Feet of Gold by Blanche Colton Williams
This study section examines “Feet of Gold” as one installment in a series about Ferdinand Taillandy, arguing that its connection to preceding and future adventures complicates its standing as a self-contained short story. Williams applies Aristotle’s beginning-middle-end framework, identifies the initial incident and climax, and asks whether the action concerning Diane is complete. The analysis directs readers to Taillandy’s return to the boulevardier type, his poem inspired by Diane, and the significance of the title. It studies characterization through other characters’ opinions, Taillandy’s judgments of them, Diane’s portrayal, and the interaction of character and setting. It also calls attention to implied generosity, suspense, motives behind specific actions, Parisian place references, and French identity conveyed through speech and manner.
By Blanche Colton Williams · First published 1919 · Genre: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Non-Fiction · 534 words
First lines
CLASSIFICATION. This is one of a series of stories centering around the life of Ferdinand Taillandy, a lovable hero akin to William J. Locke's "Beloved Vagabond" and "Aristide Pujol. " In such a series it is not necessary or even desirable that the short-story type be sought. All the narratives, from start to finish, as a complete series, are more likely to reveal a general structure culminating in a climax (which will probably require a whole story) than any one of them is likely to possess definite and clear-cut mechanism.
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Genres
- Literary Analysis — It breaks down narrative structure, plot stages, characterization, setting, suspense, and stylistic detail.
- Literary Criticism — It evaluates the work's completeness as a short story within a continuing series and directs interpretive judgment.
- Non-Fiction — It is an instructional study section using critical questions and textual evidence rather than telling a fictional narrative.
Tags
Feet of Gold · Ferdinand Taillandy · Diane · short-story structure · Aristotle's narrative stages · series fiction · plot climax · characterization · boulevardier type · setting and character · suspense · French locale
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Feet of Gold is listed on Textopian as an essay by Blanche Colton Williams, dated 1919 CE.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: Blanche Colton Williams
- Date: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Non-Fiction
- Length: 534 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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