ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORY BASED ON FORMALISM THEORY

“THE LUCKY GUY” BY YEDIDA IIN LESTARI

TAKEN FROM HELLO MAGAZINE NO.171 FEBRUARY 2000

1. PLOT

Plot is a series of events that the author describes from the beginning of the play to the end and

also the characters’ actions that related to the central conflict. Its series of events follow a

chronological order, in this case the events are arranged based on the time series. Plot consists of

introduction (narration), rising action, climax, falling action, and climax and denouement.

a) Introduction

Introduction (exposition) is the beginning of a play where the character and the

setting are introduced. The beginning of this story is started by exposing the character

played in this story as can be seen in the first sentence of the first paragraph.

Everybody knew that Yudi did not like Karenina. (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

b) Rising action

This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story

is revealed (events between the introduction and climax). It happens when Yudi did

not respond Karenina when she greets and smiles at him. Thus, it makes her hurt. As

can be seen in the statement of Karenina like as follows:

“Oh my God, what was my fault? Why did he show unfamiliar attitude to me? I never

hate him though he behaved like that,” she said to herself. (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

c) Climax

This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story.  The reader

wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not? This happens

when Yudi and Ariawan, Yudi’s close friend, argued each other. Their dispute can be

seen below:

“If I don’t like the new student, it is my own problem. Not yours! You should not

teach me. Do you understand?”

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“To tell you the truth, I am interested in her. I am in the approach step to get her. Do

you want to be my rival, friend?”

”uh… I don’t care about it! Have the struggle my friend! I hope you’ll be

lucky!” .yudi touched his shoulder (Page 35, Hello Magazine)

d) Falling action

The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. It happens when Yudi has

convinced himself that he has to encourage himself to meet Karenina and intend to

change his manner to Karenina. It can be seen from the way he starts responding

Karenina such can be seen below:

Suddenly, Karenina turned her head to him who sat down behind her. They looked at

each other. That moment, Yudi smiled at her. It was the first time for her to see him to

respond to her. She realized that his smile gave her a peace. (Page 35, Hello

Magazine)

e) Resolution/ denouement

This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story. This occurs when

finally Yudi become Karenina’s boyfriend. It can be seen from the very end of the story

which states as follows:

Yudi realized that she had the same feeling with him. He was proud of being her

boyfriend. (Page 36, Hello Magazine)

2. CHARACTER ANALYSIS & CHARACTERIZATION

A. CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Character analysis is the way to identify each character through his name, through what he

says, what he does, what other characters say about him, and what the playwright says about him.

Yudi Mamahit 

He is a cool guy. He does not want to compete with other men to get Karenina. Beside that he is

also a coward one. His character as cowardness can be known through the explanation described

directly by the author.

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Frankly speaking, Yudi felt that he was not masculine, but he was a coward. He did not have the

courage to show who he himself. (Page 35, Hello Magazine)

Yudi is also an introvert person. He did not want to tell his own business to others even to his close

friend, Ariawan, that actually he likes Karenina.

Karenina

Actually Karenina is a good and nice girl. Mostly the story talks about how good she is. Actually

she does not like hating others particularly Yudi who has ever hurt her heart. It can be seen from

what she says

“Oh my God, what was my fault? Why did he show unfamiliar attitude to me? I never hate him

though he behaved like that,” she said to herself. (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

Also, when Yudi confirms to come to her house.

“Of course you may. My home is open or everybody.” She replied nicely. (Page 36, Hello

Magazine)

It shows us that Karenina is a nice girl.

Her other characters can also be seen from other character says to her in this case Ariawan.

“Why? Why my friend? Isn’t she a good girl? Let me tell you that she is kind, beautiful, and smart.

She is not arrogant. The men of this school are competing in getting her. Do you want to be their

rivals? Ariawan advised. (Page 34-35, Hello Magazine)

In addition, Karenina’s characters can be known through what Yudi thinks about her in his

dreaming.

Yudi could not deny that she was the most beautiful girl of the school. Her appearance was great.

She is a white slim girl. She had long black hair. Everybody called her “a sunsilk girl”. It showed

that she was a girl that was good at caring her hair. (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

Ariawan

Ariawan is actually Yudi’s close friend. He is a sort of friend who likes giving advice and

suggestion to his own friend in this case Yudi and Karenina. It can be seen from what he says

“It should be better for you to change your manner to Karenina” (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

“Don’t think about his attitude, Karenina.” (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

In addition, he likes intervening his friend’s business which induces his friend get angry to him as

what Yudi says about him.

Analysis of Short Story by Wd Ritna Y Page 3

“Though you are my close friend, I don’t like you to say like that. The most important thing you

must remember is that you should not ask the reason. I don’t like it! Once again, I don’t like that!”

(Page 34, Hello Magazine)

“If I don’t like the new student, it is my own problem. Not yours! You should not teach me. Do you

understand?” (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

Mr. Handoko

He is a teacher. Actually there is no much information about him. It can be inferred that he is an

assertive teacher who can make students pay attention to his lesson seriously. It can be seen from

the statement below:

Mr. Handoko was teaching Mathematic. All students focused their attention to his explanation. The

old teacher gave some exercises to do. The students did the exercises carefully. (Page 34, Hello

Magazine)

B. CHARACTERIZATION

Characterization is the imaginative creation of a playwright to conform the suitability of the

characters with their action in a play in order that the character can create a good dramatization to

his play and can act as effective and efficient as possible.

Major Character

The major character in this short story is Yudi and Karenina

Minor Character

The minor character in this story is Ariawan, Mr. Handoko, and Renita (Karenina’s friend).

3. THEME

Theme in a piece of fiction is its controlling idea or its central insight.  It is the author's

underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey.

The theme of this story is:

Analysis of Short Story by Wd Ritna Y Page 4

a. Love is secret

Love must not always be shown explicitly. Sometimes one always adore their love

exaggeratedly. They catch their love by allowing any ways. But, unfortunately it does

not end successfully. On other side, someone who keeps cool for getting their love can

succeed. It is shown by the way Yudi get Karenina. He is slow but sure.

b. Don't judge a book by its cover

It can be seen from Yudi’s attitude who always keeps being ignorant to Karenina. It

makes Karenina thinks that Yudi is arrogant and hates her so much. In fact, Yudi

behaves so just to keep Karenina away from being arrogant because of being idolized by

everyone in that school.

4. POINT OF VIEW

Omniscient Limited - The author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she,

he, it, etc).  We know only what the character knows and what the author allows him/her to

tell us.

She was thankful to God because He had given her a great appearance. The girl considered

Yudi was so sold like ice. His attitude made her puzzled. (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

He walked, bowing his head. He didn’t have the courage to see Karenina. She was just

silent. He didn’t greet her. All their friends did not know about what had happened. (Page

35, Hello Magazine)

5. SETTING

The setting of short story is the time and the place in which it happens.

Actually this story firstly happens in the school in the afternoon.

Today was so hot. The students were studying in their classes. Mr. handoko was teaching

Mathematics. (Page 34, Hello Magazine)

And at the end, this story happens in Karenina’s house. It happened in the afternoon and in

the night.

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In the living room, there was a big photograph. It was the picture o Karenina. Everybody

considered that she was pretty but simple. It made boys compete in getting her.

“Good evening brother Yudi,” she greeted him. That night she wore the pink dress. (Page

36, Hello Magazine)

6. STYLE

Style is the way writers express their idea. It is how to say something. This short story uses

neutral diction. The words are everyday vocabulary but still standard vocabulary. All sentences

are the neutral diction. They are conveyed naturally and smoothly. They are easy to absorb and

understand.

Everybody knew that Yudi didn’t like Karenina. It could be seen from the way he treated her.

He often turned his head, knowing her was close to him. On other side, Karenina didn’t know the

reason why he could behave like that. She realized that she never hurt him. (Page 34, Hello

Magazine)

He folded the paper and put it in envelope. In the front side, he wrote his name. Yudi went to

school early, so no one knew about his plan. He was shy if his friends mocked him. (Page 35, Hello

Magazine)Friday, October 14, 2011Friday, October 14, 2011

This story contains connotation such as “sunsilk girl” which means that someone was good at

caring her hair in this case Karenina.

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