Yoonho Lee World Lit Journal

Hunters in the Snow, By Tobias Wolff (1981) Rating: 8.5/10      I enjoyed the dark irony and dark humor shown in this story. Each character seems foolish and silly, but when you find out who they are symbolizing, it's not as funny as before. Dirty realism reveals our inner flaws and enlightens us on how stupid we look from an omniscient perspective. And this is not a figure of particular minorities, but the big trend of selfishness or individualism that is rampant in recent society. What I found interesting was the cruelty of modern society as well. In the end, we see that both Tub and Frank are actually happy, or not upset at least. We know what they've done wrong, but we see how they are just moving on to the next path, laughing, and talking among the ones who lived. I think this story felt more refreshing since unlike typical men's problems happening in the 1980s (ex. swimmer or five-forty-eight), we can see individualism in our school, college admission, and with...

Cathedral, By Raymond Carver (1981) Rating: 7.8/10      This was the most typical story that I've read so far. It entails a very moral and positive conclusion, which limits the readers to share their own opinion. Unlike themes that talk of reflection of society or vague complexity of reality, moral lessons like <Cathedral> have a clear answer sheet. It's like an undeniable fact that everyone has agreed upon. But one part that gave a little space for readers to enjoy and discuss was Carver's own style of writing with his use of literary devices. This was also typical a bit, since Carver chose to use some irony and proceed with the story in a very casual tone. But I believe some religious elements and the smooth transition of the husband realizing the theme is the reason why people enjoy this story. Therefore I give 7.8 out of 10, not a 7.

Visitors that Come in the Night, By Jang Ryujin (2020) Rating: 7.5/10 Throughout the story, I could directly recognize the author's obvious intention to appeal to the concept of feminism. Just like Cat Person, it focused on describing how a woman's behavior is being manipulated by a man's unethical actions. I looked for more tools the author used to emphasize and decorate the message of feminism, but was unable to feel it. There are pros and cons of writing in a very straightforward and honest style. The readers will clearly recognize the main message after reading, but the problem is that it doesn't touch their hearts, intrigues them, or ables them to think further on their own. One might argue that the building of suspense, the meaning of home, and the horror-like mood are the tools the author used, but I felt that the awkward usage of onomatopoeia failed to develop the mood that Jang Ryujin intended, therefore I give 7.5 for the <Visitors that Come in the Night...

Snowman, By Seo Yu-mi Rating: 9.3/10 We have read magical realism in class before, and those stories always brought a feeling of enthusiasm. But out of all, I enjoyed <Snowman> the most, for its time background, and the use of snow as an ironic symbol. With winter being my favorite season, I know well that snow brings a warm and cozy mood with a fantasy-like image. And depicting the snow as the symbol of the dull and weary reality of a strict hierarchy society, really emphasized the effect of magical realism. The setting of time background as the modern era, which we can deeply relate to, also maximized the beauty of magical realism. But, one thing I would recommend is to show some emotional ups and downs of the main character. I am aware that it's hard to expect this from a short story, but even a small impulsive aspect of the main character would delight the readers more. For these reasons, I rate this story 9.3 out of 10.