Characters

Moral ValuesThemes Synopsis Plot Language & Style : Literary Devices

Setting

The Fruitcake Special is an amusing story about Anna, a scientist, who creates a perfume that has an extraordinary effect on men. Her boss, David Amos, is instantly smitten with her the minute he smells the perfume on Anna. Chaos ensues when Anna and David dine together as Anna also becomes the object of the waiters affection. Anna asks her Aunt Mimi for more information about the fruitcake before coming to a dead end. Guided by his jealous girlfriend Sabina, David offers a money-based apology to Anna, who decides to leave for a rival company. Annas love life develops together with her career as she is wooed by Armstrong, her local pizza delivery man, who is now the owner of a pizza company.

Physical Setting Amos Cosmetics, New Jersey This is the cosmetic factory where Anna works as a chemist Annas home We meet Annas Momma, Aunt Mimi and Armstrong here French restaurant This is where David and Anna have dinner together

Social Setting Although

Anna comes from a modern background, certain social stigmas are still big issues (e.g. her marital and residential status)

Time 1990s, when fast food become popular, and it started to be normal for women to still be single beyond the age of 25

EXPOSITIONAnna experiments by adding a slice of fruitcake to a mix of flowers to create a new perfume.

RISING ACTIONMr Amos is attracted to Anna who is using the perfume and invites her to dinner

FALLI NG ACTIONAnna visits Aunt Mimi and discovers that the fruitcake was brought from an old lady who had put in a special ingredient. Unfortunately the woman is now dead and so is the secret.

CLIMAXThe Fruitcake Special attracts both Mr Amos and the waiter. A fight breaks out between David, Sabina and the waiter.

RESOLUTIONArmstrong, the owner of Armstrongs Peachy Pizzas, presents Anna with flowers and pizza and tells her that he had fallen in love with her from the very first time he delivered pizza to her.

THE CHARACTERS

Anna

David Amos

Aunt Mimi

Momma

Sabina

Armstrong

Waiter

SINGLE

OBSERVANT & PERCEPTIVE

27-YEAR-OLD

ANNA

INNOVATIVE & INTELLIGENT

CHEMIST

PRACTICAL & SENSIBLE

ORDINARYLOOKING

Anna s Character Traits Practical Sensible

Evidence from text

Innovative IntelligentObservant Perceptive Curious

Thinks her new invention smells nice but nothing more (p.32) Knows she is an ordinary-looking girl and is not actually Davids type (p.34) Uses the same handbag she does for work on her date with David (p.38) Reminds the waiter to serve the lobster instead of being silly (p.43) Realizes the effect of the perfume on the waiter and ensures she does not walk by other men (p.44) Tries to concoct new perfumes (p.31) Realizes that the fruitcake perfume had an effect on her boss (p.41) Notices that her boss prefers pretty young models (p.32) Wants to know why David suddenly finds her attractive (p.38)

Observes that men say one thing but mean another (p.39)Realizes that the fruitcake special had brought about an immediate change (p.40) Is annoyed with Davids offhand treatment in the restaurant (p.40) Ignores Sabinas extended hand, which she expected Anna to kiss (p.45)

High self esteem

Great presence of mind Business minded

Leaves the company and her job in response to Sabinas offer (p.56)Leaves the restaurant as soon as she could after the chaos (p.56) Wonders about the secret ingredients in the fruitcake that caused men to behave strangely (p.48) Considers the option of making a fortune from the old womens secret (p.48 n 53)

OWNER OF AMOS COSMETICS

DARK

HANDSOME ENGLISHMAN

DAVID AMOS

SUPERFICIAL WEAK MANIPULATED BY SABINA

DAVID AMOSS Character Traits WEAK IMPULSIVE SUPERFICIAL

EVIDENCE FROM TEXT Is controlled by Sabina and so offers Anna money rather than apologizing properly (p.56) Prefers the company of beautiful young models (p.34) Looks at Annas body instead of her face when she returns to the table (p.41)

NOT EMPLOYEEFRIENDLY

Is flabbergasted when the waiter starts singing very loudly, so he hit the waiter (p.46)Feebly explains to Anna that they would not be a good match, unlike him and Sabina (p.56) Anna is afraid to tell him how she made the new perfume as he might have laughed at her (p.32) David only speaks to his employees when he has complaints (p.34)

ANNAS MOTHERS SISTER GOOD - HEARTED

WARM

GENEROUS

AUNT MIMI

NOSY

CURIOUS

AUNT MIMIS Character Traits LIVELY SOCIABLE IMPULSIVE WARM

Evidence from text

When Anna says she is twenty seven, Aunt Mimi quickly remarks that she is still not married (p.35) She gets ahead of herself when she plans Annas wedding after learning of her dinner date (p.37) Very nosy and wants to find Anna a husband (p.34)

GENEROUSGOOD HEARTED OBSERVANT CURIOUS

Always brings gifts when she visits (p.37)Welcomes Annas visit even though she may have other interests at heart (p.48) Is suspicious about Annas sudden interest in baking (p.49) Tells Anna about her market experience and the people she met at the funeral (p. 52)

MOMMAAnnas mother Loving and caring- still packs meals for Anna Gets on well with Aunt Mimi

Sabina

ARMSTRONG

The pizza delivery man Fell in love with Anna at first sight Hardworking - saved hard and finally bought over the pizza company he worked for Was determined to improve his social and economic status before asking Anna out

The latest model girlfriend of David Amos Beautiful Snooty Vain Condescending but is actually jealous that David asked Anna out Hot-headed- Hits David hard in the face when he proclaims love for Anna. Dominant, confident, wellspoken-speaks for David at Annas last meeting with her boss in the office

The WaiterLike David Amos, was impulsive and effusive in his words and actions after inhaling the Fruitcake Special Bold told Anna how he felt, and called her even though she was in the restaurant with David on a date.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE VS TRUE LOVE

Annas experiences with David and the waiter at the French restaurant illustrate the fragility of physical attraction or superficial love. Both the men are drawn to her not because of her own qualities but because of the special perfume she is wearing. Fortunately Anna realizes that true love is not based on external appearances but on genuine liking and mutual self-respect. The man who truly loves her - Armstrong the pizza delivery man - declares his love for her only after he has achieved success in his life.

IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY AND SELF-RESPECT

We should focus on a persons character rather than their physical appearance. Anna is a person of integrity and practicality who is truly a credit to her company. When she joins a rival company due to Davids actions, it is a loss to Amos Cosmetics. Anna has dignity, pride and principles and looks for these qualities in a future husband. She finds them in Armstrong, a slightly short and balding man, but is a gem compared to the superficial David.

When Anna creates the potent perfume by chance, she does not give it to her boss immediately as she is afraid of him making fun of her. She reveals her character and good sense of values in her actions, speech and thoughts ( mental self talk) Her outrage at Davids treatment of her and the scene in the office with Sabina present shows her sense of dignity, pride and moral courage.

Rationality and moral courage

Annas character grows and in the end we see her willingness to accept Armstrong even though she may have higher expectations before.

Annas

painstaking

attitude

and

Diligence and Perseverance

seriousness about her work are work ethics that should be followed. She is creative and intelligent in the work she is doing and gets a new job easily when she quits Amos Cosmetics.

Can be seen in Armstrongs character He is determine to be successful before he can declare his love to Anna. From just ordinary pizza delivery man, he turns to be the owner of the pizza restaurant. All this displays his strong determination to be successful in life.

Determination

Courage

It takes courage to

stand up to ones walk out of her

beliefs. Anna is willing to the French restaurant.

career in Amos Cosmetics after the event in

Armstrong is courageous in asking Anna out at last. He knows his status but never gives up .

Simile their eyes and mouths wide open like a couple of fish. (p.37) Meaning : Momma and Aunt Mimi looked surprised. like a dog who had found a bone (p.41) Meaning : David Amos looked pleased with himself

Metaphor his eyes shone and he smiled until I thought his face would break into two. (p.41) Meaning : He looked bright and happy

Contrast There is a huge contrast between Davids and Armstrongs treatment towards Anna. David acts indifferently towards Anna at first, and then is too loud and effusive with his declarations of love. Armstrong presents himself respectably, stating that he wanted to be a success before asking Anna out. He also states that Anna deserved no less than this.

Irony Anna dismisses the hints and teasing from Momma and Aunt Mimi about Armstrong, since he was just delivering pizzas. Armstrong ends up as her partner and is also the owner of the pizza company.