of creative essay topics on The shinning houses
The shinning houses is a short story written by Alice Munro, first appearing in the collection of short stories “Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You” in 1974 It tells the story of two families living in a small town in rural Ontario. The younger family, represented by protagonist Norah, is struggling with financial issues while the elder family, represented by the grandparents, is relatively wealthy. Norah’s family is struggling to make ends meet, and Norah has a very analytical, realistic view of the world, desiring to make her own way in life. The grandparents, while wealthy, are not without their own issues and Norah soon discovers that the two families, while separated by wealth and social class, are not so different after all.
The shinning houses is an excellent subject for creative essays, especially those about social class, family relationships, and economic differences. Here are five of the best creative essay topics on the shinning houses.
1. The Theme of Social Class: In The shinning houses, Munro examines the role of social class in family dynamics. Discuss how the various characters from different socio-economic backgrounds interact with each other and how this affects the plot and themes of the story.
2. Intergenerational Conflict and Resolution: Norah and her grandparents are unable to reconcile their differences at the beginning of the story. Discuss how the resolution of the conflict between them serves to resolve many of the story’s conflicts.
3. Money and Love: Norah is keenly aware of the power of money, and the ability it has to buy love in the form of material possessions and comforts. Examine the role of money and its ability to purchase happiness in The shinning houses.
4. The Role of Nature: The presence of nature plays a large role in the story. Discuss how nature serves as a metaphor for the characters’ relationships and serves to provide resolution to the conflicts of the story.
5. The Role of Community: The shinning houses demonstrates the importance of the community for both Norah and her grandparents. Examine how this community serves to support the characters and provides resolution to the conflicts of the story.
These topics offer some excellent starting points for a creative essay on The shinning houses by Alice Munro. In addition to these topics, students may also wish to consider examining the role of symbolism and its ability to further the theme of social class, or exploring Norah’s individual character arc in greater depth.