Literary Devices In Katherine Brush's Birthday Party
Imagery is a way of writing that the author gives you visual descriptive writing or figurative language. One quote that stood out to me was “There would be other Sheila Mant’s in life, other fish, and though I came close once or twice, it was these secrets, hidden tuggings in the night that claimed me, and I never made that mistake again. ”(41) This quote has a lot of meaning in this story
In this paragraph I will be talking about how the story and photograph have a similar technique. A technique that is similar and used throughout the story is figurative language. This is shown in the caption of the photograph when it says, “As the only window to the future”. This is an example of a figurative language because there aren’t windows that lead to your future.
The images that the words create makes it feel as if you were really there looking at everything actually happening. Such as, “They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, laid out by the mast, amidships. The great ring-giver. Farfetched treasures were piled on him,and precious gear.” This is a great example of imagery.
In the story “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote, imagery is used to create an image in your mind by appealing to your five senses. Imagery is often used to describe the setting of the story and to give you an idea of what is going on. Capote shows many examples of imagery throughout the story to make you understand the importance of his memory. The use of imagery helps create the mood by making the story real and bringing you in what Capote saw.
Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive wording to put a vivid image of a scenario in your mind. Dickens uses imagery to describe the scenery and the change in Scrooge’s physical appearance throughout the course of the story. “eezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self- contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.
Anne Lamott 's essay, “Shitty First Drafts” explains to its readers that all writers, even the best, can have “shitty first drafts.” The essay presents the proper writing process from the first draft to the final piece of work. Her essay is intended to encourage writers who are in need of direction when it comes to writing and to teach inexperienced writers ways to become more successful in writing. Anne Lamott uses her personal experiences to build credibility, figurative language to engage the reader and provides the reader with logical steps for the writing process. To build credibility on her processes success, Lamott uses her own personal experiences.
Imagery allows a reader to imagine the events of a story within their mind through mental images. Imagery can describe how something looks, a sound, a feeling, a taste, or a smell. Imagery is especially important when the author is describing a character or a setting. The short story The Man In The Black Suit by Stephen King has several excellent examples of imagery.
In “Birthday Party,” Katharine Brush’s purpose for writing the short story was to reveal how something that is good can go so wrong. She also demonstrates how some things are not what they seem. Especially in the situation that she wrote. Her purpose from the beginning to end is demonstrated by the use of literary devices. Brush begins by describing the scenario, she states, “They sat on the banquette opposite us.”
Before the start of this class, I overused common imagery such as “shine bright like a diamond” to try to convey my feelings. Writing with clichéd imagery dilutes the reader’s attachment to the story because emotions are absent. In this class, I have learned that I have to reflect on my true feelings and emotions before writing. Hopefully allows my readers to feel what I once felt. My favorite imagery that I have written in this class was the spider web in the essay about my grandfather.
Imagery is used throughout the story but is exceptionally important when the setting is being set up, and when Tessie is getting stoned. Jackson describes the setting in such detail so the reader can visualize this perfect town in the summer weather, “ the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (Jackson 247). . The other scene filled with imagery is when Tessie is getting stoned. This is sad for the reader because the reader can sense the amount of pain she is in, and can feel her vulnerability throughout this part. She screams, “It isn’t fair, It isn’t right” (Jackson 252) which makes the reader want to reach into the story and help her.
Sometimes the things we do for others don’t always go as planned. That was the case for the innocent wife in “Birthday Party” by Katharine Brush, as what was thought to be a nice gesture by the wife, was viewed as a crime by her husband. This small event can be an indicator of a crumbling relationship, and through literary devices such as diction and shifts to portray this deeper meaning. The harsh adjectives used throughout this piece paint a story much darker than simple botched celebration.
A tangerine is not only a citrus fruit, but also a county in Florida that is home to Paul Fisher and his older brother Erik. In the novel titled Tangerine by Edward Bloor, Paul Fisher, the protagonist, is not only bullied at school, but also at home by his brother, while having to live in the house where his dad lives in the illusion of the “Erik Fisher Football Dream.” In this new county that Paul moves to, he constantly has to put up with natural disasters like muck fires and sinkholes. The move from Houston, Texas to Tangerine County, Florida is the start of a new chapter for the Fisher family, especially Paul.
In conclusion, Brush uses many devices to convey a birthday surprise gone wrong. Her use of third person allows her to comment and add in her thoughts to the scenario. In using many devices, she achieves her purpose in portraying a loving womans surprise for her husband that had been
“A Short Guide to Imagery, Symbolism, and Figurative Language Imagery” describes imagery as “a writer or speaker’s use of words or figures of speech to create a vivid mental picture or physical sensation”(Clark). In the short story, “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin uses nature imagery to portray the journey of emotions that Mrs. Mallard experiences
Imagery can be so beautiful and vivid, it really engulfs you into the reading. It holds significance because we as humans like for things to be drawn out for us or painted out. Creating a narrative that's easy to understand, of course no one wants a story that's filled with misconception. Imagery provides a deeper connection with the deeper and takes the reader back to a time or a place just like repetition.
More about Literary Devices In Katherine Brush's Birthday Party
Sheila Mant Analysis
434 Words | 2 PagesThe Red Umbrella Analysis
721 Words | 3 PagesEssay On Imagery In Beowulf
374 Words | 2 PagesImagery In A Christmas Memory
516 Words | 3 PagesLiterary Devices In A Christmas Carol
925 Words | 4 PagesFigurative Language In Anne Lamott's Shitty First Drafts
765 Words | 4 PagesThe Man In The Black Suit Literary Devices Analysis
1337 Words | 6 PagesAn Analysis Of Katharine Brush's The Birthday Party
288 Words | 2 PagesEnglish 1301 Reflective Essay
1173 Words | 5 PagesLiterary Elements In The Lottery
1252 Words | 6 PagesA Literary Analysis Of Katharine Brush's Birthday Party
496 Words | 2 PagesLiterary Devices In Tangerine, By Edward Bloor
1143 Words | 5 PagesLiterary Devices In Birthday Party
501 Words | 3 PagesThe Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis
828 Words | 4 PagesLiterary Devices In Gilgamesh Research Paper
849 Words | 4 Pages