La Love and Good Man Hard To Find

The story “A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND” and “LOVE IN L.A “are set in different time periods but have a common ground both stories mention a setting of being in the summer at one point of time also both stories have a similar setting which took place on a highway. There are many differences in both stories which includes the tone and language, the attitudes of the characters. In the story “A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND” the grandmother reflects on her past life, imposing religion and the morals on trying to find the good in man. In contrast to “LOVE IN L.A” in which the story took place in L.A the main character Jake meets Mariana a young lady he is trying to impress after he hits her parked car. The character in Jake “LOVE IN L.A “ portriaes his self as a individual wanting to be free from worries he goes through life without a care in the world. He is seen as a very lazy selfish individual in which he uses lies to impress Marinana he tries to act his way out of comiting to being responsible for fixing the car just the same as he does with being in a commited relationship. Jake is stories protagonist due to the story focusing on him and his action as he . 2.Characters:

“Love in L.A.:” Describe Jake, the main character. What kind of man is he? Is he the story’s protagonist or antagonist? Explain your answer. Describe Mariana. How does she perceive her interactions with Jake? In what ways are his intentions different from hers? o“A Good Man Is Hard to Find:” Discuss the personalities and motives (i.e., what does each seem to want?) of the following characters: the grandmother, Bailey, the children’s mother, the children, Red Sammy Butts, The Misfit, and the other two escaped criminals. 3.Symbolism:

“Love in L.A.:” Both the car and freeway are symbolic in this story. What is the deeper meaning of each? o“A Good Man Is Hard to Find:” What do each of these symbolize: the grandmother’s hat, the town of Toomsboro (hint: “Toom” sounds strikingly similar to another word) and The Misfit’s car? 4.Themes: What are the main themes/messages of each piece? What, in other words, do you think the authors, Dagoberto Gilb and Flannery O’Connor, are trying to communicate about life and human nature in their respective stories? 5.Tone: What does Gilb’s tone seem to reveal about his attitude toward the characters and plot in “Love in L.A.?” Likewise, what does O’Connor’s tone seem to tell us about her attitude toward the characters and plot in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find?” 6.Irony: In what ways do the titles of both stories contain irony? 7.Moral Codes: (A moral code is an individual’s internal set of beliefs and principles that guides their conduct toward others. Everyone has a moral code, although not everyone’s behavior is necessarily “moral” or law-abiding.) o“Love in L.A.:” What is Jakes’ moral code? Elaborate on your answer, using at least two examples from the story to support your opinion.

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find:” By what moral codes do the grandmother and The Misfit live by? What external influences (upbringing, faith, experiences, etc.) have shaped their codes? Discuss the “goodness” (or lack thereof) of both characters. Do they or anyone else in the story qualify as a “good man?” Why or why not? Final Thoughts: Literature intersects with many areas of our lives, often providing commentary on cultural norms, and—in the case of the O’Connor story—the influence of religion on individuals and societies. In what ways has reading “Love in L.A.” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” impacted your own views on love, “goodness” and religious faith?