2. a) As the the reader follows the main characters mindset he finds that most his thoughts are vile and bitter hatred towards his wife because of what he feels she has deprived him of. The dragging heat only adds to his misery and mindless boredom which forces them to play scrabble. During this game his surrounding is inevitably his home. The weather, like the mood, is scorching them both and yet communicating is kept at a minimum.
b) The introduction is quick and characters are instantly apprehended. Slowly the rising action is portrayed but the conflict seems to go nowhere. The instant where he realizes the game is actually "jinxed" he tries to use it to his advantage spelling anything that would prove his theory. His precaution was ending not realizing his wife's understanding of the game.
c) The short story touches all types and kinds of conflicts giving the character confused and indecisive perspective, always struggling with his decision and in certain ways contradicting himself. Criticizing himself as often as others his ideals are never fulfilled making him a passively aggressive and greedy character.
d) The women, his wife, is only perceived trough the eyes of the husbands criticism. While the husband plots his wife's death her precocious wit leads to her murderous intent.
e) The theme is wallowing in self-pity will get you nowhere. The way the man was judgemental and portrayed his life only in misery constantly bickering about little bits of nothing was the cause of his fate. In my experience complaints have only made things worse. His dissatisfaction should have been acted upon and blamed only himself who decided to marry her. If your unsatisfied with something change it, if you cant change it there is no use in crying.