Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Pacing
- Variable
- Mood
- Satirical, Thought-provoking, Darkly Humorous, Empathetic, Absurdist
- Read it if
- You enjoy thought-provoking literary fiction with a unique voice, dark humor, and a focus on the inner lives of characters; you appreciate short stories that blend satire with deep emotional resonance.
- Skip it if
- You prefer straightforward narratives, dislike experimental or fragmented writing, or are put off by stories that can be unsettling or deal with difficult themes.
Tenth of December Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
Victory Lap
Alison Pope, a detailed and imaginative teenager, practices baton twirling in her front yard when a man, Mr. Boomershine, kidnaps her. Kyle Amberson, a neighbor boy with a strict upbringing, sees the event from his house. Another neighbor, Lou Fenchel, a boy focused on small details and avoiding conflict, also watches. Kyle, overcoming his hesitation and fear of breaking his parents' rules, acts bravely, rushing to save Alison. Lou, at first unsure, eventually joins the rescue, though his actions are less direct. Together, they distract Boomershine, allowing Alison to escape. The story highlights the children's internal struggles and eventual bravery in a crisis.
Sticks
This story is a brief, moving look at a father and his yard decoration: a simple metal pole. The pole, initially just a stick, becomes an elaborate, changing artistic expression. The father dresses it for every holiday, season, and even specific life events—a graduation, a funeral, a divorce. Each new adornment on the pole reflects his inner world, his joys, sorrows, and frustrations, often to his family's confusion and occasional embarrassment. The pole acts as a silent, public diary of his emotions, a unique way he processes life, ending with his death and the pole's eventual disuse.
Puppy
Marie, a privileged mother, drives with her children to a distant yard sale to buy a puppy. She is careful about her children's safety but also somewhat detached. At the yard sale, she meets Callie, the puppy's owner, a struggling mother living in poverty. Callie's son, Bo, is kept in a dog cage for discipline and safety, a fact Marie finds horrifying but tries to explain away. Their interaction is full of unspoken judgments and misunderstandings. Marie decides not to buy the puppy, unable to reconcile Callie's life with her own comfortable existence. The meeting leaves both women thinking about their lives and choices, showing class differences and different views on parenting.
Escape from Spiderhead
Jeff, an inmate at a research facility called Spiderhead, is given experimental drugs that change his emotions and thoughts. Under Dr. Abnesti's supervision, Jeff experiences intense love, lust, and despair, often directed at other inmates, as part of studies on human behavior. He connects with another inmate, Lizzy. As experiments increase, Jeff must choose between causing severe pain to Lizzy or another inmate, Heather, by giving a 'Darkenfloxx' drug, or a 'Luvactin' that causes love. He understands the moral problems of his compliance and Abnesti's true manipulation. Jeff makes a desperate, self-sacrificing choice to expose the unethical experiments, leading to a tragic end for himself but a moment of control.
Exhortation
The story is a series of memos or addresses from a supervisor to his employees. The supervisor's messages are meant to be motivational, urging workers to do their tasks, improve efficiency, and stay positive. However, the language quickly becomes bizarre, circular, and almost philosophical. He uses strange metaphors, contradictory advice, and abstract ideas, making it clear that the 'exhortation' is less about real guidance and more about keeping up a front of corporate control and a peculiar, self-serving ideology. The workers' reactions are not directly shown, but the tone suggests a sense of resigned confusion at the supervisor's increasingly detached and meaningless words.
Al Roosten
Al Roosten attends a charity auction, trying to appear successful and popular. His inner thoughts, which make up most of the story, are a constant stream of self-doubt, paranoia, and desperate attempts to impress others. He carefully plans his actions, from how he bids to how he smiles, all while convinced everyone is judging him or secretly laughing. He imagines winning an award and giving a heroic speech, which contrasts sharply with his awkward interactions. The story ends with a small, embarrassing incident where he is outbid on an item he wanted, further increasing his anxieties. Despite his outward cheerfulness, Al remains stuck in a cycle of self-consciousness and imagined insults.
The Semplica-Girl Diaries
The story is presented as diary entries from a middle-aged father, detailing his family's money problems and his wish to provide a better life for his wife and three daughters. He feels great pressure to keep up with wealthier neighbors and give his daughters the social status he believes they deserve. To do this, he eventually buys 'Semplica Girls' (SGs), poor young women from developing countries who are hung by wires in people's yards as living lawn ornaments, a strange symbol of status. His daughters, especially Eva, are bothered by this. The story explores consumerism, class anxiety, and the dehumanization of others, as the father deals with the moral implications of his choice, which ultimately leads to an unexpected action by Eva.
Home
Mike, a soldier, returns home from deployment, likely from a war zone, and struggles to reconnect with his family and old life. His combat experiences have left him deeply scarred, and he finds it hard to talk about his trauma or relate to his relatives' everyday concerns. He feels a deep sense of alienation from the people he loves. Flashbacks and inner thoughts show the horrors he saw and the moral compromises he had to make. His family, while supportive, does not fully understand his suffering, leading to a quiet but clear tension. Mike tries to find comfort and understanding, but the war's psychological hold remains strong, making a true 'homecoming' difficult.
My Chivalric Fiasco
In a medieval-themed amusement park, a worker named Sir Andrew has increasingly vivid hallucinations, believing he is a true knight. He works with Sir Kelly, a younger, more cynical colleague. Andrew becomes convinced that Kelly is doing 'unknightly' things and injustices, especially against the park's female employees, called 'wenches.' Andrew's delusions lead him to interfere in situations that are normal interactions, seeing them as abuses needing his chivalric help. The story is a dark comedy about a mind falling apart under the pressure of a boring, soul-crushing job, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy as Andrew tries to enforce a distorted moral code based on his historical delusions.
Tenth of December
Robin, a young boy with a strong imagination, explores a snowy, wooded area near his home, dressed in his father's old army coat and pretending to be a hero. Meanwhile, Don Eber, a man with a serious illness thinking about suicide, walks into the same woods, planning to freeze to death. Don removes his coat and prepares for the end. Robin, seeing Don's discarded coat and thinking it means trouble, investigates. He then sees Don, who has fallen into an icy creek. Despite his fear and the cold, Robin, driven by his heroic fantasies and genuine concern, tries to rescue Don. Their paths cross in a moment of crisis, leading to Don's unexpected rescue and a deep, unspoken connection between them.
Principal Figures
Alison Pope
Protagonist
A meticulous and imaginative teenage girl who is abducted.
Alison is portrayed as a highly organized and imaginative young girl, often lost in her own structured world of rules and fantasies. She is practicing baton twirling with precise movements when she is kidnapped. Despite the terror of her situation, she remains observant and resourceful, attempting to use her wits to survive. Her internal monologues reveal a child grappling with the sudden intrusion of chaos into her ordered life, highlighting her resilience.
Relationships: Kyle Amberson (Neighbor and rescuer); Lou Fenchel (Neighbor and secondary rescuer); Mr. Boomershine (Her abductor)
Kyle Amberson
Protagonist
A rule-bound boy who overcomes his upbringing to act heroically.
Kyle is a highly disciplined and anxious boy, strictly adhering to his parents' rigid rules and expectations. He constantly anticipates punishment for even minor infractions. When he witnesses Alison's abduction, he initially struggles with his ingrained fear of breaking rules, but his moral compass and concern for Alison override his conditioning. He is physically strong and decisive when he finally acts, making him the primary rescuer.
Relationships: Alison Pope (Neighbor and object of rescue); Lou Fenchel (Neighbor, initially hesitant to act); His Parents (Authority figures whose rules he initially fears breaking)
Jeff
Protagonist
An inmate at Spiderhead subjected to experimental emotion-altering drugs.
Jeff is a prisoner in the Spiderhead facility, a participant in drug trials that manipulate his emotions. He is intelligent and reflective, constantly trying to make sense of the bizarre and morally compromising situations he's forced into by Dr. Abnesti. He yearns for genuine connection and struggles with the ethical implications of the experiments, particularly when they involve inflicting pain on others or manipulating his own feelings. He possesses a deep-seated desire for moral integrity.
Relationships: Dr. Abnesti (Manipulative scientist and overseer); Lizzy (Fellow inmate, object of forced affection, and genuine connection); Heather (Fellow inmate, object of forced affection)
Dr. Abnesti
Antagonist
The enigmatic and morally bankrupt scientist behind the Spiderhead experiments.
Dr. Abnesti is the primary antagonist in 'Escape from Spiderhead.' He is a seemingly calm and rational scientist, but his experiments are profoundly unethical and cruel. He justifies his actions with a detached, clinical logic, viewing his subjects as mere data points for his research into human behavior and emotion. He is manipulative, often using pseudo-scientific jargon and a veneer of concern to coerce his subjects. He lacks empathy and sees no moral issue with completely controlling and altering the lives of his prisoners.
Relationships: Jeff (His primary test subject); Lizzy (Test subject); Heather (Test subject)
Marie
Protagonist
A privileged mother who encounters a stark reality at a yard sale.
Marie is a well-meaning but somewhat naive and self-absorbed mother from a comfortable background. She is highly concerned with her children's safety and well-being, often to an excessive degree, and strives to maintain a perfect, sanitized world for them. Her encounter with Callie's impoverished family at the yard sale forces her to confront harsh realities she'd previously ignored or rationalized. She is deeply disturbed by the conditions she witnesses but struggles to reconcile them with her own worldview, ultimately choosing to retreat from the uncomfortable truth.
Relationships: Callie (The impoverished mother from whom she considers buying a puppy)
Callie
Supporting
An impoverished mother struggling to survive, seen through Marie's eyes.
Callie is a struggling mother living in squalor, trying to manage her children and sell puppies at a yard sale. She is depicted as overwhelmed, unkempt, and seemingly neglectful, though her actions are driven by desperation and a different set of survival priorities than Marie's. Her son, Bo, is kept in a dog cage for his own safety, a detail that horrifies Marie. Callie's character highlights the devastating impact of poverty and the different ways people cope with extreme hardship.
Relationships: Marie (Potential puppy buyer, outsider to her life); Bo (Her son, whom she keeps in a cage)
Al Roosten
Protagonist
A man consumed by insecurity and the desire for social validation.
Al Roosten is a deeply insecure man who desperately craves popularity and respect. His internal monologue is a constant battle against self-doubt, fueled by paranoia that others are judging him negatively. He meticulously plans his every move and interaction to project an image of success and confidence, but his efforts are always undermined by his own anxieties and awkwardness. He lives in a fantasy world where he is admired and heroic, a stark contrast to his actual, often humiliating, experiences.
Relationships: His Wife (A supportive but often ignored presence); Other attendees at the auction (Objects of his desperate attempts to impress)
The Father (Semplica-Girl Diaries)
Protagonist
A middle-aged man struggling with financial anxiety and social pressure.
The unnamed father is the narrator of 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries.' He is a well-meaning but flawed man, deeply concerned with providing for his family and maintaining a respectable social standing. He feels immense pressure to keep up with his wealthier neighbors and ensure his daughters' happiness. His anxiety about money and social status leads him to make morally questionable decisions, culminating in the purchase of Semplica Girls. He grapples with the ethical implications of his actions but is often swayed by his desire for societal acceptance and his family's perceived needs.
Relationships: His Wife (His spouse, with whom he shares financial anxieties); Eva (His youngest daughter, who challenges his moral choices); Lilly and Julie (His other daughters); Semplica Girls (His dehumanized possessions)
Eva
Supporting
The youngest daughter in 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries,' possessing a strong moral compass.
Eva is the youngest daughter in 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' and serves as the moral center of the story. Unlike her parents and older sisters, she is deeply disturbed by the presence of the Semplica Girls. She instinctively recognizes the injustice and dehumanization inherent in their existence, despite her father's attempts to rationalize the purchase. Her innocence and strong sense of empathy lead her to take decisive, if drastic, action to free the SGs, forcing her father to confront his own moral failings.
Relationships: The Father (Her father, whose choices she questions); Semplica Girls (Objects of her pity and rescue)
Don Eber
Protagonist
A terminally ill man contemplating suicide in the woods.
Don Eber is a man grappling with a serious illness and the overwhelming desire to end his life. He seeks a quiet, solitary death in the snowy woods, reflecting on his life and the pain he's endured. He is resigned to his fate but also experiences moments of internal conflict and a desire for peace. His encounter with Robin, the young boy, is entirely unexpected and forces him to re-engage with life and the instinct for survival, pulling him back from the brink of despair. He represents the fragility of life and the unexpected turns it can take.
Relationships: Robin (The young boy who saves his life)
Robin
Protagonist
A young, imaginative boy who acts heroically in a snowy woods.
Robin is a young boy with a vivid imagination, often lost in fantasies of heroism and adventure. He is out exploring the snowy woods, dressed in his father's old army coat, when he stumbles upon Don Eber. Robin is curious, brave, and possesses a strong innate sense of right and wrong. Despite his youth and the dangerous circumstances, he acts decisively to help Don, driven by his desire to be a hero and genuine concern. His actions are a blend of childlike fantasy and genuine altruism.
Relationships: Don Eber (The man he rescues)
Themes & Insights
The Nature of Empathy and Compassion
Many stories explore the presence or absence of empathy, and how it drives or hinders human connection. In 'Puppy,' Marie struggles to truly empathize with Callie's poverty, eventually backing away from the discomfort. In contrast, in 'Tenth of December,' young Robin's natural compassion and heroic imagination lead him to save Don Eber, a stranger. 'Escape from Spiderhead' directly manipulates empathy and love through drugs, forcing Jeff to confront the true meaning of these emotions when they are artificially induced. The collection suggests that real empathy often means overcoming personal discomfort or societal conditioning.
“And it was like he was seeing for the first time that the world was not a place of all good or all bad, but a place of good and bad, and that sometimes the good was so good it made your heart ache, and sometimes the bad was so bad it made your heart want to stop.”
The Illusion of Control and Free Will
Several stories look at characters' attempts to control their lives or others' lives, and how often these efforts fail. In 'Escape from Spiderhead,' Dr. Abnesti believes he can perfectly control human emotion with drugs, but Jeff's defiance challenges this. In 'Al Roosten,' Al's frantic internal attempts to control how others see him show his deep insecurity and the futility of such efforts. Even the father in 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' tries to control his family's social standing through consumerism, only to have his daughter disrupt his plans. The collection questions how much control individuals truly have against external pressures, societal expectations, or even their own minds.
“You could only control your own actions, right? And even then, sometimes not so much.”
Social Class and Economic Disparity
The clear differences in social class and the worries about money are prominent. 'Puppy' directly contrasts Marie's comfortable, privileged life with Callie's extreme poverty, highlighting the vast gap between them and the judgments that arise. In 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries,' the father's intense financial anxiety and desire to keep up with others drive him to make morally wrong choices, showing how economic pressure can distort ethical boundaries. The Semplica Girls themselves are a harsh symbol of global economic exploitation. Saunders uses these situations to criticize consumerism and the societal pressures that lead people to dehumanize others for status.
“One could not, after all, expect to live a life of perfect moral rectitude if one desired a good life for one’s children.”
The Power of Imagination and Internal Worlds
Many characters are deeply involved in their own imaginative or internal worlds, which often conflict with outside reality. In 'Victory Lap,' Alison's imagination and Kyle's strict internal rules shape their first responses to the abduction. Robin in 'Tenth of December' is driven by heroic fantasies that directly lead to saving Don Eber. Al Roosten's entire story is an internal monologue of anxiety and imagined glory, completely separate from his everyday reality. Even the father in 'Sticks' expresses his entire emotional world through an object in his yard. Saunders suggests that these rich internal lives, while sometimes isolating, can also be sources of creativity, resilience, and even heroism.
“He was a hero, of course. He was always a hero.”
The Absurdity and Meaninglessness of Modern Life
Several stories touch on the inherent absurdity and lack of meaning that can fill modern life, often through ordinary or bureaucratic settings. 'Exhortation' satirizes corporate talk and motivational rhetoric, showing it as a hollow and meaningless exercise. 'My Chivalric Fiasco' shows a man retreating into medieval fantasies to escape the dullness and perceived injustices of his theme park job, highlighting the absurdity of his workplace and his way of coping. The Semplica Girls themselves, as living lawn ornaments, are a strange symbol of consumerism taken to an extreme. These stories suggest a critique of modern societal structures that can strip individuals of their dignity and purpose, leaving them to find meaning in strange or desperate ways.
“You are not merely a cog in the wheel. You are the wheel.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Internal Monologue / Stream of Consciousness
Direct access to characters' thoughts and anxieties.
This device is central to many stories, most notably 'Victory Lap,' 'Al Roosten,' 'Escape from Spiderhead,' and 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries.' It allows the reader to experience events not just as they happen, but as they are processed, distorted, and interpreted by the characters' often-anxious or deluded minds. This creates a deep sense of intimacy and often generates dark humor, as the characters' rich inner worlds contrast with their mundane or terrifying external realities. It highlights the subjective nature of perception and the constant mental chatter that defines human experience.
Satire and Dark Humor
Exaggeration and irony to critique societal flaws.
Saunders frequently uses satire and dark humor to underscore the absurdities and injustices of modern life. 'Exhortation' is a direct satire of corporate speak, while 'My Chivalric Fiasco' uses the protagonist's delusions in a medieval theme park to satirize workplace dynamics and gender relations. 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' employs a horrifyingly dark humor in its concept of living lawn ornaments to critique consumerism and global inequality. This device allows Saunders to address serious themes in a way that is both engaging and unsettling, often drawing laughter before a realization of the underlying tragedy or critique.
Sudden Shifts in Tone and Perspective
Abrupt changes that disorient the reader and reveal deeper truths.
Saunders often shifts perspectives or tones unexpectedly within a single story, or even a paragraph, to create a sense of disorientation and reveal the multifaceted nature of reality. In 'Victory Lap,' the narrative jumps between the internal monologues of Alison, Kyle, and Lou, offering three distinct, often contradictory, views of the same event. In 'Puppy,' the reader experiences Marie's privileged perspective before being abruptly confronted with Callie's harsh reality. This device forces the reader to actively engage with different viewpoints and challenges simplistic interpretations, reflecting the complex and fragmented nature of human experience.
The Ordinary Made Extraordinary/Absurd
Elevating mundane situations to surreal or profound levels.
Saunders excels at taking everyday scenarios – a yard sale, a charity auction, a walk in the woods, a corporate memo – and imbuing them with profound, often surreal, significance. The metal pole in 'Sticks' becomes a lifelong emotional diary. The simple act of buying a puppy reveals deep class divides in 'Puppy.' The concept of 'Semplica Girls' takes the mundane desire for status symbols to a horrific, absurd extreme. This device allows the author to explore universal human anxieties and moral dilemmas by magnifying them through a unique and often unsettling lens, making the familiar strange and thus more revealing.
Tenth of December Quotes
“The thing is, you don't even have to do anything that great. You just have to not be an asshole.”
“It was like the world was full of little pockets of people, each with their own rules, and if you weren't careful you could just tumble into one and never get out.”
“She was like a little bird with a broken wing, trying to fly.”
“The world was just a big machine for making people sad.”
“He felt a sudden tenderness for all the people in the world, even the ones he didn't like.”
“It was amazing how much trouble a person could get into just by trying to do the right thing.”
“Everything was just a system, and if you knew the system, you could work it.”
“He had a feeling that he was missing something important, something that everyone else knew.”
“The greatest joy was to be able to give something to someone, without expecting anything in return.”
“Sometimes you just had to be brave, even when you didn't feel brave.”
“It was a strange thing, to be alive, to have a body, to feel things.”
“The past was like a heavy coat, and sometimes you just had to take it off.”
“He saw that the world was not just full of bad things, but also good things, small things, that made it worth living.”
“We are all just trying to make it through, one day at a time.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
In 'Victory Lap,' what does Alison Pope's father do when he realizes she is missing?
- He immediately calls the police and organizes a search party.
- He tries to find her himself, thinking she might just be playing a trick.
- He meticulously cleans the house, tidies up, and then sits down to wait.
- He calls Alison's friends to see if she is with them.
Show answer
C. He meticulously cleans the house, tidies up, and then sits down to wait. Alison's father, a man obsessed with order and routine, initially reacts to her disappearance by tidying the house, a chilling detail that highlights his detachment and the story's themes of parental failure.
Question 2
Which character in 'Tenth of December' (the title story) is contemplating suicide by freezing in the woods?
- Robin
- Fred
- Tobin
- Al Roosten
Show answer
B. Fred Fred is the character who, suffering from a terminal illness, ventures into the woods on a cold day with the intention of ending his life by freezing.
Question 3
In 'Escape from Spiderhead,' what is the purpose of the 'Darkenfloxx™' drug administered to Jeff and other inmates?
- To enhance cognitive abilities and memory recall.
- To induce extreme fear and anxiety, often as a punishment.
- To make them fall deeply in love with specific individuals.
- To suppress their appetite and reduce the need for sleep.
Show answer
B. To induce extreme fear and anxiety, often as a punishment. Darkenfloxx™ is used to generate intense feelings of dread and terror, often as part of experiments or as a punitive measure within the facility.
Question 4
What is the primary internal struggle faced by Al Roosten in 'Al Roosten'?
- He struggles with a secret gambling addiction that threatens his family.
- He is constantly battling feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, and a desire for popularity.
- He is tormented by a past crime he committed and fears exposure.
- He is trying to hide his true identity as a former celebrity.
Show answer
B. He is constantly battling feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, and a desire for popularity. Al Roosten's entire internal monologue revolves around his deep insecurities, his desperate desire to be liked and admired, and his attempts to project an image of confidence.
Question 5
In 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries,' what are Semplica Girls primarily used for?
- As cheap domestic labor for wealthy families.
- As living lawn ornaments or status symbols, displayed on lines in yards.
- As companions for the elderly, programmed for conversation.
- As highly advanced robotic tutors for children.
Show answer
B. As living lawn ornaments or status symbols, displayed on lines in yards. Semplica Girls are living, but barely conscious, beings strung up in gardens as a grotesque display of wealth and status, highlighting themes of consumerism and dehumanization.
Question 6
What is the central ethical dilemma explored in 'Escape from Spiderhead'?
- The morality of capital punishment for violent offenders.
- The ethics of using incarcerated individuals for drug experimentation and manipulating human emotions.
- The right to privacy in a technologically advanced society.
- The balance between personal freedom and societal security.
Show answer
B. The ethics of using incarcerated individuals for drug experimentation and manipulating human emotions. The story directly addresses the ethical questions surrounding the non-consensual manipulation of human emotions and behavior through drugs, especially within a prison setting.
Question 7
In the story 'Tenth of December,' what ultimately happens when Fred and Tobin encounter each other in the woods?
- Tobin helps Fred return home, unaware of Fred's original intent.
- Tobin saves Fred from drowning after Fred falls into a frozen pond.
- They have a brief, awkward conversation and then go their separate ways.
- Fred, in a moment of panic, tries to harm Tobin.
Show answer
B. Tobin saves Fred from drowning after Fred falls into a frozen pond. Tobin, the young boy, sees Fred fall into the icy pond and, despite his own fear, courageously helps to pull him out, inadvertently saving Fred's life.
Question 8
What is a recurring theme across several stories in 'Tenth of December' concerning the American Dream?
- The unwavering success and accessibility of the American Dream for all citizens.
- The disillusionment, economic struggle, and the often-absurd lengths people go to achieve or maintain a semblance of the American Dream.
- The idea that the American Dream is primarily about technological innovation.
- The notion that the American Dream is best achieved through isolation and self-sufficiency.
Show answer
B. The disillusionment, economic struggle, and the often-absurd lengths people go to achieve or maintain a semblance of the American Dream. Many characters, like the father in 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' or Al Roosten, are deeply concerned with appearances, status, and financial stability, often revealing the hollowness or difficulty of achieving a perceived ideal life.
Question 9
In 'My Chivalric Fiasco,' what is the 'chivalric' quest that the protagonist, Tony, is tasked with?
- To rescue a princess from a dragon in a magical realm.
- To complete a series of physical challenges to prove his worth.
- To deliver a 'love note' to a woman and report back on her reaction, as dictated by his supervisor, Mr. Perkus.
- To uncover a corporate conspiracy within his workplace.
Show answer
C. To deliver a 'love note' to a woman and report back on her reaction, as dictated by his supervisor, Mr. Perkus. Tony is forced by Mr. Perkus to act as a messenger in a bizarre, humiliating 'chivalric' scheme involving a love note, highlighting themes of power dynamics and absurdity in the workplace.
Question 10
What narrative technique does Saunders frequently employ in 'Tenth of December' to reveal the inner lives of his characters?
- Extensive use of third-person omniscient narration with historical context.
- Long, detailed descriptions of physical settings and landscapes.
- Stream of consciousness and internal monologues, often with fragmented or idiosyncratic language.
- Dialogue-heavy scenes with minimal exposition or character introspection.
Show answer
C. Stream of consciousness and internal monologues, often with fragmented or idiosyncratic language. Saunders is renowned for diving deep into the minds of his characters, often presenting their thoughts, anxieties, and self-delusions in a raw, unfiltered, and sometimes unconventional stream of consciousness style.
Tenth of December FAQ
What is the overarching theme of George Saunders's 'Tenth of December'?
The collection primarily explores the internal lives of ordinary people grappling with moral dilemmas, societal pressures, and personal anxieties, often highlighting their struggles for connection, dignity, and self-worth in a world that can be indifferent or cruel. Many stories delve into the gap between our inner thoughts and outward presentations, revealing the complex, often humorous, and sometimes tragic ways humans navigate existence.
Which story features a character undergoing unusual drug trials and facing 'Darkenfloxx(TM)'?
The story 'Escape from Spiderhead' features Jeff, a prisoner participating in drug trials where his emotions and behaviors are manipulated by substances like 'Darkenfloxx(TM)' and 'Verbaluce.' He is forced to administer drugs that alter the emotional states of fellow inmates, leading to profound ethical conflicts and a desperate search for agency.
In 'Victory Lap,' what event brings together Alison Pope, Kyle, and the narrator?
In 'Victory Lap,' Alison Pope is abducted by a stranger, prompting her neighbor Kyle to overcome his rigid, rule-bound upbringing to attempt a rescue. The narrator, an unnamed boy, also witnesses parts of the event and grapples with how to react, creating a tense scenario where disparate characters are forced into heroic or complicit roles.
What is the central conflict in 'Tenth of December,' the titular story?
The titular story 'Tenth of December' centers on Robin, a young boy, who ventures out in freezing weather and discovers an older man, Don Eber, collapsed in the snow, contemplating suicide. Robin's innocent, determined attempt to help Don creates a poignant struggle between despair and the unexpected human impulse to save and connect.
How does 'Al Roosten' contribute to the collection's themes?
'Al Roosten' showcases a man deeply preoccupied with his image and perceived popularity at a social event, while his inner monologue reveals profound insecurities and self-doubt. This story powerfully illustrates the chasm between external presentation and internal reality, a recurring theme in the collection, and the often-painful efforts people make to appear 'normal' or successful.
Are there recurring motifs or symbols across different stories in 'Tenth of December'?
Yes, several motifs recur, including the internal monologue as a window into character psychology, the struggle against societal or institutional control, and the surprising emergence of compassion or heroism in ordinary people. The idea of performance versus authentic self, often tied to social anxiety, also weaves through multiple narratives, from Al Roosten's internal struggles to Jeff's forced emotional displays.
What subtle connection exists between the characters' internal struggles and their physical environments?
Saunders often uses the physical environment to mirror or exacerbate characters' internal states. For instance, the sterile, controlled environment of Spiderhead amplifies Jeff's loss of autonomy, while the harsh, unforgiving winter landscape in 'Tenth of December' reflects Don Eber's despair and the profound isolation he feels before Robin's intervention. Even the mundane backyards and party venues become stages for intense inner turmoil.
How does Saunders use humor in the face of bleak situations?
Saunders frequently employs dark, absurd, or ironic humor to highlight the absurdity of human predicaments and the coping mechanisms people develop. In 'Escape from Spiderhead,' the clinical, corporate language used to describe horrific emotional manipulation creates a chilling irony, while Al Roosten's frantic internal justifications are often comically pathetic, underscoring the gap between intention and reality.
What psychological insight does 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' offer about consumerism and desire?
'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' satirizes consumerism by presenting Semplica-Girls as living, decorative status symbols, revealing the profound objectification and dehumanization inherent in unchecked desire for novelty and social standing. The narrator's internal conflict between his family's yearning for these objects and his dawning ethical unease exposes the psychological toll of keeping up appearances and the moral compromises made for perceived happiness.
How do characters like Jeff in 'Escape from Spiderhead' demonstrate the psychological impact of loss of agency?
Jeff in 'Escape from Spiderhead' experiences profound psychological distress as his agency is systematically stripped away by the administered drugs. His internal struggle to resist the drug's influence, to make a moral choice despite being chemically compelled, highlights the fundamental human need for free will and the devastating psychological consequences when it is compromised, leading to a desperate, ultimate act of defiance.
What does the psychological portrayal of Kyle in 'Victory Lap' suggest about conditioning and morality?
Kyle's character in 'Victory Lap' demonstrates the powerful psychological effects of rigid conditioning, as he initially struggles to deviate from his parents' strict rules even when confronted with a violent crime. His eventual break from this conditioning to save Alison highlights the innate human capacity for empathy and moral action, even when it conflicts with deeply ingrained psychological frameworks.
How does 'Tenth of December' (the story) explore the psychology of altruism versus self-preservation?
The story 'Tenth of December' deeply explores the psychology of altruism as Robin, a young boy, disregards his own safety in freezing temperatures to help Don Eber, who is contemplating suicide. Simultaneously, Don's internal battle between his desire for death and a flicker of self-preservation, spurred by Robin's presence, illustrates the complex interplay of these fundamental human drives in a moment of crisis.
Is 'Tenth of December' ultimately optimistic or pessimistic about human nature?
The collection offers a nuanced perspective that leans towards cautious optimism. While many stories expose human flaws, anxieties, and cruelties, they also frequently feature moments of unexpected grace, empathy, and heroism, as seen in Robin's actions in the titular story or Kyle's defiance in 'Victory Lap.' Saunders often finds glimmers of hope and connection amidst bleak circumstances, suggesting a belief in the enduring good within individuals.
What is the significance of the title 'Tenth of December' for the collection as a whole?
While it's the title of a specific story, 'Tenth of December' also encapsulates the collection's broader themes of individual crisis, the potential for unexpected human connection, and the profound impact of small, seemingly ordinary acts of kindness or cruelty. The story itself, with its focus on a life-or-death moment and a boy's spontaneous heroism, serves as a powerful microcosm for the moral and psychological dramas explored throughout the book.
How do the diverse narrative styles and perspectives contribute to the overall impact of the collection?
Saunders masterfully employs a range of narrative styles, from the internal monologues of 'Al Roosten' to the clinical, detached tone of 'Escape from Spiderhead' and the alternating perspectives of 'Victory Lap' and 'Tenth of December.' This stylistic diversity allows him to delve deeply into different psychological states and social critiques, preventing narrative fatigue and demonstrating the multifaceted nature of human experience while maintaining a consistent thematic thread.
What is Saunders's implied critique of modern American society in 'Tenth of December'?
Saunders subtly critiques aspects of modern American society, including consumerism, corporate dehumanization, the pressure to conform, and the isolation felt by many individuals. Stories like 'The Semplica-Girl Diaries' and 'Escape from Spiderhead' directly address the ethical compromises made in pursuit of status or efficiency, while others explore the anxieties of living in a competitive, often unforgiving, social landscape.
How does the ending of 'Escape from Spiderhead' challenge the reader's understanding of free will?
The ending of 'Escape from Spiderhead,' where Jeff makes a definitive, self-sacrificing choice despite being under the influence of mind-altering drugs, deeply challenges the reader's perception of free will. It suggests that even in extreme conditions of manipulation, a core human capacity for moral agency and resistance can persist, raising profound questions about the nature of choice and responsibility.
What role does empathy play in the resolution or impact of several stories?
Empathy is a crucial force in many stories, often serving as a catalyst for change or a source of hope. In 'Tenth of December,' Robin's pure empathy saves Don Eber's life, and in 'Victory Lap,' Kyle's burgeoning empathy compels him to act heroically. Even in darker stories, the reader's empathy is often invoked for characters struggling with their internal demons, highlighting its power as both a narrative and human element.
About the author
George Saunders is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, children's books, and novels. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, McSweeney's, and GQ. He also contributed a weekly column, American Psyche, to The Guardian's weekend magazine between 2006 and 2008.
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