26 pages 52 minutes read

Frank O'Connor

My Oedipus Complex

Fiction | Short Story | YA | Published in 1950

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Essay Topics

1.

Large periods of time pass in this short story, both in reference to life before Father’s return from war and the months that lead to the arrival of Sonny. How does the writer successfully condense information to allow the whole narrative to fit in a short story?

2.

What literary elements contribute to the youthful voice and innocence of the narrator?

3.

What is unique about the Father returning home as a veteran of the First World War in comparison to other conflicts? How does it affect both the character and the story?