Post by hinas23 on Mar 11, 2009 21:47:01 GMT -5
Purpose and Meaning
“Mother's energy and intelligence suited her for a greater role in a larger arena…”Annie Dillard in a well written essay wrote “An American Childhood”, in which, Dillard told us about all the little habits and quirks that her mother possessed. By learning about Annie Dillard’s mother and her strong confidence, cleverness, and her observant character, the reader learns about how it influenced Annie herself. Her mother’s influence, including her sharp ear and odd sense of humor, can be considered a direct inspiration in Dillard’s style of writing. Dillard writes, “Hearing this, moved, I thought all the suffering of road building was worth it (it wasn't my suffering).” This assertion showed her mother’s sense of humor. By putting “it wasn’t my suffering” in parentheses, the reader can see the emphasis in this sardonic sentence. Dillard’s diction and syntax mirrored the dramatic voice that a reader could imagine for Dillard’s mother to have. Dillard managed to use detail very precisely so that she didn’t confuse the reader as she tends to use a pattern in her writing. She plainly formed an opinion on her mother’s quirks and then in the end showed how she appreciated and admired her mother’s unique qualities. It may have been implied for the most part, but because of the way she used her diction and syntax - along with the simple humor - one understood her overall purpose with the context.
Language is a form of communication which affects what words we speak or write. As it influences the words we speak and write, it also retains a great impact on our thoughts. Certainly Anne Dillard had a unique understanding of language as her mother’s example helped change her over look on life. Dillard’s mother’s observations of things like a road’s name, pronunciation or dialogue practiced in different areas like Pittsburgh, and random (funny) sayings lead to Annie’s understanding of various words and their meaning in more than a literal sense.
Dillard’s mother would often question Dillard, "Is that your considered opinion?" This question was very significant in this passage as it added to the diversity in language. This question not only focused on the language, but also added to the scared humor in the story. Although this essay’s heart seemed to revolve around Annie Dillard’s mother, the focus of the excerpt was more about the language and how it was used in context. Through the use of realistic dialogue and a deep description of her mother’s personality, the reader was able to connect to the story. An example of meaning through language was described when Dillard wrote about her mother saying, “Alligator Alley for those who liked things cute, and, for connoisseurs like Mother, for lovers of the human drama in all its boldness and terror, the Tamiami Trail.” This sentence helped emphasize on her mother’s “adventurous” character. Without unique language, Dillard’s mom would be presented the same way as anyone else’s mother, but with language, Dillard’s mother was described with her own personality and her own person.
Annie Dillard’s memoir was made up of a recollection of her mother. She focused on specific memories that reflected on the significance of language and the value of maintaining one’s individuality. Dillard’s mother was a very influential person in Annie Dillard’s life as she sought to set an example to engender self-confidence in oneself. Evidently, the main theme and purpose of this excerpt was to persuade the reader to hold on to personal belief and sustain their own individuality. Dillard’s mother said that one should be able to “defend their views” as she was just simply trying to keep them all awake. She tried to teach them that they didn’t know everything just yet. After reading this passage, one can see that the purpose was completed as Dillard appreciated just about everything her mother did. In the end, Dillard said, “And in fact it was always clear to Amy and me… we were expected to take, and would be each separately capable of taking, a stand.”
Language and Style
The phrases and words such as “Terwilliger bunts one, royal Poinciana, and Tamiami Trail,” all have a sense of drama and amusement. Dillard is exploring language and with that the reader then shares the fascination of the sounds in language. The phrase “Terwilliger bunts one” reflexes a harsh or excited tone, where as, “Royal Poinciana” seems to be soft and almost melodious. “Tamiami Trail” engenders a feeling of amusement as it mixes both hard and soft tones. These phrases only help the reader further into the essay as Dillard’s mother’s mischievous and vivid personality is being developed.
Dillard used copious stylistic methods in order to determine how to invigorate her writing. She mixed many contrasting sounds, hard images, and active verbs to complete her purpose. She used asyndeton when she described the men who “stood sunk in muck to their armpits… They blasted muck with dynamite, cut jungle with machetes; they laid dogs, dragged drilling machines, hauled dredges, heaped limestone,” to illustrate the attentive attitude of these men and how they had to work relentlessly as they completed one job after another. The use of action verbs helped the reader to be able to picture the scene as it took place. This keeps the reader more involved. “She excelled at bridge, playing fast and boldly, but when the stakes were low and the hands dull, she bid slams for the devilment of it, or raised her opponents' suit to bug them, or showed her hand, or tossed her cards in a handful behind her back in a characteristic swift motion accompanied by a vibrantly innocent look. It drove our stolid father crazy.” The phrases mainly containing a mixture of nouns and verbs in this example helps set a mischievous tone for her mother as she would try to ruin the game just to see the tantrum and rage caused by her actions. It added to creating a slight humor in the overall piece.
Annie Dillard maintained an overall style to be specific and precise throughout her examples and references. The reason for her attention to detail is to expose the desired image and thought to the reader. Like diction, detail is a rhetorical strategy, and Dillard made great use of that strategy. She wanted her readers to completely understand her mother’s character and how it influenced her as a writer and made her the independent individual she is today. Dillard used her anecdotes to describe her childhood in great detail instead of simply telling the reader a list of how her mother influenced her. Dillard utilized the stylistic device of anecdotes to help create a humorous tone and clarify how she her mother inspired her to stand by her beliefs. The way her mother would prank a person by walking up to a stranger and acting like their ex-girlfriend illustrated a light-hearted humorous tone. The way she would ruin a game by cheating is another example of the sardonic tone implied in the essay. Dialogues helped represent the mother-daughter relationship which showed the mother’s personality and character passed onto her daughter. Dillard was very precise in describing her mother’s little details which made her unique. Each specific detail added to the reader’s understanding of Dillard’s admiration of her mother and her appreciation towards her.
Strategy and Structure
One’s interests, beliefs and personality are affected by their childhood experiences and what they are taught by their parents. Dillard tried to focus on her mother as she illustrated how her mother’s beliefs and experience shaped her. Dillard’s mother had a very influential impact on Annie Dillard’s decisions and attitude. Her mother helps Dillard differentiate between her opinions and the common belief as she continuously asked many questions like, "Is that your own idea? Or somebody else's?” The purpose of these questions roll along with the theme of her memoir: to start thinking for ourselves and standing up for our beliefs.
Through the essay, Dillard’s mother was represented as a great individual who has established her individuality. She describes her mother as a person of guidance who has not only established her own individuality, but is engendering a sense of own individuality. Dillard immensely admires her mother and regards much respect for her which is one reason why she doesn’t mention her name, but refers to her as “mother.” Respect may be a very important factor in their relationship, but a strong, emotional bond between Dillard and her mother is also present. Dillard learns from her mother as she inherits some of her mother’s qualities and characteristics. It’s important to see this point as her admiration for her mother is recognized.
Leaving the important for the last is a very commonly used rhetorical strategy which is also seen in this essay. Dillard ends this story with the “think-for-yourself kind of mind” so the reader will particularly remember this. The central theme of this essay also pertains to this idea so leaving it at the end was very effective. Dillard’s mother throughout wanted to provoke a feeling of individuality and self-confidence, and as Dillard left the questions her mother asked her for the reader at the end, the reader was able to see that Dillard understood her mother’s purpose.
“Mother's energy and intelligence suited her for a greater role in a larger arena…”Annie Dillard in a well written essay wrote “An American Childhood”, in which, Dillard told us about all the little habits and quirks that her mother possessed. By learning about Annie Dillard’s mother and her strong confidence, cleverness, and her observant character, the reader learns about how it influenced Annie herself. Her mother’s influence, including her sharp ear and odd sense of humor, can be considered a direct inspiration in Dillard’s style of writing. Dillard writes, “Hearing this, moved, I thought all the suffering of road building was worth it (it wasn't my suffering).” This assertion showed her mother’s sense of humor. By putting “it wasn’t my suffering” in parentheses, the reader can see the emphasis in this sardonic sentence. Dillard’s diction and syntax mirrored the dramatic voice that a reader could imagine for Dillard’s mother to have. Dillard managed to use detail very precisely so that she didn’t confuse the reader as she tends to use a pattern in her writing. She plainly formed an opinion on her mother’s quirks and then in the end showed how she appreciated and admired her mother’s unique qualities. It may have been implied for the most part, but because of the way she used her diction and syntax - along with the simple humor - one understood her overall purpose with the context.
Language is a form of communication which affects what words we speak or write. As it influences the words we speak and write, it also retains a great impact on our thoughts. Certainly Anne Dillard had a unique understanding of language as her mother’s example helped change her over look on life. Dillard’s mother’s observations of things like a road’s name, pronunciation or dialogue practiced in different areas like Pittsburgh, and random (funny) sayings lead to Annie’s understanding of various words and their meaning in more than a literal sense.
Dillard’s mother would often question Dillard, "Is that your considered opinion?" This question was very significant in this passage as it added to the diversity in language. This question not only focused on the language, but also added to the scared humor in the story. Although this essay’s heart seemed to revolve around Annie Dillard’s mother, the focus of the excerpt was more about the language and how it was used in context. Through the use of realistic dialogue and a deep description of her mother’s personality, the reader was able to connect to the story. An example of meaning through language was described when Dillard wrote about her mother saying, “Alligator Alley for those who liked things cute, and, for connoisseurs like Mother, for lovers of the human drama in all its boldness and terror, the Tamiami Trail.” This sentence helped emphasize on her mother’s “adventurous” character. Without unique language, Dillard’s mom would be presented the same way as anyone else’s mother, but with language, Dillard’s mother was described with her own personality and her own person.
Annie Dillard’s memoir was made up of a recollection of her mother. She focused on specific memories that reflected on the significance of language and the value of maintaining one’s individuality. Dillard’s mother was a very influential person in Annie Dillard’s life as she sought to set an example to engender self-confidence in oneself. Evidently, the main theme and purpose of this excerpt was to persuade the reader to hold on to personal belief and sustain their own individuality. Dillard’s mother said that one should be able to “defend their views” as she was just simply trying to keep them all awake. She tried to teach them that they didn’t know everything just yet. After reading this passage, one can see that the purpose was completed as Dillard appreciated just about everything her mother did. In the end, Dillard said, “And in fact it was always clear to Amy and me… we were expected to take, and would be each separately capable of taking, a stand.”
Language and Style
The phrases and words such as “Terwilliger bunts one, royal Poinciana, and Tamiami Trail,” all have a sense of drama and amusement. Dillard is exploring language and with that the reader then shares the fascination of the sounds in language. The phrase “Terwilliger bunts one” reflexes a harsh or excited tone, where as, “Royal Poinciana” seems to be soft and almost melodious. “Tamiami Trail” engenders a feeling of amusement as it mixes both hard and soft tones. These phrases only help the reader further into the essay as Dillard’s mother’s mischievous and vivid personality is being developed.
Dillard used copious stylistic methods in order to determine how to invigorate her writing. She mixed many contrasting sounds, hard images, and active verbs to complete her purpose. She used asyndeton when she described the men who “stood sunk in muck to their armpits… They blasted muck with dynamite, cut jungle with machetes; they laid dogs, dragged drilling machines, hauled dredges, heaped limestone,” to illustrate the attentive attitude of these men and how they had to work relentlessly as they completed one job after another. The use of action verbs helped the reader to be able to picture the scene as it took place. This keeps the reader more involved. “She excelled at bridge, playing fast and boldly, but when the stakes were low and the hands dull, she bid slams for the devilment of it, or raised her opponents' suit to bug them, or showed her hand, or tossed her cards in a handful behind her back in a characteristic swift motion accompanied by a vibrantly innocent look. It drove our stolid father crazy.” The phrases mainly containing a mixture of nouns and verbs in this example helps set a mischievous tone for her mother as she would try to ruin the game just to see the tantrum and rage caused by her actions. It added to creating a slight humor in the overall piece.
Annie Dillard maintained an overall style to be specific and precise throughout her examples and references. The reason for her attention to detail is to expose the desired image and thought to the reader. Like diction, detail is a rhetorical strategy, and Dillard made great use of that strategy. She wanted her readers to completely understand her mother’s character and how it influenced her as a writer and made her the independent individual she is today. Dillard used her anecdotes to describe her childhood in great detail instead of simply telling the reader a list of how her mother influenced her. Dillard utilized the stylistic device of anecdotes to help create a humorous tone and clarify how she her mother inspired her to stand by her beliefs. The way her mother would prank a person by walking up to a stranger and acting like their ex-girlfriend illustrated a light-hearted humorous tone. The way she would ruin a game by cheating is another example of the sardonic tone implied in the essay. Dialogues helped represent the mother-daughter relationship which showed the mother’s personality and character passed onto her daughter. Dillard was very precise in describing her mother’s little details which made her unique. Each specific detail added to the reader’s understanding of Dillard’s admiration of her mother and her appreciation towards her.
Strategy and Structure
One’s interests, beliefs and personality are affected by their childhood experiences and what they are taught by their parents. Dillard tried to focus on her mother as she illustrated how her mother’s beliefs and experience shaped her. Dillard’s mother had a very influential impact on Annie Dillard’s decisions and attitude. Her mother helps Dillard differentiate between her opinions and the common belief as she continuously asked many questions like, "Is that your own idea? Or somebody else's?” The purpose of these questions roll along with the theme of her memoir: to start thinking for ourselves and standing up for our beliefs.
Through the essay, Dillard’s mother was represented as a great individual who has established her individuality. She describes her mother as a person of guidance who has not only established her own individuality, but is engendering a sense of own individuality. Dillard immensely admires her mother and regards much respect for her which is one reason why she doesn’t mention her name, but refers to her as “mother.” Respect may be a very important factor in their relationship, but a strong, emotional bond between Dillard and her mother is also present. Dillard learns from her mother as she inherits some of her mother’s qualities and characteristics. It’s important to see this point as her admiration for her mother is recognized.
Leaving the important for the last is a very commonly used rhetorical strategy which is also seen in this essay. Dillard ends this story with the “think-for-yourself kind of mind” so the reader will particularly remember this. The central theme of this essay also pertains to this idea so leaving it at the end was very effective. Dillard’s mother throughout wanted to provoke a feeling of individuality and self-confidence, and as Dillard left the questions her mother asked her for the reader at the end, the reader was able to see that Dillard understood her mother’s purpose.