Reflection

While doing my analysis and research on "The PrisonerWho Wore Glasses" I discovered a wide variety of aspects about myself and literature. I discovered that I am capable of analyzing and breaking down a literary work on my own. I also discovered that authors integrate subtle patterns within their works in order to make literary works more enjoyable for the reader. Authors use these patterns to add depth to the story or work, which makes the body of the work slightly more difficult to understand while reading. The most important discovery I came across was how the author uses the patterns he/she creates. There are many ways to create a pattern, and each way is unique and adds a different aspect to the work. It is important to know that an author can use repeating words or the transitioning between characters to give the story its intended mood. This knowledge alone can help the audience grasp a better understanding of any work it comes across. Although this may be true, there are still some questions left unanswered. I would still like to know what some of the other hidden patterns throughout literature mean. Why are some patterns in literature obviously significant while others take much time to understand? Also, do some authors even realize they create these patterns, or does it simply come naturally? This aside, the project I completed on "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses" was not a difficult one at all. It was broken down in a way that was not demanding or stressful at all. In the end I came to the realization that I completed a full essay and analysis in half the time it normally would have taken me. Although if I did have to do this project again, I would take more time to find better sources to use in my analysis. My sources were suffice and helpful, but I feel as if I could have found even better sources that were on the exact same page as I was.

Patterns In "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses"

There are several patterns within "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses" that enhance the story as it progresses. There are two patterns, in particular, that I have been able to identify within this story. The fist pattern consists of the smooth transitioning from a stressful situation to a peaceful, almost paradise like situation. The second consists of transitioning from events and emotions that come from Brille and Hannetjie. By using these two patterns, the author is able to make "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses" an enjoyable read by devolving the story's mood and plot.

The smooth transition from  stressful situations to calm, peaceful situations creates the mood of the entire story. The story begins with the introduction of a dictator like character, Hannetjie, who ruled over the prisoners of Span One. Hannetjie beat one of the most feeble prisoners, the prisoner who wore glasses, because of stolen cabbage. This transitions to the feeble prisoner, Brille, telling his Span that he will "... Try to make up for it..." (Head 687). Brille's claim begins the transition to a more peaceful mood within the story. Mr. Paresto from buiska.com claims that, "Characters affect almost every story, but they are more significant in <u>The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses</u> because they cause the story to change direction" (Paresto). This shows that it is because of the character's spoken words and actions that causes the story to become less stressful. In the end , Brille changes Hannetjie into a man who works alongside the prisoners in a happy, undemanding way. This successfully makes the final shift in the story from a stressful mood to one that is peaceful. 

The plot of the story is also developed through a series of patterns. The back and forth from Brille to Hannetjie explains the events that happen in the story. It creates everything from the rising action to the resolution of the story itself. According to Simpson of blogspot.com, the matter of first introducing Brille makes him "...the attraction of a group of ten political prisoners..." (Simpson). The author then introduces Hannetjie, who becomes the antagonist of the story for a long duration of time. It is noted that soon after the warder, Hannetjie, punishes Brille and Span One for Brille's mistakes, the story switches back to Brille who "...was very apologetic" (Head 687). Soon after his apologies, Brille promises to make it up to the group. This moves the plot of the story along in a subtle manner. After giving a story of Brille's background, the story transitions to Hannetjie catching an "...old man of twelve children stealing grapes from the farm shed" (Head 688). Soon after, Brille catches Hannetjie stealing tobacco and claims that he is nothing more than a child which brings upon the climax of the story. According to Mr. Paresto, "The point-of-view also keeps readers wondering why Hannetjie does some of the things he does and in the end, you understand it all" (Paresto). The story continues to switch between Brille and Hannetjie until the story reaches its resolution. When Hannetjie begins working with Span One, life is made easier on everyone. This shows that the pattern of the author switching the focus of the story from Brille to Hannetjie is what creates the entire plot of the story in an effective yet subtle way, and gives the audience a good understanding of the story in the end.

The author does use patterns throughout "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses" to effectively create mood and plot. The author transitions the focus of the story between two individual characters throughout the story to create the plot of the short story. She also makes the smooth transition from a stressful to calm situation in order to set the mood of the story for the audience. By using these transitions, patterns are made and the overall meaning and mood of the story is created. The author uses these patterns to enhance the overall feeling of the short story and to make it more enjoyable for the audience to read. 

Literary Analysis Links & Descriptions

A Personal Essay Writing, posted by Michael Simpson partially explains the use of diction in "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses". Simpson explains how the use of diction helps portray the relationship made by the prisoner of span one and the warder. Simpson also explains that diction is used by the author to portray the true fear and emotions of all those in span one. One can use this writing to get a better understanding of how the author uses diction to portray what is truly going on in "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses". There is a link within this criticism that will lead the reader to an extended criticism on "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses". This criticism gives a look at the short story an angle that may be hard for one to see him/herself while reading the short story, and is very useful to its intended audience.


In a literary analysis of "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses", Praesto explains how point of view and character are used to control how the story flows. Praesto tells how these two main literary points effect how the reader views the story's outcomes and events. According to Praesto, the story's point of view is used to show the similarities in two shockingly different characters. The characters of the short story show the audience how theses similarities are significant to each individual by showing the audience that both of the main characters are slaves to someone or something. One may find this post useful when trying to determine the significance of how the author uses point of view in the short story. This analysis gives conclusions that may be hard to come by one's own when reading "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses".

"The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses" Summary

"The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses", by Bessie Head, is a short story that revolves around the lives of a group of African political prisoners named Span One. A span is another word for squad, meaning that the prisoners were required to work together. While working in a cabbage field, the prisoners come to find that they have a new "Warder" called Warder Hannetjie. Span One finds out that Warder Hannetjie is more brutal than past Warders when a near sighted prisoner with glasses is beat by him. It was uncommon for warders to harm this particular prisoner, Brille, because of how feeble he is. Brille promises to make it up to Span One by stealing from the warder. Brille comes back with a large amount of tobacco which, while it is a blessing to the prisoners, is quite unusual. When asked how he received the tobacco Brille claims that the warder gave it to him. Brille caught the warder stealing fertilizer and used this knowledge to acquire the tobacco. From then on Warder Hannetjie was taken advantage of by Brille. The narrator explains to the audience that Brille is a father of twelve and begins to look at Warder Hannetjie as a child. Hannetjie can no longer take Brille taking advantage of him and begs for mercy. Eventually Hannetjie claims that he can Span One anything they wish if Brille will stop making his life so miserable. Brille begins to feel pity for Hannetjie and tells the warder that Span One simply needs a "Good Warder". Hannetjie interprets this in his own way and is often found putting up his gun to assist in the fields. The warder finds ways of making the lives of the prisoners more enjoyable. In turn, Span One was able to improve things on Hannetjie's farm by stealing commodities such as fertilizer. In the end, thanks to the father figure, Brille, a powerful and heartless warder grew into a respectable friend and asset to the prisoners of Span One.