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Compare, Contrast Stories.

Essay 2

Though no two stories are exactly alike, you may have noticed a certain kind of familiarity between two different stories. This is no accident; most stories will tend to follow a type of story formula. The story formula is made up a careful balance between conventions and inventions. Conventions are story elements that are familiar to both the writer and their reader. Conventions may include but are not limited to plots, motifs, settings, props, icons, stereotypes, rituals, and themes. Inventions are story elements that are unique to that story alone. They can include plot twists, new thematic elements, advanced scientific technology and more. Together, conventions and inventions come together to make similar stories unique in their own way.
Three stories selected out of The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy were chosen and compared. Each story was published between the late 1940s and early 1950s. These stories were selected because of their common theme, and compared to see the similarities and differences between their story formulas.
The first story titled “Thunder and Roses” was about life in a post nuclear holocaust America. The story starts with the main character Pete Mawser, a soldier in the United States Army, learning about a special broadcast of famous actress Star Anthim. Pete then describes what has happened to America, how they were attacked from multiple enemies with nuclear bombs, and how all the major cities in the United States had been destroyed. The survivors hearts are full of hate for their enemies, somewhat because the United States did not retaliate with it’s own nuclear arsenal. Pete and Sonny, another soldier stationed at the base, find a secret room with generators, and a lever. The purpose of the room is not known until the end of the story. Pete and Sonny return to their headquarters where they watch the broadcast of Star Anthim, in which she sings a song about humanity, and seems to plea that the...