The Prospector’s Trail By: Cathy Jewison

Summary Continued ... Norman thought that what Roy meant by prospecting was going to look for minerals.
What Roy meant by prospecting was going to the dump and searching for “treasures” that they can fix and resell.
Prospecting through the dump helped make Norman get into the “Zone”.
When Jennifer realizes that Norman won't be pushed around by her anymore and wanted to work in those conditions, she leaves him and therefore making Norman a happier person.<br>

Literary Devices 1. Foreshadowing
“You realize I’m allergic to this damned thing” (Jewison 23).
Jennifer complains a lot, one thing she complained about was the tent and how she thinks she's allergic to it.
A hint/clue they will break up since she is different than Norman and wants to do something else in life.
Even Roy says that “Your little lady's not going to like it. She's more upscale than my Elsie” (Jewison 30).
Shows that Norman took the risk to go prospecting knowing that Jennifer won’t like it and that they could potentially break up which they did.<br>

Literary Devices 1. Foreshadowing Continued
“Red plaid flannel shirt, much like Roy's” (Jewison 29).
Foreshadows that when he found the plaid shirt that they are going to break up.
“Unless I catch you wearing a red plaid flannel shirt in which case I’ll leave you on the spot” (Jewison 24).
Jennifer said that earlier in the story, but when he finds the plaid shirt near the end then that gave a big hint that they’re going to break up.<br>

Literary Devices 2.Symbol
“He grabbed it and pulled out a red plaid flannel shirt, much like roy’s” (Jewison 29)
Shirt symbolizes Normans happiness.
Him not having shirt shows he's doing what his wife wants and not making himself happy.
3.Pathetic Fallacy
“‘Jen’s going to leave me. I have no money. I can’t earn any. It’s over’” (Jewison 28).
The rain is reflecting how Norman is sad since he believes that his wife is going to leave him<br>

Person vs. Person Norman and Jennifer
Very different personalities
“‘Your lady’s not going to like it. She’s more upscale than my Elsie” (Jewison 30)
“Jennifer’s appreciation of his sense of whimsy had evaporated, however” (Jewison 25)
Both want different things in life (have different ambitions)
Yes, this conflict is resolved: “His van was gone, and several boxes of his possessions were sitting outside the tent … He slept soundly for the first time in months” (Jewison 31) Character Conflicts<br>

Person vs. Self Norman has the internal conflict of whether he should follow what he wants to do in life, or if he should follow what Jennifer wants for him
“She’d decided that interpretation was undignified and convinced him to get into the corporate side of the industry” (Jewison 25)
“‘You have a gift. You’re in your element. Do you realize you haven’t fallen once since you been out here?” (Jewison 30)
Yes, this conflict is resolved: “He was seated at the picnic table, surrounded by computer parts” (Jewison 30)<br>

The first theme in The Prospector's Trail is, that in a relationship one person shouldn’t want to change the other
Norman was happy with his job but Jennifer wasn’t
“She’d decided interpretation was undignified and convinced him to get into the corporate side of the industry” (Jewison 25).
Just like Norman, Roy wasn’t perfect when starting out in Yellowknife, however, Elise didn’t react like Jennifer
“She saw the potential of the place--and of me” (Jewison 27). Theme #1<br>

In The Prospector’s Trail another theme is, that sometimes you have to sacrifice something in order to do the right thing
We learned this from Norman when he went prospecting with Roy, he knew Jennifer wouldn’t approve however, for once, he had to do what he wanted
“She won’t see the potential. But like I said--this is the end of the road for me” (Jewison 30).
Jennifer leaves, which Norman knew was a possibility
“He slept soundly for the first time in months” (Jewison 31) Theme #2<br>

Significant Objects/ Things The Tent
Very used and did not work very well, at the same time that Norman and Jennifer were a couple - represents how their relationship was not healthy and did not work very well (much like the tent)
“Fixed” tent represents how Norman is happier without Jennifer bossing him around and degrading him
“It swayed slightly but remained upright. He slept soundly for the first time in months” (Jewison 31)<br>

Significant Objects Continued ... The End of the Highway/Road
Represents how Norman does not need/want to go any further because he has found his passion and his element
“‘Yellowknife is the end of the road for me - and I don’t mean just because the highway ends here’” (Jewison 22)
“‘She won’t see the potential. But like I said - this is the end of the road for me’” (Jewison 30)<br>

Roy Helps Norman realize how different him and Jennifer are.
Big influence on Norman.
Helpful, kind and caring (Helps Norman when he's in trouble and thinks Jennifer will leave him).
Roy is a leader and Norman and Jennifer seem to blindly trust him
“The old-timer stared upwards. Norman and Jennifer followed his eyes, examining the dome of the northern night sky” Jewison 21).
This shows that even in the tiny things Norman and Jennifer follow Roy as if they have no clue what to do and rely on him.<br>

Structure Story goes in chronological order with one flashback
This order makes it easy to show the progression of the characters, plot, and overall development of the story
This story has a narrative structure
plot is explained- Norman moves up to Yellowknife to create interpretive centre
followed by the complication- Jennifer is not supporting Norman’s decision
Climax- Norman goes prospecting with Roy and finds he is in his element
Falling action- Norman decides what he wants to do
Resolution- Jennifer leaves, Norman becomes a happier man<br>

Vocabulary 1. The words in this short story are descriptive and makes you visualize where the characters are and what they are doing.
“The old man sat cross-legged beside the mutilated rock and closed his eyes. The sky clouded over, and a breeze came up. Roys red plaid shirt fluttered around him. He swayed with the wind. His breathing became slower and deeper” (Jewison 27).
Quote shows what it feels like to be there , the weather getting a little more intense/breezy, describes what Roy is wearing and the sound of his breathing.<br>