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1. Describe the main characters in "The Dialectic." What are they doing in this short story?

The main character in "The Dialectic" is an unnamed woman sitting on the beach with her daughter. The daughter is a secondary character and engages in dialogue with the mother. The family, mother, daughter, son, and younger twins, are on vacation at a gritty beach at Sopot.

2. Describe the setting of "The Dialectic." How is the setting important to the story?

The setting of "The Dialectic" is a gritty beach at Sopot where the woman has always brought her children for vacation. It is important in this story because the unnamed woman feels a sense of blending in; it is less apparent here that they are a fatherless family.

3. Describe the narrative style in "The Dialectic." Why has the author employed this style?

The narrative of this story is related in the past tense from the perspective of a third-person narrator with limited focus on the character of the unnamed woman. This narrative style allows the reader to see the woman's thoughts but does not give you her full perspective.

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