The+Secret+Life+of+Walter+Mitty

Justin Ringland Zac Cappella
 * //Olivia Fleischer

Published, 1939 in the New Yoker, later to be published in a book in 1942.//** //By James Thurber // Page 346 **
 * The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ** 

Plot Diagram: ** **Exposition:** We find out that Walter is driving his wife to the town of Waterbury in a car and that his wife gets very irritated with him. We also learn that he daydreams and it causes a disruption in the reality of his life. Walter's wife tells Walter that it is another one of his days inferring that he has some medical problem or is very stressed out. (pg.347)


 * Rising Action:** Every place that Walter drives by stimulates a dream, for example, "and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot." When he drove past the the hospital it stimulated a dream about him being a doctor. All his dreams create conflicts between Walter and his wife because of the way he acts. (pg.348)


 * Climax:** When Mrs. Mitty gets angry at Walter and punches him in the shoulder because she could not find him in the hotel. Walter gets put into this situation because he was in the middle of a daydream when his wife was searching for him. This part of the story contains the most action in Walter's real life. (pg.350)

** Denouement: ** Mitty's last fantasy of him facing the firing squad is Walter's last daydream and has a sense of ending, or conclusion. Unlike the other fantasies Walter has, this one is not filled with action and drama. (pg.352) 
 * Falling action:** When Mrs. Mitty continues to nag Walter saying that she was going to take his temperature. Her saying all these things eventually leads to his final daydream and the end of the story. (pg.352)

James Thurber was born in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 1894. His father, Charles L. Thurber, was a clerk and minor politician, who went through many stages of unemployment. Mary Thurber, his mother, was a strong-minded woman and a practical joker. Thurber was partially blinded by a childhood accident - his brother William shot an arrow at him. When he was unable to participate in games and sports with other children, he developed a rich fantasy life, which found its outlet in his writings. Thurber began writing at secondary school. Due to his poor eyesight, he did not serve in WW I, but studied between 1913 and 1918 at the University of Ohio. Thurber was married twice, and had one daughter. In later years he lived with his wife Helen Wismer, a magazine editor, at West Cornwall, Connecticut. He suffered from alcoholism and depression, but Helen's devoted nursing enabled him to maintain his literary production. During his career Thurber experimented with many types of writing. He said that his ideas were influenced by the Mid-western atmosphere of Columbus, movies, and comic strips. Thurber died of a blood clot on the brain on November 2, 1961, in New York. [|More about the author] Other Works by James Thurber: //The Middle-Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze // //The Last Flower: A Parable in Pictures // //Fables For Our Time, and Famous Poems Illustrated //    ** Main Character Descriptions: <span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(19,170,72);"> ** Walter Mitty- Walter Mitty is the protagonist of the story. A very wide variety of fantasies take place in Walter’s mind and he often gets lost in them. Because of his daydreams, Mitty is a very forgetful and distracted person. In the story, Walter enters an exit only lane with his car, forgets what items his wife needs him to pick up from the store, and gets easily annoyed and frustrated. He imagines himself as a British air force pilot, an assassin, and even a surgeon. In his daydreams, he is a courageous and heroic man, but in real life, he is just a very lost person.
 * <span style="color: #edc412; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">About the Author: ** <span style="color: rgb(121,41,188); font-family: Arial;">

Mrs. Mitty- Walter Mitty’s wife is the other main character of the story. She is always pushing Walter to remember what she tells him and she tries to snap him out of his fantasies. Mrs. Mitty is always repeating herself and attempting to get Walter to listen and not forget things. Mrs. Mitty looks out for her husband and is familiar with his daydreaming problem, she even mentions a doctor that he should see because she’s trying to help him. <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(181,23,45);">

Third Person Limited. This story is third person limited because it is being told by someone that is not in the setting along with the characters. It is told from the outside looking in. The point of view is limited because the reader is in the mind of Walter and can know his thoughts, but no one else’s. <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(207,88,2);"> <span style="font-size: 110%; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Gloves and Overshoes- The gloves that Mrs. Mitty pushes Walter to wear and the overshoes that she insists he goes out and buys are symbols of protection. Walter’s wife is trying to shelter him by making all of his decisions for him and forcing him to do and buy things that will keep him protected and shielded from the world. Mrs. Mitty doesn’t let her husband do anything for himself; he isn’t even allowed to take his own temperature. By protecting him and controlling his every move, Walter is only free in his mind. The fact that Mitty can only do what he wants in his head might be part of the reason why he imagines himself in different, unrealistic settings. <span style="font-size: 130%; color: #13aa48; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: #d71d37; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Point of View: **<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(181,23,45);">
 * <span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: rgb(207,88,2); font-family: Times New Roman;">Symbol: **


 * Time Period:**
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Education: **<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Education at this time was difficult, money was tight and parents could not provide proper clothing, textbooks, and supplies to attend school. Taxes were not being paid so the school had to cut school terms and teacher salaries making it difficult for kids to become educated. Many young kids went without schooling because their families could not afford it. This was unfair, but people had to deal with it any way they could.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Fads: **<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">With the cut in income, people resorted to inexpensive leisure activities. Parlor and board games became all the rage. Monopoly was first introduced to the public in this time period. Watching sports became more and more popular to the public. Horse racing became legal in fifteen more states and baseball attendance grew.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Fashion: **<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Paris fashion became too expensive for everyone but the very richest people. Clothing became too expensive so they had to last for a long time. Styles no longer changed during the seasons. Hem lengths could change for the time of day, mid calf for day wear, long for the evening. Times were tough so everyone had to ration money and clothing
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Literature: **<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Many of the most distinguished and famous writers produced works of literature during the thirties. Some of the novels of this period explored what was happening in the country during the Great Depression. One of the most famous and memorable authors, Dr. Seuss, delighted many with his rhyming stories. Some included, //Wallace Stevens’// collection of poetry, and //The Man With the Blue Guitar.//
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Music: **<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">The music of this time period talked about the hardships of the Depression and the difficulties with money. Other songs like “It Don’t Mean a Thing (if it Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Duke Ellington sums up the “in” music of the thirties. The Federal Music Project (FMP) supported the musical arts and sponsored performances of both classical and popular compositions. With the times being tough, the FMP really stepped up to help the world of music.

[|More about the time period]

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">"The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa." This quote represents how Walter incorporates real life experiences into his dreams." The sound that the hydroplane makes is strangely similar to that of a car, in which he was driving at the time of the fantasy.
 * <span style="font-size: 130%; color: #db4ee9; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Quotes: **

"Since then Mrs. Mitty always made him drive to a ... garage to have the chains taken off. The next time, he thought, I'll wear my right arm in a sling; they won't grin at me then. I'll have my right arm in a sling and they'll see I couldn't possibly take the chains off myself. He kicked at the slush on the sidewalk." This quote symbolizes how Walter hates how the people see him. His dissatisfaction with reality is immensely portrayed in this quote

"Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside ... New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles. A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman. Since then Mrs. Mitty always made him drive to a garage to have the chains taken off." This quote was important cause it shows that people veiw Walter the way do partly because of the actions of his wife. (making Walter go to the garrage to take the chains off)

"You're tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty. "It's one of ... your days. I wish you'd let Dr. Renshaw look you over." This quote starts the idea that Walter may be mentally unstable, or just stressed out. When this is said the thought that the dreams may be an effect of his instability is brought into the mind of the reader.

"Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, ... he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last." This is the last sentence of the book and it ends in a cliff hanger. Many final ideas about Walter are proposed by this sentence.(Does this last dream symbolize a note of victory, or a note of defeat?)

**<span style="font-size: 120%; color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Suspense: ** <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">"Not so fast! You're driving too fast!" said Mrs. Mitty is an excellent example of suspense, found on page 347, because you are thrown into the story in a time of panic for Mrs. Mitty. One would wonder why Mrs. Mitty is screaming at Walter, or another view, why Walter is driving so fast?

After the daydream about Walter being a captain on page 350 just the first sentence alone is enough to throw the reader into suspense. "Something struck his shoulder" At the moment in the book the reader has just come out of an action packed dream and then he gets punched in the shoulder sending many questions through the readers mind.

**Pandemonium**; noun; a place or scene of riotous uproar or utter chaos The plane was total pandemonium when the snakes got loose. Antonym-peace Synonym-chaos
 * <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: #077c93; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Vocabulary: **

Disgusted with the girl, the man gave her an insolent reply. Antonym-polite Synonym-insulting
 * Insolent**; adjective; boldly rude or disrespectful

An inscrutable smile flashed across the girl’s face. Antonym-unreadable Synonym-comprehensible
 * Inscrutable**; adjective; not easily understood/mysterious/unfathomable

**<span style="font-size: 130%; color: #ed741d; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Characterization: **
 * Round: ** Walter Mitty-Mr. Mitty can be described in several ways. Walter is a daydreamer. He is a very bold person who is well liked by everyone in his daydream world, but in real life he is looked down upon and is disliked.


 * Flat:** Mrs. Mitty is flat because she can only be described in one way. She is full of herself and cares about only what she does.


 * Dynamic:** There are no dynamic people in this story. Throughout the story nobody changes.


 * Static:** Walter Mitty is static because he does not change. He still daydreams and pictures himself in a better place. Mrs. Mitty stays in the mindset she is in. She thinks everything should revolve around her.

**<span style="font-size: 130%; color: #0f0fc7; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Theme: ** ** Success and Failure ** The theme of success and failure is examined through Mitty's inability to live a fulfilling external life, which causes him to retreat to an internal life full of images of conquest. Walter Mitty is neither exciting nor successful in his everyday life. But in his dream world he is adventurous and feels like he can take on anything. This is important in everday life because, this happens to many people, their struggles through life lead to an unfulfilling life. A person should go through life and not have to rely on an imaginary world to make them happy. [|More about the theme and other important information]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> ** Direct and Indirect Characterization: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> Indirect characterization- “You’re tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty. "It’s one of your days. I wish you’d let Dr. Renshaw look over you.” Stressed (pg. 347) “Walter Mitty began to wonder what the other thing his wife wanted him to get.” Forgetful (pg. 349)

Direct characterization- “You are a __crack shot__ with any sort of firearm.” (pg. 349) “Walter Mitty the __undefeated__.” (pg. 352)

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">"Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, ... he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last." (pg 352) I can clearly see Walter Mitty standing there facing the firing squad waiting for what is about to come. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">"Not so fast! You're driving too fast!' said Mrs. Mitty" I can picture Walter Mitty staring of into space going too fast for the road and then, bam his wife starts yelling at him and that jolts him out of his first daydream.
 * <span style="font-size: 130%; color: #db4ee9; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Imagery: **

<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">**<span style="font-size: 120%; color: #26d7e3; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Mood: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">The mood changes during the story. During Walter Mitty's daydreams, the mood is happy, very lively and there is always something interesting. The mood in Walter Mitty's real life is pretty boring, sad and there really is not anything fun going on. This then makes Walter rely on his dream life to make life happy and interesting.

**<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: #1adb94; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Story Critique: ** In our opinion, __The Secret Life of Walter Mitty__ by James Thurber would be rated a two out of three. The plot of the story was one of the best things about it. Creating a character that had an average life, but dreamt of being courageous in heroic settings was a good idea. The author told the story with a lot of detail and helped to make the story realistic. The characters of the story communicated to each other and acted like people would in real life. The style of the writing was good too. The sentences fit well together and the story flowed. The author explained exactly what the main character was thinking also. Although the plot of the story was good along with how it was written, there were a lot of flaws about it. In __The Secret Life of Walter Mitty__, the setting, without warning, often changed drastically and this made the story difficult to understand. In the beginning, the author didn’t really explain to the reader what was going on. The story just started out in an airplane setting then switched to reality and the author didn’t explain to the reader what was happening. Therefore, the reader couldn’t know exactly what the story was about until after the confusion. The story also would have been better if James Thurber explained why. Why did Walter Mitty daydream so often? Why was it necessary for him to see a doctor for this problem? Why did Walter choose to imagine himself in the settings that he did? If questions such as these were answered, the story would make a lot more sense to the reader. The story did have some good in it, but at the same time, it could have been a lot better. Therefore, two out of three was a perfect rating for __The Secret Life of Walter Mitty__.