Cathedral

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What type of writing do you think of when you hear the word “minimalism”? What makes a story “minimalist”? Can you think of any stories or authors that might fit this category?

Teaching Suggestion: (Note: This short answer directly links to the Activity.)  Raymond Carver’s distinctive prose style is often referred to in terms such as “minimalism,” “dirty realism,” or “Kmart realism.” It is characterized by short sentences, blunt observations, and emotional disengagement from its characters. Minimalism maintains a pared-down aesthetic, harkening back to the muscular prose of Ernest Hemingway. Rightly or wrongly, Carver is considered minimalism’s most famous practitioner. Other famous writers in this style include Cormac McCarthy, Amy Hempel, Frederick Barthelme, and Ann Beattie.  

• “Literary Minimalism: 3 Characteristics of Literary Minimalism” is a page from MasterClass that defines the style.
• This article from Forbes.com illustrates how writers express themselves through unique writing styles. The resource will also be helpful during the After Reading Activity.

Short Activity  

Raymond Carver published from 1976 until he died in 1988.