Pasciak 1

Karl Pasciak
Mrs. Carter
AP Literature and Composition
22 September 2013
The Wonderfully Creepy Story
In the short story Where are you going? Where have you been? Arnold friend is a creepy, almost
unhuman, man that is stalking the main character Connie, a beautiful, nave, innocent, yet conceited
teenage girl. From the beginning of the narrative where Arnold says: Gonna getcha baby there is
foreshadowing that she is going to willfully leave with Arnold in his golden jalopy. Every word is
purposed towards foreshadowing Connies decision to take a ride in Arnold Friends decrepit
convertible.
The Smallest of details could be overlooked the first time reading, yet the second read through phrases
similar to They didnt bother with going to Church today or Connies mother telling her that she
would be home alone set a dark mood. Just the word alone has negative connotations associated with
it. Oates could have phrased it You will have to stay home then and leave out the alone, yet she used
the diction to foreshadow that she will only be alone for a while, before someone shows up, someone
akin to Arnold. Other details are plainly to add creepiness, such as Arnold saying: I know your name
and all about you, lots of things . . . All the details foreshadow Connie surrendering to Arnold and
ceding to his plan.
The tone plays a significant role in foreshadowing because it changes throughout the story. The tone in
the beginning of the fiction is critical, typical off a narrative focused on a teenager, but as soon as Arnold
is introduced there is a slight eerie feeling also introduced. Throughout the story the tone becomes
Commented [KP1]: Indent paragraphs for MLA format
Commented [KP2]: No need for the commas here
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Commented [KP4]: Starting with Arnolds statement,
Gonna getcha baby,
Commented [KP5]: Connies eventual agreement to ride
alongside Arnold.
Commented [KP6]: The author uses every word to
foreshadow
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Commented [KP8]: No capitalization here
Commented [KP9]: Consider rewording this completely
Commented [KP10]: Agreeing
Commented [KP11]: The tone plays a significant role in
foreshadowing by changing throughout the story.
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Commented [KP13]: As the story continues
Pasciak 2

more disturbing, for example, when Arnold admits to knowing everything about Connie and the
description of his accomplice Ellie. With a tone that is becoming more sinister, Oates is hinting of
Connies decision to resign, that she will eventually leave the house and enter Arnolds car. The tone is a
crescendo of creepiness that foreshadows her leaving the safety of her house and submitting to Arnolds
intentions.
Imagery, yet another key factor, shows, that through subtle changes, the course of the fiction. At the
start the imagery portrays a careless everyday high school student hanging out with her friends, it
changes and projects more sinister imagery with the introduction of Arnold Friend, his ominous car, and
the freak Ellie inside it. With the ominous imagery conveyed, a more ominous ending is foreshadowed;
Oates foreshadows that Connie will definitely give in, and blatantly hints at what Arnolds intentions are
when they arrive at their destination.
Every word written by Oates added a purpose to the story, she would not have written them if they did
not. Some words were only the specific details easily overlooked, others set an eerie tone which causes
goose bumps to form on the readers skin, and more were incorporated into imagery to paint ominous
scenes in the readers minds, yet all foreshadowed the ending. All foreshadowed Connie leaving her
house and leaving in Arnold Friends golden convertible.
Commented [KP14]: . For
Commented [KP15]: The tone gradually becomes darker
with Arnold admitting he knows everything about Connie
and the authors description of Ellie.
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Commented [KP17]: The imagery found in this short
story is another key factor that adds to the foreshadowing.
Commented [KP18]: In the beginning
Commented [KP19]: Creepily described person inside it.
Commented [KP20]: The foreshadowing hints to the idea
of Connie giving in, and blatantly hints at Arnolds intentions
are.
Commented [KP21]: Authors choose their words
carefully to add meaning, change the tone, or convey an
image.
Commented [KP22]: Some smaller details could easily be
overlooked
Commented [KP23]: . In this case all of the words also
foreshadowed Connie leaving her house with Arnold in his
golden jalopy.
Commented [KP24]: Remove this