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Brush Fire Linda Thomas Analysis

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The infamous winds of Santa Ana repeatedly help develop a sky ridden with smoke, but for many on the golden coast this is just a typical day. The winds spiral into flames catching among the wild flowers that flourish on the vast valleys of California. These winds are unstoppable. However, it seems as if many refuse this idea in hopes that the land in california will become untouched by the dry winds if humans decide to build. It seems as if no one realizes that the ash from last year will be buried under tar at first, but soon enough the winds will take over the land and a new layer of ash will settle.. This is a reality among the people of southern california when the Santa Ana winds take over. The essay “Brush Fire” by Linda Thomas is an emotional piece supported through facts and definitions which express how much the Santa Ana winds mean to her. The second essay discussing the winds is a piece which looks at the effects of the santa ana in almost the opposite way. The similarities and differences in “Brush Fire” by Thomas and “The Santa Ana” by Didion both express how meaningful the Santa Ana winds can be in two different writing styles. …show more content…

Thomas includes a very clear explanation of the winds right after the introduction in order to give the reader background. She uses a very deliberate approach to describe her feelings towards these events that she has dealt with her whole life. She connects the issues that come along with the brush fires and how society often neglects to realize that the winds are more powerful than human. Even though the winds of Santa Ana are a very emotional sight to write about, the author of “The Santa Ana” takes a different approach on describing the winds through the depressing aspect that this natural phenomenon may

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AP8 Joan Didion and Linda Thomas respectively develop pieces with similar diction and other various devices to convey their Opposing views of the Santa Ana winds to their audience. Didion portrays the winds as a fearful occurrence while Thomas wishes to show her audience that these winds are something natural and somewhat beautiful. Concrete language is extensively used throughout both pieces, describing the environment as "...ominously glossy..." (The Santa Ana Winds) and "...fire blackened land..." (Brush Fire). Through the descriptions the audience is able to understand the Santa Ana winds as the authors portrayed them.

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She includes context such as “uneasy, unnatural, and tension.” These few words hint at the unease that should be felt when reading her essay, in order to genuinely comprehend the effects the Santa Ana Winds will have in the local area of Los Angeles. As she continues to describe the setting she emphasizes the importance of the wind. She is able to guide her readers to the significance the wind will have not only on their environment but on

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