An analysis of the short story “Legacy” by PR Woods shows that it has a chronological plot structure. The presence of many moments of foreshadowing serves to create suspense.
The main character is Jola Hobotnica, a Croatian woman currently living in England with her son. Jola’s homesickness and bitterness about the life she leads and the people around her push her to commit an extreme act.
The physical setting is an event hall where the fundraising takes place. Croatia is often mentioned as Jola looks upon her home country as an ideal that she longs to return to.
The events are told by a third-person narrator who follows Jola’s perspective but does not reveal everything about her plan. Therefore, while readers are aware of Jola’s resentment, they only gradually realize just how far she is willing to go.
The language is simple and straightforward. There are many words related to sea life, which makes the story realistic, taking into account the context of the events, at the same time also foreshadowing Jola’s extreme actions.
Short story analysis
I denne vejledning får du Studienets hjælp til at analysere noveller (short stories) i engelsk.
Excerpt from the study guide:
Another important part of the physical setting is Croatia. Although Jola’s home country is only referred to, its significance is crucial as Jola misses her country so much that she is willing to kill to be able to return there. She clearly is greatly attached to her native country, as she gets angry when Martina makes negative or ignorant comments about it. Jola’s feelings for her home are expressed clearly in the short story:
Croatia was home and had until seven years ago also been where Jola lived, on the island of Krk where the sun roasted the hilltops each morning, and the streets smelled of grilled octopus and olives. And home was calling to her. (ll. 42-44)
The poetic descriptions Jola uses when she thinks about Krk draw attention to her homesickness and hint that she is willing to go to great lengths to be able to return.
Jola’s attachment to her home country also manifests itself in her wine preference, as the wine she drinks originates from somewhere by the Adriatic Sea, which borders Croatia (and on which the island of Krk is located). Therefore, the wine that Jola drinks both at the fundraising event as well as on the plane back home becomes in her mind a symbol of her attachment to her home country.
