Janse Van Rensburg's Personal Essay 'Not Like The Movie'

157 Words1 Pages
Melisa-Maurice P. Janse van Rensburg’s personal essay "Not Like the Movie" reads much like that of a story. With foreshadowing, vivid imagery, and figurative language the writer pulls us into the disturbing and violent reality of the St James Church massacre. By beginning the essay with a nostalgic recollection of childhood daydreams and romanticism of war and honour, she foreshadows the contrast of the horrors to come.The imagery Janse Van Rensburg uses create both beautiful and dreadful scenes that add a strong sense of atmosphere to the text. Strong appeals to pathos are made by focusing on the emotion and distress she felt as a young nurse as well as the stylistic choice of language which invokes empathy in the reader. The tone shifts