Literary anal essay
Diction, Syntax and Imagery
Have you ever listened to a young child talk? I mean really listened? They don’t sound like a teenager or an adult, do they? In Eleven, Sandra Cisneros uses different techniques to help Rachel’s age come out in her speech and thoughts. Diction, syntax and imagery help the reader to better interpret Rachel’s youthful thoughts and feelings. Sandra’s use of diction helps the reader understand how Rachel is feeling when she is accused of the sweater belonging to her. “…She sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk…all over the edge like a waterfall…” (Cisneros 20) Not many adults would say “tippy-tip”, so the use of the phrase helps get Rachel’s point across. Rachel’s youthful tone is shown through this choice of words. “…The sweater is still sitting there like a big red mountain…not mine, not mine, not mine.” Cisneros’s use of repetition here helps show how upset Rachel actually is. This helps show the youthful tone in her sadness. The use of diction throughout the story helps the reader comprehend Rachel’s sadness and embarrassment when the sweater is put onto her desk. The use of syntax in Eleven helps you see the youthful voice in Rachel’s thoughts. “Not mine, not mine, not mine, not mine.” (Cisneros 20) The short, repetitiveness shows the quick thinking of a child. It’s easy to see this small argumentative line coming from an eleven year old in comparison to a fifteen year old or a thirty year old even. “ – Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one -…” (Cisneros 20) The continuous counting could be seen as a child counting down on its fingers. This is a way of showing the youthfulness in Rachel’s thoughts. Sandra Cisneros’s uses of syntax make it easier for you to notice Rachel’s youthfulness throughout the story. Sandra’s use of imagery also helps you see the youthful tone throughout Eleven. “My face all hot and spit coming out of my mouth because I can’t stop the little animal
Have you ever listened to a young child talk? I mean really listened? They don’t sound like a teenager or an adult, do they? In Eleven, Sandra Cisneros uses different techniques to help Rachel’s age come out in her speech and thoughts. Diction, syntax and imagery help the reader to better interpret Rachel’s youthful thoughts and feelings. Sandra’s use of diction helps the reader understand how Rachel is feeling when she is accused of the sweater belonging to her. “…She sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk…all over the edge like a waterfall…” (Cisneros 20) Not many adults would say “tippy-tip”, so the use of the phrase helps get Rachel’s point across. Rachel’s youthful tone is shown through this choice of words. “…The sweater is still sitting there like a big red mountain…not mine, not mine, not mine.” Cisneros’s use of repetition here helps show how upset Rachel actually is. This helps show the youthful tone in her sadness. The use of diction throughout the story helps the reader comprehend Rachel’s sadness and embarrassment when the sweater is put onto her desk. The use of syntax in Eleven helps you see the youthful voice in Rachel’s thoughts. “Not mine, not mine, not mine, not mine.” (Cisneros 20) The short, repetitiveness shows the quick thinking of a child. It’s easy to see this small argumentative line coming from an eleven year old in comparison to a fifteen year old or a thirty year old even. “ – Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one -…” (Cisneros 20) The continuous counting could be seen as a child counting down on its fingers. This is a way of showing the youthfulness in Rachel’s thoughts. Sandra Cisneros’s uses of syntax make it easier for you to notice Rachel’s youthfulness throughout the story. Sandra’s use of imagery also helps you see the youthful tone throughout Eleven. “My face all hot and spit coming out of my mouth because I can’t stop the little animal