The Vietnam Wall

717 Words2 Pages

Thanks to authors people learn thrilling facts and understand the world around them better. Two outstanding authors that have influenced society with their writings is Albert Rios and Nadine Gordimer. Albert Rios is the author of The Vietnam Wall which is a poem that paints an image of the emotional impact the wall has on individuals. Nadine Gordimer is the author of a short story by the name of Once Upon a Time. Once Upon a Time is written about a family who attempts to be safe from intruders by installing various securities which ends badly.Albert Rios and Nadine Gordimer use different elements to focus on the conflict and tension between society and individuals. Evidently, the author of The Vietnam Wall uses metaphors and descriptions …show more content…

The Vietnam Wall is a picture poem with no rhyming scheme. The stanza of the poem is displayed as the names are on the actual Vietnam Wall. Throughout the poem the author uses metaphors to convey the message of his work. "I have seen it and I like it: The magic; The way like cutting onions brings water out of nowhere," is a metaphor used by Albert Rios to make a comparison. Everyone knows an onion can cause teary eye. Due to the author using this metaphor it shows the emotional impact the Vietnam Wall has on society. The author paints an image in your mind by describing the all from physical appearance to it's shape. "The walk is slow at first, Easy a little black marble wall, A smoothness, a shine..." Shows how it should and look when approaching the wall as an individual. Initially, the author of Once Upon a Time uses symbolism to focus on the conflict between individuals and society. A family living in the suburbs noticed burglaries occurring in their neighborhood. After installing securities, the family's son gets tangled up in the barbed wire fence. "Next day a gang of workmen came and …show more content…

The Vietnam Wall honors both the men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Vietnam War. The setting of the Vietnam Wall allows people to approach a loss safely and start a healing process. In Once Upon a Time, the parents self-imprisoned themselves causing their boy an injury. Life is full of tragic events, but people should learn how to manage and learn from them. People died during the Vietnam War and are being honored to this day. People are able to heal because of the Vietnam Wall. Nadine Gordimer did not have to state it, but the parents in Once Upon a Time learned from their mistakes. They learned that instead of protecting themselves they were only hurting themselves by setting up a fence around their

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