Post by halo03 on Mar 11, 2009 22:56:25 GMT -5
;D[glow=orange,2,300]Purpose and Meaning[/glow]
- After learning about Dillard’s mother, we can safely assume the fact that the author possesses a sense of humor based on her writing. The phrase, “Hers was a restless mental vigor that just about ignited the dumb household objects with its force,” is presented in a satirical fashion basically ridiculing the “lifeless, shallow souls” by comparing them to her mother’s curious and indefatigable nature. Dillard’s introduction points out the interrogative remarks as well as the several gay marvels her mother expressed only after overhearing, “Terwilliger bunts one,” being announced from a live baseball game on a television set watched by her father. The humor in Dillard’s former comment is how her mother suddenly reacted and took interest to, in her eyes, intelligent entities. What is considered to the general public as “insipid” or inanimate objects does not concern her, but rather, the conventional pieces by which the products in her domain are constructed. Due to her mother’s acknowledgment on each “noteworthy” object and mechanism, it can be said that she did not only engendered them (in a figurative manner), but also transformed her family members’ views of these former monochromatic tokens as productive, palatable masterpieces. It is also plausible that Dillard is a nonconformist, one inclined to be an activist. According to her narration, “Torpid conformity was a kind of sin; it was stupidity itself, the mighty stream in which Mother would never cease to struggle.” She continues saying that “if you held no minority opinions . . . . the world would be a better place without you.” Dillard’s analytical and listening skills are not only emulated but are qualities in what I deem are most notable. Dillard apparently cherishes her mother’s enthusiasm for learning especially when readers notice her ability to recall the memories shared with her in addition to putting forth, in her narrative piece, the logic behind her mother’s esoteric behavior.
- The power of language can only be emphasized through the masses that use it and the effects it generates at a social-cultural level. “Terwilliger bunts one,” “Pittsburghisms,” and the names of a road can all exemplify what is the person’s ethnic preference or identity his/her literacy rate. In other words, language can characterize anyone when it is evaluated on accentuation and euphemism. In some ways, the essay seems to focus more on language rather than Dillard’s mother because although she is the subject of the story, it is language which characterizes, impacts, and transforms Dillard’s mother into an “individual.”
- The thesis of Dillard's essay, “An American Childhood,” focuses on individualism through the deliberate purpose of language and her altruism towards her mother’s stride for emancipation and a higher learning potential.
[glow=red,2,300]Language and Style[/glow]
- The term, "Terwilliger bunts one," expresses a cacophonous nature because the difficult pronunciation of the word “Terwilliger” is evident both personally and from the essay where the phrase is repeated multiple times by Dillard’s mother. The following terms, "royal Poinciana," "Tamiami Trail," on the other hand, are examples of euphony.
- By noting the powerful mixing of nouns and verbs in the series of sentences, Dillard stresses the scenarios given imbedding imagery into readers’ minds where they envision these events described, and then relapse into reality to fathom her presentation of “powerful” detail. It is more than likely that Dillard’s cautiousness to be specific is to help readers reflect and regurgitate how language influenced her mother to become what she is. Based on her essay, Dillard did mention that “the drama of the words ‘Tamiami Trail’ stirred her [mother].” Other examples of this stylistic method can be “cut clips from reels of talk,” “off, she sashayed taking me firmly by the hand, and leading us briskly past the monkey house and away,” and the phrase, “she thingyed an ear back.”
- Stylistic devices Dillard employed to create a humorous tone in the essay include, but not limited to, dialogue, allusion, and exaggeration. For example, “There is a deer standing in the front hall,” “Really,” Dillard responded. “No. I just wanted to tell you something once without your saying, I know.” This conversation appeals to humor because an outrageous assertion made by the author’s mother managed to discontinue her daughter’s “I-know-it-all” remarks.
[glow=LimeGreen,2,300]Strategy and Structure[/glow]
- Dillard’s approach is effective because her writing (style) is clearly influenced by her mother's perserverance for learning and independent mind. This narrow connection between them still allows readers to evaluate Dillard as a person since her mother seems to be her symbol.
- Although Dillard does not mention her mother’s name, she does not fail to see her as an individual but rather as someone who is to be respected and attentive towards. Because her mother’s personality is directed at an independent approach of mind rather than conformism, Dillard treats her differently from the rest, whom are referred to as their proper names.
- This piece Dillard explained tries to encourage people to be a leader rather than a follower. It can be inferred that this was the most important lesson Dillard received from her mother in her childhood memories.
- After learning about Dillard’s mother, we can safely assume the fact that the author possesses a sense of humor based on her writing. The phrase, “Hers was a restless mental vigor that just about ignited the dumb household objects with its force,” is presented in a satirical fashion basically ridiculing the “lifeless, shallow souls” by comparing them to her mother’s curious and indefatigable nature. Dillard’s introduction points out the interrogative remarks as well as the several gay marvels her mother expressed only after overhearing, “Terwilliger bunts one,” being announced from a live baseball game on a television set watched by her father. The humor in Dillard’s former comment is how her mother suddenly reacted and took interest to, in her eyes, intelligent entities. What is considered to the general public as “insipid” or inanimate objects does not concern her, but rather, the conventional pieces by which the products in her domain are constructed. Due to her mother’s acknowledgment on each “noteworthy” object and mechanism, it can be said that she did not only engendered them (in a figurative manner), but also transformed her family members’ views of these former monochromatic tokens as productive, palatable masterpieces. It is also plausible that Dillard is a nonconformist, one inclined to be an activist. According to her narration, “Torpid conformity was a kind of sin; it was stupidity itself, the mighty stream in which Mother would never cease to struggle.” She continues saying that “if you held no minority opinions . . . . the world would be a better place without you.” Dillard’s analytical and listening skills are not only emulated but are qualities in what I deem are most notable. Dillard apparently cherishes her mother’s enthusiasm for learning especially when readers notice her ability to recall the memories shared with her in addition to putting forth, in her narrative piece, the logic behind her mother’s esoteric behavior.
- The power of language can only be emphasized through the masses that use it and the effects it generates at a social-cultural level. “Terwilliger bunts one,” “Pittsburghisms,” and the names of a road can all exemplify what is the person’s ethnic preference or identity his/her literacy rate. In other words, language can characterize anyone when it is evaluated on accentuation and euphemism. In some ways, the essay seems to focus more on language rather than Dillard’s mother because although she is the subject of the story, it is language which characterizes, impacts, and transforms Dillard’s mother into an “individual.”
- The thesis of Dillard's essay, “An American Childhood,” focuses on individualism through the deliberate purpose of language and her altruism towards her mother’s stride for emancipation and a higher learning potential.
[glow=red,2,300]Language and Style[/glow]
- The term, "Terwilliger bunts one," expresses a cacophonous nature because the difficult pronunciation of the word “Terwilliger” is evident both personally and from the essay where the phrase is repeated multiple times by Dillard’s mother. The following terms, "royal Poinciana," "Tamiami Trail," on the other hand, are examples of euphony.
- By noting the powerful mixing of nouns and verbs in the series of sentences, Dillard stresses the scenarios given imbedding imagery into readers’ minds where they envision these events described, and then relapse into reality to fathom her presentation of “powerful” detail. It is more than likely that Dillard’s cautiousness to be specific is to help readers reflect and regurgitate how language influenced her mother to become what she is. Based on her essay, Dillard did mention that “the drama of the words ‘Tamiami Trail’ stirred her [mother].” Other examples of this stylistic method can be “cut clips from reels of talk,” “off, she sashayed taking me firmly by the hand, and leading us briskly past the monkey house and away,” and the phrase, “she thingyed an ear back.”
- Stylistic devices Dillard employed to create a humorous tone in the essay include, but not limited to, dialogue, allusion, and exaggeration. For example, “There is a deer standing in the front hall,” “Really,” Dillard responded. “No. I just wanted to tell you something once without your saying, I know.” This conversation appeals to humor because an outrageous assertion made by the author’s mother managed to discontinue her daughter’s “I-know-it-all” remarks.
[glow=LimeGreen,2,300]Strategy and Structure[/glow]
- Dillard’s approach is effective because her writing (style) is clearly influenced by her mother's perserverance for learning and independent mind. This narrow connection between them still allows readers to evaluate Dillard as a person since her mother seems to be her symbol.
- Although Dillard does not mention her mother’s name, she does not fail to see her as an individual but rather as someone who is to be respected and attentive towards. Because her mother’s personality is directed at an independent approach of mind rather than conformism, Dillard treats her differently from the rest, whom are referred to as their proper names.
- This piece Dillard explained tries to encourage people to be a leader rather than a follower. It can be inferred that this was the most important lesson Dillard received from her mother in her childhood memories.