Get Ready the Wreaths by Blanche Colton Williams
Blanche Colton Williams analyzes Fannie Hurst’s “Get Ready the Wreaths” as a character-driven short story whose central action is Mrs. Horowitz’s long desire to return to Russia. She separates three interwoven lines of interest: the old woman’s struggle, Selene Coblenz’s engagement and love affair, and Mark Haas’s potential assistance. Williams traces how Selene’s request, the reception news, and the Russian Revolution create successive complications and a balanced climax. The study explains why the eventual death, though technically resembling an accidental or external solution, is sufficiently prepared for and emotionally justified. It examines Shila Coblenz’s divided loyalty to mother and daughter, the story’s appeal to sympathy, and the relation between plot movement and characterization. It closes with quoted statements by Hurst on character-generated plots, hypothetical psychology, and unity of effect.
By Blanche Colton Williams · First published 1919 · Genre: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Literary Essay · 1,093 words
First lines
GERMINAL IDEA. "‘Get Ready the Wreaths' was, of course, inspired by the overwhelming drama of the Russian Revolution and my own feeling that even Siberia had at last been justified. " -- _Fannie Hurst._
ANALYSIS. The predominating interest and hence line of action, since it composes a line of action, is Mrs. Horowitz's desire, struggle, to return to Russia. This struggle has been going on for years; it has its roots and beginnings in the past. Alone it would not make a short-story; for the conflict is too level, too empty of actual event.
Similar titles
- The Waiting Years by Blanche Colton Williams
- The White Battalion by Blanche Colton Williams
- The Survivors by Blanche Colton Williams
- The Path Of Glory by Blanche Colton Williams
- A Certain Rich Man by Blanche Colton Williams
- At The End Of The Path by Blanche Colton Williams
Genres
- Literary Analysis — The section closely parses plot structure, crises, intersecting interests, and character motivation.
- Literary Criticism — Williams judges the technical logic and emotional effectiveness of the story’s resolution.
- Literary Essay — The study combines interpretive commentary with quoted statements about the author’s craft.
Tags
Blanche Colton Williams · Fannie Hurst · Get Ready the Wreaths · short-story construction · plot lines · complication and climax · Mrs. Horowitz · Shila Coblenz · Selene Coblenz · Russian Revolution · character-driven plot · unity of effect
What this Textopian page supports
Get Ready the Wreaths is listed on Textopian as an essay by Blanche Colton Williams, dated 1919 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Blanche Colton Williams
- Date: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Literary Essay
- Length: 1,093 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Get Ready the Wreaths by Blanche Colton Williams
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph