How Does Anne Tyler Use Imagery In Clock Dance

Many of the younger generations, no matter what place and era they grew up in, experience failure at some point in their lives. In fact, failure is simply an aspect of life. However, reactions to that failure as pressure begins to set into the minds of many children. The novel Clock Dance written by Anne Tyler exemplifies this struggle with clarity. Anne Tyler uses characterization to contrast characters, imagery to depict the setting in which the story takes place, and symbolism to represent the complex relationships between characters and how the two main characters are impacted as a result of the interactions that they go through. The novel Clock Dance uses the literary technique of characterization in order to create a contrast between

Her use of imagery is particularly effective in the mid section of the story in which a house is described as having a “metal sculpture out front” that was seen as a “tall, swooping curve, very modern.” The author includes this detail as a part of the description as a means to show the immense wealth of the homeowner. No commonwealth resident displays a tall, mighty sculpture in the forefront of their property, and the girls are made well aware of the wealth presented by the sculpture. The use of imagery is even more apparent as even the house’s doorbell was described as being illuminated by a “light that glowed even in the daytime.” This small detail is extremely important to the imagery of the major event that takes place in the excerpt as it clearly displays the time in which the event takes place. Along with the time being confirmed, the author again doubles down on the fact that the owner of the home is wealthy due to the sheer strength of a mere door

Anne Tyler depicts the interaction between the two girls, noticeably Willa, and the homeowner as utter failure as the giggles that overcame her “were like a liquid that flooded Willa’s whole body.” It was not only Willa who lost her composure, but so did Sonya, symbolizing how the youth can react with laughter when faced with immense nerves and pressure. The girls then walk off as “Sonya was the first one to give up” and later “Willa turned too.” This walk that the girls take away from the homeowner is more than just an exit as the walk is humiliating. The walk is more so a “walk of shame” as the entire event summarizes the feelings held by the girls ever since their arrival to Harper Road. The girls feel isolated, almost as if they don’t belong simply because of their differences in terms of themselves and those around