"The Cold Equations" written by Tom Godwin, and "Boys and Girls," written by Alice Munro, are very d
ifferent stories, but so similar. Both short stories have characters who face death and discover som
ething valuable in the process. In two stories characters realize they are powerless to stop a death
. This recognition changes them in different ways. While reading "The Cold Equations" I began to un
derstand how Marilyn felt, and how she coped with her problems. At first Marilyn was shocked to find
the out about the outcome of what would happen to her after she hid on and EDS ship. " Her words tr
ailed away, and he turned his attention to the viewscreen, not wanting to stare at her as she fought
her way through the black horror of fear toward the calm gray of acceptance." That quote explains h
ow Marilyn was finally beginning to accept her fate. After she had accepted it, although she was sti
ll very frightened, she put on a brave face. Marilyn was able to talk to her brother which seemed to
calm her, and put her at peace. "Boys and Girls" confused me in the way that the author presented i
t. The girl in the story, who was the narrator talked about her life. She had gotten attached to a h
orse named Flora. In this story, the girl knew that Flora was going to die, but once she realized ho
w much she would miss her, and what was going on, she did not want to give the horse up. She refuse
d to accept something that could not be changed, so the girl let Flora get out of the gated area. Un
fortunately, her father found her later on and then shot the horse, as he had planned all along. The
girl in the story had acted like a tom-boy, and then later on she started to realize that she was
a girl soon began to act like a girl. "Everybody at the table was looking at me. I nodded, swallowi
ng food with great difficulty. To my shame, tears flooded my eyes." I think that the quote showed ho
w the girl was showing her emotions. She finally broke down. Something she was never able to do. The
reason that the girl was ashamed to cry was because her family rarely showed their emotions, and it
was difficult for her. The two stories were connected in the way that they both had people that had
to face some sort of death. Marilyn had to accept her own death and destiny, and the girl had to ac
cept the death of her horse Flora, and overcome her own personal problems. Overall I think that they
eventually understood the outcome, but still did not want to accept it. Both of the characters trie
d to put up a fight about their problems, but could not change anything. I definitely feel that they
both were very scared, sad, and hurt about the altogether results, but pulled it together as much a
s they could.
cold equations written godwin boys girls written alice munro very different stories s
imilar both short stories have characters face death discover something valuable process stories cha
racters realize they powerless stop death this recognition changes them different ways while reading
cold equations began understand marilyn felt coped with problems first marilyn shocked find about o
utcome what would happen after ship words trailed away turned attention viewscreen wanting stare fou
ght through black horror fear toward calm gray acceptance that quote explains marilyn finally beginn
ing accept fate after accepted although still very frightened brave face able talk brother which see
med calm peace boys girls confused that author presented girl story narrator talked about life gotte
n attached horse named flora this story girl knew that flora going once realized much would miss wha
t going want give horse refused accept something could changed girl flora gated area unfortunately f
ather found later then shot horse planned along story acted like then later started realize soon beg
an like everybody table looking nodded swallowing food with great difficulty shame tears flooded eye
s think quote showed showing emotions finally broke down something never able reason ashamed because
family rarely showed their emotions difficult were connected they both people face some sort death
accept destiny overcome personal problems overall think they eventually understood outcome still wan
t both characters tried fight about their problems could change anything definitely feel were very s
cared hurt altogether results pulled together much couldEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpa
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