Jabez Stone And Daniel Webster example essay topic

Introduction The story I had read was the Devil and Daniel Webster it was written by Stephen Vincent Ben " et. This story is a lot alike most of his other stories discussing what it means to be an American. Also this story is one of his most famous stories it combines folk-lore and history also it has been made into a play and so to be coming out a movie. Story Summary In this story it begins speaking about a character named Daniel Webster, which was from Marshfield, but, later the story begins to unravel and they begin speaking about a character named Jabez stone. Jabez Stone was from Cross Corners, which makes both Webster and Stone from New Hampshire. As you read you see that Jabez has had the worst luck if he was to grow corn they would get borer.

If he was to get horses he it would get spavin's then trade it in to get one that had staggers. Also say the neighbors had rocks in their soil he would have boulders luck was not on Jabez side. So one day as Jabez is plowing he broke his plowshare on a boulder. This was the last straw for Jabez and he says, "I vow it's enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devil!

And I would, too, for two cents!" Soon after this he felt a chill run through his body being a New Hampshire man he wouldn't take it back. Later that night a man pulled up in a nice buggy and went to the door and asked for Jabez Stone he told the family it was a lawyer but, at heart he knew who it was. Then they begin to speak he asked his name he responds with I have a lot of names but you can call me Scratch. Then they soon discuss the contract and Jabez sells his soul the dark man took out a shiny silver pin and made him sign his name in blood.

Then things began to go smoothly for him his horses were healthy, his cows got fat, and his crops were the talk of the neighborhood. The man stopped by a year a later to discuss the mortgage and Stone said I beginning to have doubts then Scratch takes out the contract to remind him. As he took out the contract there was a moth that spoke to him it was the voice of mister Stevens. Embarrassed the dark man says he should really be in the collecting box then he slips up in a way and says someone like Daniel Webster needs a special made box.

They make a deal Jabez and Scratch they have a 4-year extension. Stone didn't realize how fast that would go by and a few days before he got on a horse and sought Daniel Webster. Daniel Webster agreed to do the case even though he's a busy man. So the night Scratch was supposed to arrive at 11: 30 Jabez told Webster to leave but he insisted on staying. The only thing between the two was a burning hearth and a jug. So at the stroke of midnight the man arrived.

They began arguing about how a foreigner can't take an Americans citizenship. Then Daniel Webster demanded a trial and the man accepted. The jury they chose and consisted of a jury filled with the ruthless dead. Now Jabez stone thought he lost they spoke until sunrise then finally they came to a conclusion of that they favor in Mr. Webster. Then the jury and judge disappear so Scratch gave him his soul back and then he told the future of Mr. Webster for winning the case. The debt to the devil also was that he would never bother any family member of the Stone's.

Then they just go to a narrator saying how the devil has never gone to New Hampshire ever again. Story Review In my opinion I thought the story was very good but the first time read confusing. But I would maybe recommend it to my friends. On a scale of stars between 1 and 4 I would give in a 2 and a half. But I believe from what I read on biography this is probably a little different from the rest of the stories. Another thing it is confusing is they do a lot of jumping back and forth and not only that a lot of little thing to remember.

Literary Analysis Plot: a) Rising Action: what leads this story to the climax is that Jabez Stone has bad luck he sells his soul to Scratch and that Scratch stops in every once in awhile to check up on him. b) Climax: the climax of this story is when Jabez seeks Daniel Webster and they meet Scratch together and begin the trial and they come up with a verdict in favor of Daniel Webster. c) Falling Action: the falling action is when Scratch, Daniel Webster, and Jabez sit around and Scratch exposes future to Daniel and were they leave you off as Scratch leaves. Conflict: the conflict in this story is that a man sells his soul for some good luck and a better life but then realizes he wants his life back and so they begin a trial. Protagonist: the Protagonists in this story consists of two people this would be Jabez Stone and Daniel Webster. Antagonist: the an agonist in this story would be the devil because this is who both are against. this is also known as man vs. man or man vs. nature. Characterization: in this story there is both indirect and direct such as an indirect would be Scratch he doesn't come out and say that hes the devil but he hints. And a direct character would be both Jabez Stone and Daniel Webster.

Round character: A round character would defiantly be Jabez Stone because he changed his mind about his soul and he wanted it back. Flat Character: A flat character would be Daniel Webster because he picks up the action and helps develop the plot. Setting: They really don't give an exact time but they give a place and that is New Hampshire. Theme: I believe the theme of this might be is think before you act or maybe sometimes you just have to take things back. Authors Biography Ben " et, Stephen Vincent, American poet and novelist, born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and went to school at Yale University. Some of his works consist the volume of poetry Heavens and Earth, the novels Young People's Pride and Spanish Bayonet, and the narrative poem John Brown's Body, about the American Civil War.

For the later work, Ben " et won a Pulitzer prize for poetry in 1929. Thirteen O'Clock, a collection of short stories, includes "The Devil and Daniel Webster", which he adapted into a words for a folk opera in 1939 and which was made into a motion picture, All That Money Can Buy, in 1941. For Western Star, an unfinished narrative poem on the settling of America, Ben " et won a second Pulitzer Prize in 1944. Ben " et's works are remarkable in their imaginative trace of the American scene.

Conclusion In conclusion I believe this story was very good although hard to follow I would enjoy reading more of his stories. I would recommend this story to a lot of different people because the story is kind of weird in a weird kind of way.