In a grove

story analysis in a grove by my prose class students

1. “In a Grove” Vina | Tikvy | Dita | Ega | Dwitama | Anisa | Huda

2. “In a Grove” By Ryunosuke Akutagawa It was firstly published in the January 1922 edition of the Japanese literature monthly Shincho In short, it tells a story about a death of man named Takehiro through seven different accounts.

3. There was evidence for struggle, but that the man has died due to wound in his chest caused by a sword. There is no weapon, only a rope and a comb. A Woodcutter A Buddhist Priest A Policeman He said that he has met the man during his journey accompanied by a woman on a fine maned horse. The man had a sword, a bow, and a black quiver. He has captured a known criminal called Tajomaru who is suspected as the murderer. Tajomaru also brings a bow and a black quiver, however, he did not have a sword. An Old Woman The mother of the woman who was seen with the dead man. She reveals that the dead man was Kanazawa no Takehiro , a samurai and husband of her daughter Massago .

4. He admitted that he has met the couple and that he wanted Masago . He tricked them to be separated. He tied Takehiro then raped Masago . He had a duel with Taehiro and killed him. Tajomaru’s Confession The Story of the Murdered Man The Confession of a Woman Tajomaru has left after he raped her, and her husband was looking at her with hatred . She was very ashamed and decided to kill herself, but she wanted her husband to go with her. She argued that Takehiro has agreed to die with her and she killed him. Masago has been raped, the criminal persuaded her to go with him and become his wife. Masago agreed with this proposal, but asked Tajomaru to kill Takehiro first . Taehiro admitted to have suicide afterwards.

5. PLOT Orientation Raising Action Climax Starts with the confession of the Woodcutter which gives an idea that there was a murder. There are only rope and comb with the dead body Raising action appears when the Buddhist Priest gives testimony that is contradictive with the Woodcutter in terms of the things that were carried by Takehiro The climax raises when Masago , Tajomaru , and Takehiro give their accounts of the murder . Each of them gives contradictive testimony and all of them claim to have killed Takehiro , including Takehiro himself.

6. CHARACTERS A Woodcutter A Buddhist Priest A Policeman An Old Woman The one who found the body in a grove. Described that the body was lying flat on his back The mother of Takehiro’s wife, Masago . Giving information about who Takehiro was The man who arrested the Primary suspect, Tajomaru Saw the victim and his wife from the road of Sekiyama to Yamashina

7. CHARACTERS Tajomaru Masago Kawasagu no T akehiro A well known criminal who is suspected as Takehiro’s murderer . Has admitted to kill Takehiro 19 year old beautiful wife of Takehiro . Was raped by Tajomaru . Has admitted to kill Takehiro The dead man found in a grove. Has admitted to kill himself.

8. Point of View A form of 7 dramatic monologues The titles are in form of third person point of view 1 The contents of the testimony are in form of first person point of view 2 The old man looked at him. “Another brandy,” he said. “You’ll be drunk,” the waiter said. “Yes sir, ….. You ask me if I say a sword or any such thing?” THE TESTIMONY OF A WOODCUTTER QUESTIONED BY A HIGH POLICE COMMISIONER

9. Setting 1 2 1 2 Setting of Place Setting of Time In Japan, near the Yamashina stage road, in a grove of unnamed mountain Setting of Place of Minor Events Interview to the witnesses and suspected murder in a police station Paranormal practice in an unknown place The early era of Sengoku (Sengoku Jidai ) in year 1500 Kyoto is used as the name of the capital city of Japan The use of Bushido (Samurai ethic), such as kimono, samurai, bow and arrow, and sword Evidences

10. Style 1 2 3 The style that is used is Unorthodox Narrative style Akutagawa , as the writer, has various characters who give contradictive yet equally possible accounts of the murder The narration of the story is delivered in form of 7 dramatized monologues containing different testimonies of different people The readers are left with ambiguity and given the role as a judge to figure out the pieces of puzzle

11. “People will alter the truth to make them look better. It teaches us to analyze the facts and not just make assumptions.”

12. THANK YOU…