Mindmap for Paper 1

As I started thinking about Paper 1, I knew I wanted to write about "The Yellow Wallpaper," but I wasn't entirely sure how I wanted to organize it; I'm still not sure really. So, I figured that I could use my blog entry to get my ideas out and through doing this, I can find some sort of overlying theme. Help is always appreciated! :)

How does the setting of a literary text contribute to its meaning?
In the case of "The Yellow Wallpaper," the setting not only contributes to the meaning of the short story, but it almost is the story.

• If the setting (in this case, the yellow wallpapered room) wasn't in the story, the story would be lacking in plot...the story would instead just be about a depressed woman stuck in a house.
• In "The Yellow Wallpaper," the setting NEEDS to be there, because it creates a reason for the reader to care about the story.
• The wallpaper creates interest, mystery, suspense, and a reason for the narrator to be even writing the story.
  

How do characters/the narrator respond to place in telling ways?

The husband-John- just overlooks the wallpaper. He just views it as another symptom of his wife's depression.

• Almost gives us an insight into their relationship and the trust he has for her. It shows us he doesn't trust her "sane-ness" and just thinks the wallpaper is part of her disease.
• Never thinks she might be telling the truth, or rather, that the wallpaper is really something to discuss.
  

The narrator spends the entire story responding to the setting.

• "The Yellow Wallpaper" is literally an entire reaction to the setting.
• She goes from thinking it's dreadful and ugly and not writing about it that much to not only obsessively writing about it, but stating that "I'm getting really fond of the room in spite of the wallpaper. Perhaps because of the wallpaper."
• At the very end, she responds to the setting so strongly that she replies to John in a way that almost makes her sound like she's part of the setting. "I've got out at last, in spite of you and Jane? And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!"

In what ways is the "where" of the text more than a mere backdrop or coincidence?

In "The Yellow Wallpaper," the setting really does become a character in and of itself because of its influence over the narrator and how strongly she responds to it.

• It's not a coincidence that the yellow wallpaper exists - every story needs a hook, a reason to keep the reader interested. That's why the setting is in this particular story to such an extent it is.
  

So now that I've answered all the questions, I'm still not entirely sure how I can group this and really set a focus in order to find a thesis. I'm finding it difficult to find some overlapping themes...all i see is a bunch of answers to different questions. Maybe I can write something about how the yellow wallpaper is the central character in "The Yellow Wallpaper" instead of the narrator...