Davis “Oral Narrative as Short Story Cycle: Forging Community in Edwidge Danticat’s Krik? Krak!”

 

Rocio Davis, author of “Oral Narrative as Short Story Cycle: Forging Community in Edwidge Danticat’s Krik? Krak!” states her thesis at the beginning of her article in the second paragraph. “This article will explore the short story cycle as a vehicle for the development of ethnic literature by analyzing Haitian-American Edwidge Danticat’s Krik? Krak! to show how the drama of identity and community is mediated through a genre that is linked to the oral narrative, itself a way of fostering imaginative communities and developing identities” (Davis 65). Davis begins by defining what a short story cycle refers to: a set of short stories within a book each telling its own distinctive story yet still connecting to the overall theme of the book. The author places particular emphasis on oral narrative. Davis then informs the audience of the importance of oral narrative which is that it helps the reader feel better connected with and part of the story. Throughout the article Davis tells the audience the many themes of the book and supports them with quotes from the book or from a book that has a similar theme. Davis points out one of the most important theme in the book, mother-daughter relationship. This symbolizes hope for the future as supported by the quote in the book, “Our mothers were the ashes and we were the light…Our mothers were the flames and we were the blaze” (Danticat 41) but also remembrance of the past. History is also an important theme in the book it helps each character identify who they are. Butterflies as mentioned by Davis are also an important symbol. They signify death and life; in the book a black butterfly symbolizes death. Davis concludes that Danticat turns to her roots, community and family as a source for her stories which indicates transformation and growth.