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an essay about figurative language
analysis peace like a river
an essay about figurative language
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AJ Niedermeyer Niedermeyer Pg. 1
Mrs. Viola
English 1 Honors
Reuben's Use of Figurative Language
3/2/14
Reuben's use of figurative language in the novel Peace Like a River reveals fundamental elements of both his character and his manner of speaking. It both allows the reader to better follow the action and creates a vivid picture of the scene at hand, and simultaneously gives some insight as to his personality and the way he observes things. This use of figurative language serves to make the story an even more enjoyable read, as it makes each scene worth reading in and of itself, not to mention the story as a whole.
Reuben speaks eloquently yet simply, expressing things vividly enough but not using unnecessary words. This contrasts with his sister's tendency to go the extra mile in her use of all writing techniques, especially figures of speech, almost (not quite) to the point of overuse. She is extremely descriptive, while he chooses to express things in an adequate manner but still leaves some of the mental image to be created by the reader, which is a technique in itself. Both are good in the way of storytelling, though Swede favors a poetic approach while Reuben tends to paint a simple, down-to-earth picture that is still far from lacking in any detail.
Niedermeyer Pg. 2
As for his character, it reveals that he can find beauty in the smallest things in life, meaning in the smallest revelation, but that he is a down-to-earth man (at the time he relates the story) who canget his point across, but not romanticize things. He expresses things as he sees them, but he sees them in a unique and detailed way. He mak...
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...ation, and he finds it in their hosts, his father's close friends.
Niedermeyer Pg. 4
In short, Reuben's style of writing, particularly his use of figures of speech, reveals quite a bit to the reader about his character and personality, as well as a deeper look into his thoughts at each turn of the story. Leif Enger makes very good use of these figures of speech to make Reuben a fully developed, believable, and likable character, one that many people would easily be able to relate to, no matter what their age, position in life, or the time period in which they read the book. Peace Like a River might have been written fairly recently, but its style and touching story, as well as the writing techniques used by the author and supposedly used by Reuben in recounting the story, give it the potential to be a classic, read for generations.
WORD COUNT: 1,014
There are several times in life where people have to be determined to surmount their challenge. Paying the monthly rent, trying to get a promotion, or shooting the game winner to win the finals or to get in the playoffs. There are some downfalls from being determined, but being determined is a crucial character trait that people need. That's why being determined is a common theme in writings. Common themes are explored in literature because they can be explained in different ways of forms, and there the most important lessons to learn. Nobody wants to read a book with an unnecessary and unsatisfying life lesson since they are common they are used more than once.
I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it. (Ray Bradbury). He says this quote because in the book “The Veldt”, he describes technology as useful in the beginning of the short story. But later in the book, he wanted to get out of the house with his kids and his wife but the kids and his wife were whining about it so they stayed in the house and that is where George and Lydia died by tigers. Ray Bradbury wrote more than forty novels and was married to a woman named Marguerite McClure. “The Veldt” was a science fiction book that was based on the parents and two children that were spoiled and technology took over their lives when the children became more evil over time.
description and characterization he creates an accurate portrait of the many intense events surrounding such a tragic story.
The battle of good versus evil is present in all aspects of life. Actions taken by people can determine how others view them. Some choose to do what is right and good, while others choose what is wrong and evil. Many characters are forced to choose between the two, and some do not foresee the consequences of their actions. In the book Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, actions committed by the Davy, Jeremiah, and Jeremiah’s friends, both good and evil, always have consequences.
What is the message the author is trying to convey? How does (s)he convey this to the reader?
In his book, “Into The Wild” Krakauer develops a position on McCandless through the use of figurative language in the way that he describes McCandless. Krakauer, although sympathetic to what McCandless was going through, failed to show McCandless as a misunderstood, noble young man. Instead Krakauer portray McCandless as immature and indecisive. He does this by including all of McCandless’ encounters with adult where he became dependent on someone's help and guidance. Also, he includes all the time that McCandless back and forth and even attempted to find a job. Although Krakauer may have intended to show the audience the softer side of Christopher McCandless, in doing this he has just push the audience closer to seeing that McCandless was nothing but a young minded
Authors use figurative language to express nuanced ideas, those that beggar literal description. Such language provides the author an opportunity to play with his reader’s imagination and sense. A piece of literature that uses figurative language is more intriguing and engaging than a writing that aims only to explain. Ralph Ellison’s use of figurative language in “The Battle Royal” paints a powerful and unique story of oppression and the struggle for self-discovery. His juxtaposition of literal and figural language gave the story a dream like quality, all while creating a profound and vivid image.
story, first impressions, what he thinks of himself, what others think of him, and what
The author chooses to write the novel through the eyes of the main character and narrator, Jack. Jack’s perception of the world is confined to an eleven foot square room. His world consists only of the objects in his room and his Ma. Because of his limited amount of knowledge of the outside world the narrator uses personification which allows the reader to see his life through his eyes.
...He is still anchored to his past and transmits the message that one makes their own choices and should be satisfied with their lives. Moreover, the story shows that one should not be extremely rigid and refuse to change their beliefs and that people should be willing to adapt to new customs in order to prevent isolation. Lastly, reader is able to understand that sacrifice is an important part of life and that nothing can be achieved without it. Boats are often used as symbols to represent a journey through life, and like a captain of a boat which is setting sail, the narrator feels that his journey is only just beginning and realizes that everyone is in charge of their own life. Despite the wind that can sometimes blow feverishly and the waves that may slow the journey, the boat should not change its course and is ultimately responsible for completing its voyage.
The chapter “On the Rainy River” can be analyzed to represent this style of storytelling throughout the length of the book. O’Brien uses antithesis in order to emphasize the particular moments in which emotional feelings were most apparent. Before the war begins, Tim runs away from home and is near the Canadian border, but he asks “What would you do?”(56), a use of erotesis in order to prove his point to the reader. He gives a few possibilities to the reader, but in the end, “All [he] could do was cry” (57). O’Brien makes a clear contrast between all the things he could have done at that moment, and makes his decision based on his emotions. This contrast is brought on through antithesis, where the contrast is the possibilities in his life between what he chooses from his emotions. Showing how one of the main conflicts in this chapters is due to his emotions, the reader realizes how important they are to his stories. As O’Brien contemplates crossing the border, escaping his responsibilities, he could not run away. He “Couldn’t make [himself] be brave. It had nothing to do with morality. Embarrassment, that’s all it was”(59). O’Brien draws the conclusion that he was making his actions by morality, but rather by embarrassment. By opposing two polar themes of society’s idea of morality and his personal
... well to portray how life actually was in those times. Most of his elements are true and add to the validity of the story and personality of the characters in it. He gives his readers a look into the world of a Southern style of life in the given time period.
The entire story was a symbol of Needy’s life. The setting in the story was symbolic to the way Needy was feeling. Needy’s life was diminishing right before his eyes, and he did not realize it. The different changes in the story represented how much Needy’s life had gradually changed over time. By reading the story the reader can tell that Needy was in a state of denial.
In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by O’Connor Figurative language is used often by the characters, especially the grandmother who manipulates, which in return, leads to the families murder. In the short story the author gives small details of almost every character. When the author describes the mother’s face, she uses a simile writing, whose face is broad and innocent as a cabbage(pg 296). On the family drive, the author uses imagery to describes the beauty of the families surrounding using words like brilliant red and green lace-work that makes the drive seem relaxing.The author’s use of informal diction helps dictate the calmness of the events. I believe these calming words are the way the author is portraying the calm before the storm. What
He describes beauty as delicate and rare, unable to be established. He focuses on the lightheartedness of young girls, how they are caught up in beauty, and he warns them to be conscientious of the fact that their beauty will fade and that they cannot put all their hope on their beauty. At the same time, he encourages them to "practice" their beauty until it is gone, and he promises to celebrate that beauty as best he can, with all its value and frailty.