Popular Mechanics Quiz: Questions & Answers

Study Notes

Plot Summary

"Little Things" portrays a couple facing marital issues through ambiguity and tension.
A suitcase symbolizes the husband’s intent to leave, escalating into a heated argument about their child.
Both parents physically grapple with the baby, illustrating their broken relationship and the conflict over custody.
The story concludes with the husband recognizing the baby slipping from his grasp, symbolizing the resolution of conflict through harm.

Characters

The man is unnamed, allowing readers to personalize the narrative and connect deeply with the story.
The woman, also unnamed, fights for the child, highlighting her desperation and maternal instincts.
The child, unnamed and ungendered, embodies the consequences of a fractured home, representing what is at stake in such conflicts.

Setting

The story unfolds in an unspecified house during winter, which enhances the themes of isolation and emotional coldness.

Point of View

Narration is delivered in third person by an unnamed narrator, allowing an objective view of the couple's conflict.

Symbolism

Objects

A broken flowerpot foreshadows the physical and emotional violence inflicted on the child, mirroring the deteriorating relationship.
The child's potential harm symbolizes the lasting effects of parental conflict on innocence.

Weather and Light

The melting snow symbolizes the loss of purity in the couple's relationship, suggesting its deterioration.
A darkening setting reflects the couple’s emotional turmoil, enhancing the story's tension and foreshadowing their struggles.

Theme

Key themes include separation, conflict, and emotional struggle, as indicated by the transition from innocent snow to dirty water.
Diction conveys a negative atmosphere, establishing the couple's internal and external conflicts early in the narrative.

Style

Carver employs short sentences, creating a sense of finality and escalating tension throughout the story.
The repeated use of "little" underscores the oppressive constraints of their relationship and living situation.

Tone

The tone evokes anger and aggression, punctuated by irony in the title change from "Mine" to "Popular Mechanics."
The irony suggests the parents' lack of knowledge on maintaining a cohesive family structure, despite their desire for the child.
The narrative reveals that the parents’ self-interests overshadow the needs of their child, highlighting the themes of selfishness and ignorance.

Description

Test your knowledge on Raymond Carver's 'Little Things' from the short story 'Popular Mechanics'. This quiz covers key vocabulary and themes, focusing on the ambiguous nature of the couple's relationship and their marital issues. Challenge yourself with these flashcards!