Toenails

Project description

Richard Selzer, Toenails pdf below

Then answer the following questions:

Protagonist:
For this reading, the narrator is again the protagonist.

ing/Exposition:
Why does he go to the library every Wednesday? What group does he want be a part of when he retires? Do you think the narrator means it?

Inciting Incident:
The narrator explains the problem in the first two pages. What advice does he give to the young doctor?
There is also a second inciding incident which involves Hankerchief, but we should discuss that in the mid-point as it leads up to the narrators decision.

Mid-point:
The narrator notices Hankerchief wincing as he walks. What is his problem?
What does the narrator decide to do? What does this reveal of the narrator?

There is a great little conversation between the nurse and the narrator.

What are you doing here? said my nurse. It’s Wednesday afternoon. People are just supposed to die on Wednesday afternoon.
I need my toenail cutters. I’ll bring them back tomorrow.
The last time you took something out of here I didn’t see it for six months.

From this little glimpse, what can we assume about their relationship?

Climax:
What is the climax? How does he solve the problem?

Theme:
So what is the theme? To recap the events, here is the plot line. While taking a break from his practice, a doctor helps a friend and in so doing learns that he

enjoys helping others.

Truth Value:
Does the theme represent a truth in life?