John Updike's short story entitled "Son" covers four generations, correct-great grandfather, grandfather, father and son, correct? I dogpiled this and can't find anything on it. If anyone can direct me paragraph- by paragraph who is being spoken about, I'd appreciate it-there are nine paragraphs and I'm totally lost.

Thank you

I looked online yesterday, but found only references to the book. There are no chapter-by-chapter summaries, if that's what you mean. This is apparently still under copyright, and therefore neither the story itself nor any summaries are available.

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=son+by+john+updike&btnG=Search&as_sdt=0,44&as_ylo=&as_vis=0

Even in Google Scholar, there's precious little.

Sure, I'd be happy to help you understand the characters and structure of John Updike's short story "Son". It seems like you're having difficulty finding information about the specific characters mentioned in each paragraph. Since I don't have the complete text of the story, I won't be able to provide an analysis paragraph-by-paragraph. However, I can offer you a general understanding of the story and its characters.

"Son" is a multi-generational story that explores the relationships between four generations: the great grandfather, grandfather, father, and son. Each paragraph likely focuses on one of these characters or provides some insight into their lives.

To better understand the story, I would suggest the following steps:

1. Read the story carefully: Start by reading the entire story thoroughly to get a clear understanding of the plot, characters, and their relationships. Pay attention to the transitions between paragraphs, as they might indicate a shift in focus.

2. Identify the characters: As you read, try to identify the various characters that are introduced. Make notes about their names, relationships to each other, and any significant details provided about them. This will help you keep track of who is being referred to in each paragraph.

3. Analyze the story structure: Once you have a grasp of the characters, analyze the overall structure of the story. Consider how the author organizes the paragraphs and whether there is a logical progression through the generations. This analysis should help you understand the overarching narrative and how each generation is represented.

4. Seek additional resources: If you're still having trouble understanding the specific details of each paragraph, consider looking for study guides, literary analyses, or summaries of the story online. These resources might provide more in-depth explanations of the story's structure and character development.

Remember, understanding a story's structure and characters can sometimes be subjective and open to interpretation. It's important to use your own critical thinking skills and make connections based on the information given in the text.

I hope this guidance helps you better comprehend "Son" by John Updike.