Perspectives

Looking at “Popular Mechanics” by Raymond Carver from different perspectives will help you take your analysis at a deeper level as you connect the short story with the literary context, other works by the author or works which share the same themes.

Literary period

Raymond Craver lived and wrote during the second part of the twentieth century. This time frame is associated with Modernism and Postmodernism in literature. Indeed, Carver can be considered a Modernist writer, as his works dealt with issues contemporary to him and they focused more on characters rather ...

Works with the same theme

For the theme of separation and conflict, we recommend that you also read some of Ernest Hemingway’s short stories, as the author inspired Carver’s style of writing.

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Works by the same author

Understanding Raymond Carver’s style of writing might come easier if you read a couple more of his short stories.

“A Serious Talk” (Readings, pp. 16) also deals with separation and possessiveness,...

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