Annie Dillard The Chase Analysis
In Annie Dillard’s “The Chase” she begins the short story by explaining how she was involved in the sports activities in the neighborhood. The audience understand that Annie feels like there is nothing more exciting than playing boys sports. We see that she is the only girl that plays with the boys. Then we are given a detailed memory of how one snowy day doing the usual snow day and her friends throwing snowballs at passing cars. However, one little mistake the author made, was throwing a snowball at a black Buick and chase began. The details of the chase are awesome. Very livid, and bright. The narrator seems very intelligent for a child telling her story. For example, where she tells of how the adult male did not understand how to tackle
and how it would have been useful at the moment. Then disappointment is shown when the chase is done. She describes how she wished the chase could have lasted forever but how the buildup was not worth it. The bald man just called them stupid kids. She said she did not know why the man chased them so far to just say a few words.
You understand that Annie wants the audience to see through the eyes of a child, and not an adult. Anyone who has taken an English class knows that a memoir is sometimes hard to remember specific details. The opposite of this struggle is here in Annie’s memoir there are specific details about avoiding trashcans, the color of the man’s face, and the specific difference between an ice ball and a snowball. The chase is being described through big, and ‘adult’ language but we, as the reader, can still see it as if she was a child. This point of view makes the story relatable, because everyone remembers playing with a group of friends in their neighborhood and ending up in trouble. The fact that she was the only girl playing with the boys is odd in today’s time. Though during the time that this story occurred it was more so, weird for the girl to be outside playing with the boys at all. I think the story is very important for the cross over of culture between the then and now.
and how it would have been useful at the moment. Then disappointment is shown when the chase is done. She describes how she wished the chase could have lasted forever but how the buildup was not worth it. The bald man just called them stupid kids. She said she did not know why the man chased them so far to just say a few words.
You understand that Annie wants the audience to see through the eyes of a child, and not an adult. Anyone who has taken an English class knows that a memoir is sometimes hard to remember specific details. The opposite of this struggle is here in Annie’s memoir there are specific details about avoiding trashcans, the color of the man’s face, and the specific difference between an ice ball and a snowball. The chase is being described through big, and ‘adult’ language but we, as the reader, can still see it as if she was a child. This point of view makes the story relatable, because everyone remembers playing with a group of friends in their neighborhood and ending up in trouble. The fact that she was the only girl playing with the boys is odd in today’s time. Though during the time that this story occurred it was more so, weird for the girl to be outside playing with the boys at all. I think the story is very important for the cross over of culture between the then and now.