FREE ESSAY ON SHAVING SNOW

SHAVING SNOW

*HTML**FONT SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10* Often, two different stories have very much in common. Two
authors with completely *BR*
different styles often write very similar stories. Tobias Wolff's "Powder" and Leslie
Norris' *BR*
"Shaving" have many similarities. They are comparable in their themes, plot and
relationships.*BR*
The best example of a theme that Shaving and Powder share, is that change is necessary
*BR*
for a more mature and happy life. In "Shaving, Barry has a rite of passage that is forced
upon him. *BR*
Due to his dad's failing health, Barry has to shave him because he is too weak to do it
himself. This rite *BR*
of passage makes Barry a mature individual because not only does he learn to take care of
his father, but he learns that he will *BR*
be able to survive as the man of the household when his father is not there anymore. The
author *BR*
says about Barry, Not long ago they had been small bare hands, not very long ago (123).
This helps *BR*
the reader realize that the change is occuring as he reads. In "Powder, the little boy
started off *BR*
as an obsessive neat freak who grew very nervous at any time in which something bad could
*BR*
happen. At the end of the story, the boy learned how to enjoy himself in the face of
danger. *BR*
He thinks to himself,  I knew we'd get caught; I was resigned to it. And maybe for this
reason *BR*
I stopped moping and began to enjoy myself. (304) This change helps make the boy realize
that he *BR*
will have more fun in life if he is more daring. Because of similar themes, these two
stories *BR*
also have a similar plot. *BR*
These two stories are very similar in their plot. Both stories have to do with a son*BR*
spending time with his father. In "Shaving", Barry spends time with his father*BR*
when he helps him shave. Barry knows that there could be little time left in his*BR*
father's life so he is trying to make the most of their time together. As the author was
*BR*
describing Barry she said, Barry was filled with unreasoning protective love. He lifted
the*BR*
razor and began to shave (123). In "Powder, the boy is spending time with his father on a
ski trip. *BR*
On the way home, the boy tries to make the most of the time because he realized that
after *BR*
this trip he might not be spending time with his father in a while because his mother
might be *BR*
very upset and forbid him to see his father. Both children realize that that their
relationships with *BR*
their parents might soon be coming to an end. Within both of these stories, there are
*BR*
relationships between a father and son that develop throughout the story. *BR*
Shaving and Powder also have similar relationships. Both stories have relationships*BR*
between a father and a son. Throughout each story, the relationships improved. In
"Shaving, as Barry took upon his role as a mature adult, and shaved*BR*
his father, he became very close with his father. The author said, He held his father in
the *BR*
bend of his strong arm and they looked at each other. Their heads were very close (123).
They *BR*
learned to get along in life with each other's help. In "Powder, the son and father grew
together *BR*
to learn to have fun together. The boy thought about his father, I actually trusted him.
And *BR*
the best was yet to come... (304) By the end of the story, the two of them were having a
great time *BR*
in the face of danger. Both of these stories describe a rite of passage of two
relationships, not *BR*
only characters. These two relationships greatly changed throughout the story. *BR*
In conclusion, "Shaving" and "Powder" are very similar stories. Their themes,*BR*
characters, and relationships make these two stories have a lot in common. These stories
are a good example of two stories taking place in a differenent location that share
similar messages. When the reader reads stories, he should always be on the lookout for
similarities, even if they are unexpected.*BR*
*BR*
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