Jack London's The San Francisco Earthquake

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Twain/London Essay San Francisco is known as one of the most earthquake populated areas in the US. Since the state sits on a fault line, it is often victim to many quakes whether they be small or large. The essay’s that we read helped show that. Both earthquakes described in these essays are rather different stylistically, but similar in description. Both London and Twain are able to portray the earthquakes in such a way providing the reader with a vivid image. Throughout Jack London’s essay The San Francisco Earthquake he is very descriptive and his diction helps give the earthquake a more lively feel. The tone in the essay is quite serious when talking about the destruction that was caused. When he describes the silence after the earthquake the tone shifts into an almost morose tone. In Mark Twain’s essay The San Francisco Earthquake he takes a more humorous tone and his style is a lot less serious almost poking fun at the subject of the earthquake. The way Twain’s essay is written is almost judgemental of the people's reaction whereas London’s essay was him grieving with the people of San Francisco. Stylistically both essay’s don't completely match, but the do both have some similarities. For example when …show more content…

In Jack London’s essay his main purpose was to inform the reader of the destruction and the silence that it caused in the city. He wanted to be able to showcase the importance of the silence and why it was there. In Mark Twain’s essay the purpose was to show the reaction of the people and how the earthquake; something so common in San Francisco could shake a person. The reason that both authors used such descriptive writing was to help showcase the people of San Francisco. Each piece also was able to grasp the reader's attention with their usage of words and how those words were able to appeal to the reader's