Summaries

Article 1
The article, Linguistic-literary camouflage in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” by Jayasree
provides a critical analysis of the short story, Girl by Jamaica Kincaid. Jayasree explains that the
short story’s structure which contains disjointed phrases and sentences is a well-thought-out
narrative working to pass a critical message to women. The story is marked by deviations of
language, style, and ideas. This is a well-calculated move that helps Kincaid to effectively pass
her message. The writer does not advocate for outright rebellion against misogyny. However, she
calls women to thwart the hegemony in the society they live in a while still in it. Further,
Kincaid’s choice of character is outstanding. She chooses the character who plays the role of a
wife and a mother as well as a rebel against misogyny and women’s oppression. She has a strong
will to exist within her society and survive while trying to make it a better place for women in
her generation as well as those that will come later. Jayasree further holds that the short story
uses a narrative style that breaks all the rules of existing genres. The short story employs a very
spontaneous style to try and make the narration as real and relatable as possible. Kincaid frees
herself from the shackles of writing within existing rules of literature. The text explains to
women methods that they can use to break free from systematic oppression and subvert the
system. Overall, Jayasree explores ways in which the short story exposes the effect of an

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oppressive society on the life of the woman. Each line within the short story provides a lesson to
women on how they can adapt to a harsh society.
Article 2
The article, Literary contexts in Short Stories Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl, provides a
religious, historical, scientific, and religious context of Kincaid’s short story, Girl. The article
summarizes the short story in a sentence. It is about a woman who gives instructions to a girl
who is most certainly her daughter on how to live, behave like a woman, interact with men and
take care of herself. It is a paragraph story that can be termed as one long sentence which has
been punctuated. Unlike most stories, Kincaid’s story does not have a narrator. The author’s
unique style enables her to pass across her message in an unusual and captivating manner. The
characters are not explicitly identified, nor does the story contain action. The story begins with
simple instructions on how to walk like a lady, clean clothes, and make them. However, it
quickly progresses to a deeper commentary that combines a mother’s everyday counsel to her
daughter and some utilitarian and harsh comments. Kincaid explains ways of ingratiating oneself
with the British imperial powers. The story, therefore, has a hidden meaning. The article places
the story in its social context as well. It explores the social roles of women during post-colonial
Antigua. The mother represents women who lived in the post-colonial Antigua, while the
daughter represents a generation that will exist later and how they will reject the oppressive and
imposed culture. Further, the story shows two religious’ cultures, Anglicanism and Obeah.
Anglicanism was introduced by colonialists, and the daughter must learn the craft of Obeah for
her to thrive in her modern society. Overall, the article presents the biographical context. Kincaid
confessed that when she wrote the short story, she found her voice as an author. She wrote about
herself and her mother in the short story as she has always done in her other works.

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Article 3
The article, Reserved Character: Shorthand and the Immortality Topos in Shakespeare’s
Sonnets by Lina Perkins Wilder explains ways in which Sonnet 55 explores the concept of
immortality. Wilder argues that immortality, as explained in the poem, implies power. In the
poem, Shakespeare depicts his internal aspirations to immortality. He demonstrates the power
that exists in beating death and enjoying life. The poet declares the immortality of poetry. He
chooses to preserve his thoughts in the poem because they will live forever. He promises
immortality to his friend through the powerful lines presented in the poem. Shakespeare
dedicates the lines in the poem to his friend. He is certain that the beautiful words dedicated to
his friend will live long because there is power in immortality. Wilder argues that in Sonnet 55,
Shakespeare appears to be deeply invested in the idea of immortality, specifically when it comes
to the poem. He places immortality between the poem and his audience. Wilder compares
Shakespeare’s views on poetic immortality to those of Horace. Horace made a declaration that he
had produced poetry which he compared to a monument that would last longer than brass. The
idea of immortality in poetry is, therefore, not a new one. Shakespeare’s friend in Sonnet 55
achieves a kind of fullness that only the readers of the poem can feel. It is a fullness that is
described in artistically selected words. Overall, the poet chooses to store his thoughts in lines
within the poem because that way, they will live to outlast brass. The poem has an essence of
immortality, which Shakespeare recognizes.
Article 4
The article explores the way in which Sonnet 55 immortalizes its subject. The author
states how Shakespeare presents powerful rhymes in the poem and the way in which the sonnet
is compared to the lastingness of stone. This represents immortality. The poet is confident in the

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immortality of the poem. The article states that the portrait of the young man as described in the
poem will outlive marble and memorials of princes. Shakespeare ensures that as he talks about
immortality, he also talks about time. He writes that time is immortal and cares for no individual.
Despite the sluttish nature of time, the subject in Shakespeare’s poem will outline time-smeared
stones. Further, the article also argues that Shakespeare’s theme of immortality was common
during the Elizabethan time. Latin poets explored the immortality of poets, and this idea inspired
Shakespeare in writing Sonnet 55. Time plays a central role in the poem. Time passes and makes
everything, including the most pleasurable memories to be forgotten. However, since poetry is
immortal, it is time’s worst and most effective enemy. The article further states that by
immortalizing the young man in the poem, Shakespeare shows his power as a poet. Not even
time has the power to erase the memories of the young man. The article makes a discovery.
While Shakespeare seems to immortalize the young man in the poem, in the real sense, he
immortalizes himself as the poet. While readers of his sonnet already forgot about the young man
described in the poem, Shakespeare’s name still lives on. Many years after his death, the poet is
still remembered and revered among literary scholars. His poems have been read for years. Thus,
Shakespeare continues to live on.

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Works Cited

Jayasree, K. “Linguistic-Literary Camouflage in Jamaica Kincaid’s” Girl.”” IUP Journal of
English Studies 13.2 (2018).
Wilder, Lina Perkins. “Reserved Character.” Studies in Philology 116.3 (2019): 478-505.