En 11 Short Stories: The Stolen Party (p. 123)
By Liliana Heker/Argentina
The Art of the Short Story:
In an economically stratified social structure, are friendship and equality possible
between people of differing status?
CLASS STRUCTURE
Working Class – “The poor”
Upper Class – “The rich”
Servant/Employee
Master/Employer
Rosaura –
Luciana –
Herminia –
Senora Ines –
Climax: the point of highest emotional intensity in a story. “The Stolen Party”
ends brilliantly, its climax frozen as it occurs, coaxing the reader to take the story
one more step.
The Next Step…In a group of 2-4 people complete Rosaura’s exit from the party.
Think about what each character will do and say in response to Senora Ines’s
action. Enact your scene for the rest of the class.
Questions:
1. Consider the story’s title. In what ways was the party stolen?
2. Of what importance is the monkey?
3. Why does Senora Ines leave her hand outstretched at the end of the story?
What do you think the author means by the phrase “an infinitely delicate balance”
in the last sentence?