Use Of Literary Technique In Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793
The Yellow Fever epidemic that raged through Philadelphia in 1793 changed life for Philadelphians who survived the outbreak of the disease. A historical fiction novel, Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson, took place in this advanced, busy city when the Yellow Fever came to town. Matilda “Mattie” Cook, the main character of the novel, has to learn how to survive the fever and keep herself and the ones she loves alive while doing it. All through the novel, Matilda learns a lesson about how saying goodbye to people she cares about is difficult, and has to learn to accept the pain that lingers afterwards - something that Anderson also shows through her use of repetition of flashback in the novel. Throughout the entire book, Mattie has to say
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After Matilda’s grandfather dies, Anderson uses repetition of the word ‘Dead’. Examples of these times include “Dead? Grandfather couldn’t be dead.” (147), “Dead.” (147), and “Dead. Growing cold.” (148).” By repeating the word dead, the author shows in this scene that Mattie is having to grasp the fact that grandfather is dead. At first denying it, and then accepting that the fact is true. This illustrates that Matilda is having a difficult time saying goodbye, especially since she knows for a fact that she will never see her grandfather alive again. Anderson not only uses repetition, however, and also uses flashback to describe the lingering pain that saying goodbye to someone leaves behind. “...I found myself listening for Polly’s giggle or Grandfather’s voice.” (243). After the Yellow Fever epidemic is over, Mattie is remembers all of the people she lost during it. Including her friend Polly and her grandfather who both died during the difficult time. Because of this remembrance and this flashback to the ones she loves that are now gone, it shows that lingering feeling of pain after saying goodbye to someone. While it could be said that Anderson used both of these crafts in the novel to simply create a mood throughout the book, it is the specific words that
After Matilda’s grandfather dies, Anderson uses repetition of the word ‘Dead’. Examples of these times include “Dead? Grandfather couldn’t be dead.” (147), “Dead.” (147), and “Dead. Growing cold.” (148).” By repeating the word dead, the author shows in this scene that Mattie is having to grasp the fact that grandfather is dead. At first denying it, and then accepting that the fact is true. This illustrates that Matilda is having a difficult time saying goodbye, especially since she knows for a fact that she will never see her grandfather alive again. Anderson not only uses repetition, however, and also uses flashback to describe the lingering pain that saying goodbye to someone leaves behind. “...I found myself listening for Polly’s giggle or Grandfather’s voice.” (243). After the Yellow Fever epidemic is over, Mattie is remembers all of the people she lost during it. Including her friend Polly and her grandfather who both died during the difficult time. Because of this remembrance and this flashback to the ones she loves that are now gone, it shows that lingering feeling of pain after saying goodbye to someone. While it could be said that Anderson used both of these crafts in the novel to simply create a mood throughout the book, it is the specific words that