Literary Techniques Used In Popular Mechanics By Raymond Carver
Popular mechanics is a short story that uses common objects, but precise language. The quote that I chose above was written by the same author who wrote popular mechanics. From the beginning, Raymond Carver starts the story with “Early that day the weather turned and the snow was melting into dirty water”. He doesn’t say in plain text that the story involves conflict, but the words he uses are very specific details to what is happening. This quotes applies to this short story because the author takes a normal or common couple fighting and turns it into something powerful. There are certain things throughout the story that can be used as symbolism. Carver quotes “In the scuffle they knocked down a flower pot that hung behind the stove”.
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Anyone could face their situation. Carver made it to where you could put your own name in the story. He is very descriptive of where the couple is pulling on the baby. The couple believe that they are not hurting the baby, yet are. Everything they are doing is affecting their baby. It seems as if they do not even care for the child. They only care to prove who can have the baby. They continue to only think of themselves and not about their child. This situation is very common in today's society as well and not just a made up story. This conflict is universal to all people. Kids are forced to be put in the middle of their parents issues. They are strained to chose between one another. The story was originally called ‘Mine”. Which makes perfect sense because the characters don't see the baby as a person, but as an object.
Raymond Carver uses a comprehensive last sentence. He states “In this manner, the issue was decided”. In just seven words he ends the story in a horrific but non surprising way. We all know the baby is going to face problems ahead, but we didn’t see his death happening, yet were not surprised either. I named the title of this essay ‘Short Sentence”, because of the short sentences throughout the story, and most importantly because the baby faces a short sentence. Not only did the parents put their needs before the child's, their child was hurt in the process.
Anyone could face their situation. Carver made it to where you could put your own name in the story. He is very descriptive of where the couple is pulling on the baby. The couple believe that they are not hurting the baby, yet are. Everything they are doing is affecting their baby. It seems as if they do not even care for the child. They only care to prove who can have the baby. They continue to only think of themselves and not about their child. This situation is very common in today's society as well and not just a made up story. This conflict is universal to all people. Kids are forced to be put in the middle of their parents issues. They are strained to chose between one another. The story was originally called ‘Mine”. Which makes perfect sense because the characters don't see the baby as a person, but as an object.
Raymond Carver uses a comprehensive last sentence. He states “In this manner, the issue was decided”. In just seven words he ends the story in a horrific but non surprising way. We all know the baby is going to face problems ahead, but we didn’t see his death happening, yet were not surprised either. I named the title of this essay ‘Short Sentence”, because of the short sentences throughout the story, and most importantly because the baby faces a short sentence. Not only did the parents put their needs before the child's, their child was hurt in the process.