Kim woods | Literature homework help

            With insatiable curiosity and observation, the city of London sets the scene with its sprawling urban culture as the narrator/protagonist is ineffably drawn in by the indescribable expression of a man as he, with great interest, watches the multitude traverse the streets from a coffee house. He’s curious, he’s confounded, he decides to follow. Citations are as follows;

• “in peering through the smoky panes into the street”
• “a countenance which at once arrested and absorbed my whole attention, on account of the absolute idiosyncrasy of its expression”
• “These observations heightened my curiosity, and I resolved to follow the stranger whithersoever he should go”

            The man of the crowd begins with the narrator, feeling better after a long unnamed illness, sits in the window of a coffee shop watching, and identifying, the city’s
cast as they move along the street about their business. As the narrator watches the crowd he is confounded by the expression of an elderly man, seemingly the only
person of the crowd whose intent is elusive, and decides to follow him to discern his purpose. After following the man until dawn then following him almost until sunset
the next day he finally decides that he will be unable to determine the man’s purpose, and retires. 

            The connection between the thesis statement and the strongest body paragraph is sequential. The body paragraph directly follows where the thesis statement leaves off, to further explain the actions of the protagonist. 

            The reference material does seem to explain what the protagonist was thinking and why he took the actions he decided to take. He was very curious, and when faced with a man that he could not read, when the rest of the people he watched he identified easily, he decided to take actions. I believe this is evident from the reference materials. 

            I cannot see how any of the reference material that I added would detract from the original story. I do not think any information should be added or removed. 

            The biggest challenge I faced when writing this was not quite knowing if I am interpreting the material as it was meant to be interpenetrated. I believe it to be correct because I believe the author said exactly what he meant with no hidden meaning or symbolism. 

References:

Clugston, R. W. (2014). Journey into literature (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

Poe, E. (1840). The man of the crowd. Burton’s gentleman’s magazine.