In “Nightwatch”, a chapter of the novel Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard guides the reader through an experience with migrating eels, creates vibrant mental images, and involves the readers with her own thoughts. This is all accomplished through the use of rhetorical strategies, namely diction, figurative language, syntax, and imagery; these elements culminate in Dillard’s intense, guiding tone that involves the readers with the eel experience. Diction is vital to creating Dillard’s fervent and guiding tone throughout “Nightwatch.” The use of gruesome and detailed words like “milling… mingling” and “seething… squirming, jostling,” causes the reader to erupt in silent shivers.
Finding Fish is a memoir written by Antwone Quenton Fisher. Fisher recounts several aspects of his life and incorporates them into a well written novel. Act one, Ward of the State describes several challenges Fisher faced during his childhood. One of those challenges was Mizz Pickett’s abuse towards him. One particular form of abuse he endured was physical abuse.
Reynolds uses this story to share a personal anecdote, telling how the fish could be seen “...flipping and flopping and flapping, inflating, deflating, dying, only to be met by mortified and confused faces.” By using this alliteration, Reynolds is trying to evoke empathy from the graduates, wanting them to feel the sadness represented through his words. He uses alliteration to help his audience understand how the fish was moving, with the audience being able to imagine what it was like in that moment and how terrifying it was. By using alliteration, Reynolds demonstrates his overall message to the graduates how through the course of life, it is often easy for individuals to only think about themselves, not taking a look at others around them. Through taking a look at other’s situations and checking in on them, humans can learn to help those who are less fortunate.
The description of the fish flopping on the ground as it is breathless on the ground, shows the symbol of the story, and the purpose of the story. Get in trouble to save the fish, or not get in trouble and not save the fish. Overall, the use of rhetorical devices helps the audience understand Reynolds way of speaking, and clarifies the topic of empowerment and
“They were already dying. The change from salt to fresh water had turned their flesh rotten. Long strips of it hung off their bodies, waving in the current”(75). This quotation intrigued me by the use of the fish as a symbolic meaning. It
In addition, the last way that the short story demonstrates grief is when the main character is fishing and she immediately gets the determination to catch the fish she is chasing,“It occurs to me if I fall, I will not have the strength to regain my footing”(36). The reader then gets the feeling that the main character is upset and irritated at the same time. The reader begins to think that it may be that she is a really good fisher and she does not want to let the fish go. The main character is imaging the fish as her father and if she lets the fish escape her, then she would not have the strength to hold herself together anymore. If she lets her father go then she knows that the wave of sorrow will finally hit her and he will finally be gone.
Also, the fish represent the obstacles that one may face while trying to reach their goal and shaping their ability to achieve it. This ultimately challenges them to decide whether to accept the task and grow or abandon their dreams by giving up. The girl’s the environment around her influenced her hard work ethic and her decision to have patience to accomplish her
“The Fish” written by Elizabeth Bishop has characteristics that could be compared to the Holocaust. The narrator of “The Fish” describes the fish as possessing human characteristics such as being beautiful and having a “life story”. During the Holocaust the Nazis’ mostly thought of the prisoners of concentration camps as only prisoners, however a few saw the prisoners as people with backgrounds, families, and souls. The overall opinion that the Nazis’ had towards the prisoners and the way the narrator views the fish are easily comparable.
Perseverance means to me to keep on trying to do something despite the difficulty of how hard it is. And to stay spiritually strong and to never give up at anytime until you have reached your goal or your expectations. The 5 stages of grief are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. I think everyone goes through at least 1 of the 5 stages of grief, because everyone has trials that they go through in their life.
Imagine a tremendous fish with a beard. In Elizabeth Bishop “The Fish” a person catches a big fish that has been hooked before. The fish has broke a lot of hooks in the past, but this one person catches it and obtain victory. Then the person feels bad for the fish and throws it back into the water. The theme of the poem “The Fish” man over comes nature.
The young fish mentioned represent that the “most profound realities of life are the most difficult to see or talk about” (Fairhurst, 2001, p.xiii) demonstrating Wallace’s point that we must be continuously active in important aspects of life. At first glimpse this analogy seems to loosen the tension and start the speech on good terms but once coming back to this idea it is frightening that this is “a great and terrible truth”(Wallace 2007). Connecting back to the idea of being attentive if wanting a fulfilled life, this analogy goes perfectly as those who remain in the “default” (Wallace 2005) setting do not need to understand the message behind the analogy and can only see the human, but those who want to go forward will look closer at the function of the words and understand the
Through symbolism, the reader can get the idea that fish are going extinct due to environmental reasons such as pollution and overfishing. The idea that the leaves will eventually fall symbolises that they will eventually do so. Through these visual and literary devices, Sarah Perry has made the reader question themselves about their actions and what effects they could have on the issues. And the way they perceive
In her memoir “Moments of being” Virginia Woolf portrayed the importance of her childhood memories of fishing through the prominence of her and her family’s emotions. She used rhetorical strategies such as syntax, poetic diction, figurative language, and paradoxes to describe the lasting impressions left by her past. Her purpose was to create a sentimental atmosphere in which she depicts the passion and joy she experiences as she spent time with and learned from her family. Woolf opens her memoir excerpt by conveying that the ideas of love and passion that she held in her youth were a boon to her recollection. She uses syntax and imagery to catch the meaning of her memory and to show her sentiments,”..; and steered; flushed with his
The use of personification is common in children. Therefore, this use conveys a feeling that a child wrote the poem. In addition, the narrator reminds the fish the time, in which it could not swim. If the reader reads this sentence, he will not understand it since there is not a fish that cannot swim. Nevertheless, if the reader reads it as a metaphor, he will understand the meaning behind it.
“Bishop’s carefully judged use of language aids the reader to uncover the intensity of feeling in her poetry.” Elizabeth Bishop’s superb use of language in her introspective poetry allows the reader to grasp a better understand of feeling in her poetry. Bishop’s concentration of minor details led to her being referred to as a “miniaturist”, however this allows her to paint vivid imagery, immersing the reader in her chosen scenario. Through descriptive detail, use of metaphor, simile, and many other excellently executed stylistic devices, the reader can almost feel the emotion being conveyed. Bishop clearly demonstrates her innate talent to communicate environments at ease.