Before they even pick up a pen, novelists are given a task of giving their book a point. Book readers are often searching for something specific when they pick up a novel: supernatural elements, a romance, or anything else. Having something “different” in a world of the same story being told over and over again helps, but what makes a novel successful is how relatable a novel is to the readers. A theme is unable to be told unless the reader is able to associate themselves with the characters and situations that the author is almost required to set the story up with. One such author is Stephen King, whose real experiences and overwhelming amount of brand-tagging gives him credibility in his writing, making him one of the most popular modern writers of the past few decades. The novelist Stephen King demonstrates the theme of intolerance as seen in his book Carrie through the use of elements such as characters, setting, and diction.
The diction King's novels took on were not intentional in the beginning. King began writing novels with horror elements or completely based on the attention other horror novels such as Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby and Wlliam P. Blatty's The Exorcist had received after many of his naturalistic novels had been rejected (Keyishian 30). With this, King's novels changed from a romantic prose to direct rhythms and characterizations. King begins instruction in his book On Writing by instructing not to constrict to a manual of writing a certain way, but by simply writing and seeing what comes structure is able to out of it (McCrillis). The shift in his writing comes from many factors, but most are from letting the structure take on its own course; to not write as his vision sees it beforehand, but to let the wri...
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...that King's characters are so thick that the teachers only cared when it was too late. Along with the traditional assets to a fairytale plot, there is also the heroine fighting the battles and problems set before her to become the master of her own kingdom, therefore having the ability to rule her own life – just as Carrie White was able to do (Winter 33).
The theme of intolerance is shown through all these points in King's writing and more. Readers feel Carrie's pain and accept it as their own. They remember numerous points in their own lives where they had been hurt just as she had. They may even try to reflect on other views than their own after seeing what happened to both Carrie and the ones around her. What King actually manages to do to show off his themes is create a novel that gives the readers exactly what they know. The scariest part of life is reality.
Authors have the ability justify the worst actions. Authors have a way of romanticizing certain situations in order to convey a specific message. A good author has power to influence the reader into believing whatever it is the author wants. When it comes to the story of Hannah Dustan, authors such as John Greenleaf Whittier have romanticized her captivity story along with the actions she took throughout her journey.
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Olaudah Equiano’s Narrative of his Life both endeavor to stir antislavery sentiment in predominantly white, proslavery readers. Each author uses a variety of literary tactics to persuade audiences that slavery is inhumane. Equiano uses vivid imagery and inserts personal experience to appeal to audiences, believing that a first-hand account of the varying traumas slaves encounter would affect change. Stowe relies on emotional connection between the readers and characters in her novel. By forcing her audience to have empathy for characters, thus forcing readers to confront the harsh realities of slavery, Stowe has the more effective approach to encouraging abolitionist sentiment in white readers.
The diction used in the novel is complex because of the Afghanistan words and phrases the author uses. At the same type the author uses simple word diction that are easy to understand but hold deeper meanings. It is also fairly formal and normal for a novel because there is nothing unusual about the diction in the narration. The diction of the characters fit with their personalities, nationalities, and who they are and if the character changes over the story their diction also changes to fit them. Although the diction used in the book is not very challenging the use of Afghanistan words and phrases makes the story seem more interesting and educational.
King also uses pathos to effectively appeal to the reader’s emotions. The most effective usage of pathos is showing how segregation was hard on anyone no matter their age. He describes his interaction with his young daughter, “see tears well up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children” (King 2). This section is meant for you to see that even simple things are taken away just because of their skin color. The child is seen as innocent in all of this and they still are being punished for something they cannot control. King also uses another approach that focuses more on the horror that African Americans faced by white extremists, “vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers… drown your sisters and brothers… when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters” (King 2). No one in their right mind would want to endure any of this or have anyone they care about face what these people faced. This creates a sense of guilt and sympathy for the oppressed people. Although he shows many of the sad ways the African Americans were treated, he also uses pathos by creating inspiration for the people. His mother is quoted as saying, “You must never feel that you are less than anybody else. You must always feel that you are somebody.” (Historic World Leaders 3). This also can be attributed to emotions because it creates inspiration for the African Americans, but it also gives the reader some
T.H. White does a fantastic job of incorporating life lessons through the fictional adventures taken by the youthful future King. Being able to work well with others and perform under pressure are important abilities needed to rule a country. Intellect, bravery, and respect are just a few of the qualities that comprise a great and powerful leader. The Once and Future King provides as an excellent example of how those abilities and qualities can transform a child into a mighty
For an author to grab hold of their reader's attention, demanding they listen and understand the meaning behind a work, they must develop the skill to understand their audience's preferences or curiosities. Fulfilling these emotions in his readers, Ray Bradbury creates a unique futuristic society, consisting of distorted character personalities brainwashed by a totalitarian government, which clearly amplifies Bradbury's central theme.
Malcom Gladwell, is an author of numerous New York Times Best Sellers, who uses several techniques in his writing to clarify and support his argument. Gladwell’s techniques are using stories to appeal to the reader’s emotions. Using scientific facts and research to logically strengthen his argument. Also, writing about controversial issues to establish credibility with the readers. These techniques are found in “Offensive Play”, “Small Change”, and “Harlan, Kentucky”, works by Gladwell.
As Stephen King instructed in his book On Writing, “Murder your darlings” (King 197). This quote has the potential to be deemed as unusual advice, but when seen from the perspective of a writer, it could be very valuable in keeping one’s writing interesting or delivering the unexpected to the reader. Similar to this guidance, King offers many tips and tools to better one’s writing technique and also informs the reader of how his writing career began and thrived. As I reflect on the content found in On Writing, I have discovered that, through this book, I have learned of ways to become a better writer and grow through the lengthy writing process.
Besides memorials, haunting can also happen when people read fictional period novels or see historically set films, for example. These pop culture elements and icons become like ghosts; they expose people to themes and subject matter that may open their eyes on a difficult topic or conflict with what they believe to be true. This experience then forces a perspective on people who begin to question the events being told and the accuracy of what is portrayed. Gordon uses the novel Beloved, which deals with the effects of slavery, to illustrate how sparking the imagination on a topic and asking difficult questions of the audience can create a haunting effect that may lead to new reflections and further research and analysis. In this way pop culture elements and icons are important not only as tools for reflection and communication, but also as a lens for researchers and historians to understand why history has been shaped into its current
A successful writer is he who is able to transmit ideas, emotions, and wisdom on to his readers. He is cable of stirring emotions and capturing the reader's attention with vivid descriptions and clever dialogues. The writer can even play with the meanings of words and fuse reality with fiction to achieve his goal of taking the reader on a wonderful journey. His tools are but words, yet the art of writing is found in the use of the language to create though-provoking pieces that defy the changing times. Between the lines, voices and images emerge. Not everyone can write effectively and invoke these voices. It is those few who can create certain psychological effects on the reader who can seize him (or her) with inspiring teachings, frightening thoughts, and playful games with the language. These people are true writers…
Many people think that reading more can help them to think and develop before writing something. Others might think that they don’t need to read and or write that it can really help them to brainstorm things a lot quicker and to develop their own ideas immediately (right away). The author’s purpose of Stephen King’s essay, Reading to Write, is to understand the concepts, strategies and understandings of how to always read first and then start something. The importance of this essay is to understand and comprehend our reading and writing skills by brainstorming our ideas and thoughts a lot quicker. In other words, we must always try to read first before we can brainstorm some ideas and to think before we write something. There are many reasons why I chose Stephen King’s essay, Reading to Write, by many ways that reading can help you to comprehend, writing, can help you to evaluate and summarize things after reading a passage, if you read, it can help you to write things better and as you read, it can help you to think and evaluate of what to write about.
After reading an essay, ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King, I was highly interested in King’s opinion about the necessity of reading and writing frequently in order to become a good writer. In King’s essay he talks about how he does not read to study and that he simply reads just to read; however, King does point out that though he is not reading to study there is still a learning process happening with everything he reads. “Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones.” (King) Why does King have this opinion about books?
In the short story “Soldier’s Home” by Hemingway, he uses the style phrase diction to show the way in which he believed certain events that take place in one’s life may alter his or her attitude and tone. During the times in which people are speaking in the text, during the times in which Krebs is speaking in a curt and short way saying things such as “Yeah?’ You bet’ ‘I don’t know’ ‘Uh, huh’,”Hemingway) while the other the other characters have longer lines to go between his. From his past history in the war, Krebs seems to have been affected by such a traumatic event and shows so from his lack of normality. Again, Krebs shows his contrasting speech as he says in response to his mother giving a long speech, “Is that all?”(Hemingway). His hostility
King owes his success to his ability to take what he says are “real fears” (The Stephen King Story, 47) and turn them into a horror story. When he says “real fears” they are things we have all thought of such as a monster under the bed or even a child kidnapping and he is making them a reality in his story. King looks at “horror fiction...as a metaphor” (46) for everything that goes wrong in our lives. His mind and writing seems to dwell in the depths of the American people’s fears and nightmares and this is what causes his writing to reach so many people and cause the terror he writes about to be instilled in his reader.
The book I'm a Stranger Here Myself, written by Bill Bryson, is based on a collection of written articles. Bryson writes about everyday events and shows their negative qualities through whining or creative criticism. He attracts the readers' attention by writing ideas that relate to a normal persons life. His methods are very powerful because it attracts his main audience of common people through his simple vocabulary use and everyday middleclass situations. Also between his "complaining" he throws in little jokes that make his stories entertaining. This makes the reader continue reading because it constantly grabs their attention. Another reason of why Bryson's style of writing is very effective is because all of his stories have a main theme that gives a strong and important message to the reader. Some of these messages may be a little controversial to some readers but are very thought out and well explained.