Okefenokee Swamp

The Okefenokee Swamp can be described in many ways. Each writer uses tone and diction to express their style and feelings toward their piece. In the Okefenokee Swamp passages, the writer’s style reveals his/her purpose for the piece. With the use of style and tone, the writer’s feelings of the swamplands are revealed to his/her audience. Surprisingly, these two passages portray the Okefenokee Swamp as two opposite lands. In Passage One, the writer’s tone for the Okefenokee Swamp is very neutral. The swamp is described as “[a] primitive…and wildlife refuge. [It] is a shallow, saucer-shaped depression approximately 25 mi wide and 40 mi long and covers an area of more than 600 sq mi.” The writer is informative with his/her description of the land and its location. Through the use of factual adjectives, the audience perceives the swamp as being an almost pleasant place. “[It] is populated with diverse and abundant wildlife…including raccoons, black bear, white-tail deer, bobcats, fox, and otter.” This piece, for example, could very likely be found in a World Geography book because it is unbiased and informative point of view. Through the use of positive word choice, the writer makes this piece accessible to young adults as well as adults. The overall theme of Passage One is neutrally informative. By using facts and pleasant diction, the writer informs the audience of the swamps overall positive features. The writer used his/her style of neutrality to straightforwardly inform an audience about the Okefenokee Swamp. Immediately shown, a different writing style was used in Passage Two. Through the use of tone, the writer’s description of the Okefenokee Swamp is negative. The swamp is described as “vast and primeval, unfathomable, unconquerable, bastion of cottonmouth, rattlesnake and leech, mother of vegetation, father of mosquito, [and] soul of silt.” The writer uses pessimistic adjectives to show the audience the extremity of the swamp. The tone of the piece is