SNAP Analysis

Texts Author
1 The Barking Dog Kenneth J. Harvey

2 Presenting Miss Gorilla Legs Lisabeth Jackson

The Question: In paragraph form and with reference to the text:

If there’s been no “question” assigned by your teacher, then you can make your own question. Start
with your two chosen texts and ask yourself “Why do they have in common?” Your answer should then
be the “question” that you will answer.

Step 1: The Introduction (you are allowed to preplan and write your introductory material):

Theme (what main theme from the texts will you be using to look at connections & comparisons):

Shaping of identity.

The theme will be explored in the following way (choose one)

 As it emerges in the texts (NARROWING
 How the authors/poets present this theme (METHOD)
 How is it significant and why should we care? (MERIT)

Merit.

The question will be answered because you have proven that:

In the short stories, “The Barking Dog” and “Presenting Miss Gorilla Legs”, a key theme is the shaping
of one’s identity by one’s surroundings and the effects it has on one’s life.

General Idea
Idea: Identity shaped by
whom and effect.
Text 1: The Barking Dog
Text 2: Presenting Miss
Gorilla Legs
Idea: Feeling of needing a
job – whether you like it or
not.
Text 1: The Barking Dog
Text 2: Presenting Miss
Gorilla Legs
Idea: Confrontation of
their own true identities
Text 1: The Barking Dog
Text 2: Presenting Miss
Gorilla Legs
Stylistic Devices highlighted
SNAP Analysis
Quotations
“there is no point to life unless you
have children.” (2)
“Ella the Bearded Lady” (2)
“At work, Andrew performs with
efficiency but without exception.” (1)
“I'm a complete monster!” (1)
“face to face with remorse and
finality” (5)
“as long as I have hairy legs.” (5)
Impact
Significance
In both stories, significant life
choices are strongly influenced
by those around the characters.
In “The Barking Dog”, it’s the
coworkers influencing his
decision to have children and in
“Presenting Miss Gorilla Legs”,
her mother’s carnival work
causes Marnie to work in the
carnival also.
Society has instilled in both
characters a feeling that they
should be working in order to
make money, but not necessarily
be happy. Andrew performs
“with efficiency but without
exception” relating to a lack of
passion in his field. Similarly,
Marnie despises her job because
it makes her look like a
“complete” monster. However,
they both continue working
because that is what society has
shaped them to do.
Though people formed by
society do not necessarily have
to change, Andrew and Marnie
confront their true identities
even if doing so is difficult. The
barking dog symbolizes Andrew’s
true identity which he had
neglected. He finally confronts it.
Marnie tells her mom that she’s
quitting because she’ll never be
happy as long as she has hairy
legs.
SNAP Analysis