rosie’s mother who crazy with haiku.

Conflict: Rosie’s father irritated with his wife because she’s always talk about haiku, and she’s too concentrating with haiku.

Complication: Jesus comes and wants tell a secret to Rosie, but he wants Rosie waits until night comes. Then Jesus kisses Rosie.

Climax: When Rosie’s father angry and smashes a picture, glasses, and all with an axe.

Resolution: Rosie’s mother tells the truth about her life. She never loves Rosie’s father, and the fact that she has a baby boy with another man, the man that she loves.

- Setting

Place: house (Rosie’s and Hayano’s), Japanese school, and tomato field.

Social: Japanese-American society in the middle of 20^th century.

- Characteristics

Rosie: She’s a smart and independent girl. She’s also loving and caring, fun and friendly. Hayano’s girls love Rosie so they want Rosie stay overnight at their house.

Tome Hayashi: She’s Rosie’s mother. She’s a very great housewife who crazy about haiku. She’s a normal housewife at day, but a very busy haiku writer at night.

Rosie’s Father: a quiet man. He’s deaf and little bit emotional. It shows when he smashed everything with an axe.

Jesus Carrascos: He is very friendly and mature man.

- Theme

Don’t ever get married with someone you don’t love.