Perspectives

Literary perspectives

Published in 1983, the short story "A Small, Good Thing" by Raymond Carver fits the literary movement called Realism, which developed in the mid-19th and early 20th century. Realist works can be recognized through themes, context, and narrative techniques. “A Small, Good Thing” explores the themes of communication and connection, and community, topics that are sometimes explored by realist writers.

Carver was especially famous for a variant known as dirty realism, where the focus is often on the dark or hidden sides of people's everyday lives. Exploring a couple's struggle with deep personal grief is very much in line with this literary style. 

In terms of realist narrative techniques, “A Small, Good Things” uses a third-person narrator that has access to some of the characters’ perspective, creates a detailed setting through descriptive passages that focus on specific details about the physical setting, as well as about the characters’ appearance and actions, and uses symbolism that hints at the de...