Post by lindsayp524 on Mar 11, 2009 21:51:07 GMT -5
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
Purpose and Meaning
Annie Dillard’s mother is explained as a unique person who is never afraid to speak her mind. The way Dillard writes about her mother implies that she is proud of her mother’s strong opinions and is deeply influenced by them. Dillard includes many instances in which her mother has exemplified her unique persona. Thorough the explanation of her mother’s quirky antics, Dillard seems to pick up on some of her own. In one instance, Annie Dillard explains her mother’s actions as “a songbird selflessly attack[ing] a big hawk.” This obscure analogy holds implications of her mother’s influence; it is an unexpected statement that labels Dillard as an individual.
The explanation of how Dillard’s mother repeated different sayings or words like “Terwilliger bunts one” and “Pittsburghisms” characterizes the power of language. By writing in this level of informal diction, Dillard holds the power to reveal her mother’s personality without being completely obvious. These sayings talked about in Dillard’s essay act as further examples in the explanation of Dillard’s philosophy of how live should be lived. Dillard implies that life should never be taken too seriously, and these quirky, phonetically appealing words expand on that idea.
Annie Dillard wants the reader to understand one main philosophy throughout her essay. Her personality today, and throughout her life has been mostly influenced by her mother. Dillard’s mother has strong opinions and quirky habits. Dillard feels that this is the best way to live your life, and there is no shame in having your own opinions and being your own person.
Language and Style
Phrases like “Terwilliger bunts one” and “Tamiami Trail” tend to roll off the tongue of the speaker. These phrases are quirk y and are able to be understood by every level of intelligence. These informal phrases add a simplistic element to the not- so- simple analytical meaning of the passage. The word “Terwilliger” is phonetically appealing because the consonants of the word are able to be formed in the same part of the mouth. On the other hand, “Tamiami” has a repetitive sound which makes it able to flow easily from the mouth of the speaker.
Dillard uses a combination of contrasting sounds, hard images and active verbs as a method of explaining the creation of the “Tamiami Trail.” This accentuates the life of the writing, and gives it sound and vision where it may not have been before. It evokes a strong image in the reader’s mind, so that they can imagine the harsh conditions the builders of the “Tamiami Trail” endured.
Through her writing, the reader can infer that Dillard’s main priority is to make certain that her readers get the full, detailed picture. This is Dillard’s personal story and she did not want anyone reading it to get the wrong idea. Dillard says “underarm” deodorant and “Ivory” soap, instead of just “deodorant” and “soap.” This type of specificity would probably be obvious to the reader; most readers would think “where else would deodorant go?” This obvious adjective is a perfect example of just how much Dillard wants the reader to envision her story exactly the way she remembers it.
Dillard writes in a loose and playful manner. Her essay carries a humorous tone due to her informal diction and ability to connect with the audience on a personal level. While explaining her mother’s unique antics Dillard writes “If Mother had had, like Andrew Carnegie, the opportunity to cook up a motto for a coat of arms, hers would have read simply and tellingly, "Terwilliger bunts one." This is something that would come up in casual conversation, and Dillard transforms it into a sort of literary device.
Strategy and Structure
Not only does Dillard tell the story of her childhood and vibrant personality, but she tells this story through explaining whom it originally came from, her mother. It is logical that Dillard would go the extra mile to clarify what made her who she is due to her extreme use of specificity throughout her essay. It is almost like “killing two birds with one stone”. Dillard’s mother is an impeccable model for her own self-revelations. Her mother speaks her mind, and it is apparent that Dillard is proud of this sense of self assertion due to the fact that she chooses to compare herself to her mother. The comparison of Dillard to her mother is an effective way of conveying a greater understanding to the reader.
Dillard ceases to mention her mother’s name throughout her essay. If Dillard had addressed her mother by name, it would have taken away from the main thesis of the essay. Instead of implementing her mother into this essay as a sole individual, Dillard wants the reader to imagine Dillard herself as her mother. Never revealing the name of her mother is almost a way of simplifying the inner meaning, so that a reader of any intelligence level could understand what Dillard is implying.
The way Dillard ends her essay is important to the reader’s greater understanding of Dillard’s message. Dillard ends her essay with a conversation with her mother “I was doomed. It was fatal to say, "Everyone says so." At this point in her and her mother’s conversation, Dillard clearly shows how she has learned from her mother. This short conversation with her mother encompasses everything Dillard has been subtly implying throughout her essay. This is where the reader finally understands the full idea Annie Dillard was trying to convey in this essay.
Purpose and Meaning
Annie Dillard’s mother is explained as a unique person who is never afraid to speak her mind. The way Dillard writes about her mother implies that she is proud of her mother’s strong opinions and is deeply influenced by them. Dillard includes many instances in which her mother has exemplified her unique persona. Thorough the explanation of her mother’s quirky antics, Dillard seems to pick up on some of her own. In one instance, Annie Dillard explains her mother’s actions as “a songbird selflessly attack[ing] a big hawk.” This obscure analogy holds implications of her mother’s influence; it is an unexpected statement that labels Dillard as an individual.
The explanation of how Dillard’s mother repeated different sayings or words like “Terwilliger bunts one” and “Pittsburghisms” characterizes the power of language. By writing in this level of informal diction, Dillard holds the power to reveal her mother’s personality without being completely obvious. These sayings talked about in Dillard’s essay act as further examples in the explanation of Dillard’s philosophy of how live should be lived. Dillard implies that life should never be taken too seriously, and these quirky, phonetically appealing words expand on that idea.
Annie Dillard wants the reader to understand one main philosophy throughout her essay. Her personality today, and throughout her life has been mostly influenced by her mother. Dillard’s mother has strong opinions and quirky habits. Dillard feels that this is the best way to live your life, and there is no shame in having your own opinions and being your own person.
Language and Style
Phrases like “Terwilliger bunts one” and “Tamiami Trail” tend to roll off the tongue of the speaker. These phrases are quirk y and are able to be understood by every level of intelligence. These informal phrases add a simplistic element to the not- so- simple analytical meaning of the passage. The word “Terwilliger” is phonetically appealing because the consonants of the word are able to be formed in the same part of the mouth. On the other hand, “Tamiami” has a repetitive sound which makes it able to flow easily from the mouth of the speaker.
Dillard uses a combination of contrasting sounds, hard images and active verbs as a method of explaining the creation of the “Tamiami Trail.” This accentuates the life of the writing, and gives it sound and vision where it may not have been before. It evokes a strong image in the reader’s mind, so that they can imagine the harsh conditions the builders of the “Tamiami Trail” endured.
Through her writing, the reader can infer that Dillard’s main priority is to make certain that her readers get the full, detailed picture. This is Dillard’s personal story and she did not want anyone reading it to get the wrong idea. Dillard says “underarm” deodorant and “Ivory” soap, instead of just “deodorant” and “soap.” This type of specificity would probably be obvious to the reader; most readers would think “where else would deodorant go?” This obvious adjective is a perfect example of just how much Dillard wants the reader to envision her story exactly the way she remembers it.
Dillard writes in a loose and playful manner. Her essay carries a humorous tone due to her informal diction and ability to connect with the audience on a personal level. While explaining her mother’s unique antics Dillard writes “If Mother had had, like Andrew Carnegie, the opportunity to cook up a motto for a coat of arms, hers would have read simply and tellingly, "Terwilliger bunts one." This is something that would come up in casual conversation, and Dillard transforms it into a sort of literary device.
Strategy and Structure
Not only does Dillard tell the story of her childhood and vibrant personality, but she tells this story through explaining whom it originally came from, her mother. It is logical that Dillard would go the extra mile to clarify what made her who she is due to her extreme use of specificity throughout her essay. It is almost like “killing two birds with one stone”. Dillard’s mother is an impeccable model for her own self-revelations. Her mother speaks her mind, and it is apparent that Dillard is proud of this sense of self assertion due to the fact that she chooses to compare herself to her mother. The comparison of Dillard to her mother is an effective way of conveying a greater understanding to the reader.
Dillard ceases to mention her mother’s name throughout her essay. If Dillard had addressed her mother by name, it would have taken away from the main thesis of the essay. Instead of implementing her mother into this essay as a sole individual, Dillard wants the reader to imagine Dillard herself as her mother. Never revealing the name of her mother is almost a way of simplifying the inner meaning, so that a reader of any intelligence level could understand what Dillard is implying.
The way Dillard ends her essay is important to the reader’s greater understanding of Dillard’s message. Dillard ends her essay with a conversation with her mother “I was doomed. It was fatal to say, "Everyone says so." At this point in her and her mother’s conversation, Dillard clearly shows how she has learned from her mother. This short conversation with her mother encompasses everything Dillard has been subtly implying throughout her essay. This is where the reader finally understands the full idea Annie Dillard was trying to convey in this essay.