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full title "Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street"
author Herman Melville
type of work Short story
genre Critique of mid-nineteenth century America
language English (American)
time and place written Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1855
date of first publication 1853
publisher Putnam's Magazine
narrator The Lawyer (1st person narration)
climax The Lawyer offers to take Bartleby into his home, but Bartleby refuses; the Lawyer leaves him to be arrested as a vagrant and imprisoned.
protagonist(s) The Lawyer
antagonist Bartleby
setting (time) 1850s
setting (place) New York
point of view 1st person narration
falling action Bartleby goes to prison and dies; the Lawyer hears a rumor that he worked in the dead-letter office.
tense Immediate past (primarily retrospective, i.e. flashback)
foreshadowing None
tone The story is written by the Lawyer, who is reflecting on his experiences with Bartleby. The tone is one of interest, frustration, and regret.
themes Charity; work ethics; middle-class boredom
motifs Food (Turkey, Ginger Nut, Bartleby's refusal to eat, etc.)
symbols None
full title "The Encantadas or Enchanted Isles"
author Herman Melville
type of work Fictionalized impressions of the Galapagos Islands, told in ten "sketches"
genre Travel literature
language English (American)
time and place written Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1855
date of first publication 1855
publisher Putnam's Magazine
narrator Unnamed 1st person narrator
climax If "The Encantadas" can be said to have a climax, it is probably the story of Oberlus the hermit, which is the longest and most involved of the ten "sketches."
protagonist(s) The narrator
antagonist None
setting (time) 1840s
setting (place) The Galapagos Islands, near Peru
point of view 1st person narration
falling action The tenth sketch
tense Past (narrator's reflections)
foreshadowing None
tone "The Encantadas" has a romantic, reflective tone.
themes Ruling over others; hermitic lifestyles; the dangers of the sea
motifs None
symbols Tortoises
full title "Benito Cereno"
author Herman Melville
type of work Short story
genre Mystery; adventure
language English (American)
time and place written Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1855
date of first publication 1855
publisher Putnam's Magazine
narrator 3rd person narration
climax When Benito Cereno leaps into Captain Delano's boat, and Delano realizes that the slaves are actually in control of the San Dominick.
protagonist(s) Amasa Delano
antagonist Babo
setting (time) 1799
setting (place) Off the island of Santa Maria, Peru
point of view 3rd person narration
falling action Benito Cereno gives his deposition, which reveals the truth of what happened on the San Dominick; Cereno dies.
tense Immediate past; that is, real-time narration
foreshadowing There are many clues throughout the story that hint at the slaves' control of the ship; for instance, Captain Delano twice sees slaves manhandle the white sailors without reprisal from either the sailors or Cereno.
tone The tone of "Benito Cereno" is mysterious and anxious, as Delano tries to figure out what's going on around him.
themes Race; slavery
motifs Grayness
symbols Alexandro Aranda's skeleton
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