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The next day, Laurel works in the garden while four elderly neighbor women sit and gossip about Fay. When Laurel goes inside, she walks through her father's library, taking in all the memories inspired by the books, furniture, and general clutter. Later, she meets some friends to reminisce about the days before Laurel moved to Chicago. When she gets back to the house, Laurel finds that a bird has gotten inside. As she tries to trap it in a single room, she allows herself to think about how much she blames Fay for her father's death, which makes her long to be...

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Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...

1. The Optimist's Daughter: Introduction
2. Eudora Welty Biography
3. Summary
   1. Part 1 Summary
   2. Part 2 Summary
   3. Part 3 Summary
   4. Part 4 Summary
4. Themes
5. Style
6. Historical Context
7. Critical Overview
8. Character Analysis
9. Essays and Criticism
10. Compare and Contrast
11. Topics for Further Study
12. Media Adaptations
13. What Do I Read Next?
14. Bibliography and Further Reading
15. Pictures
16. Copyright

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