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Shedding Innocence In The Flowers By Alice Walker

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Recommended: Symbolism and imagery in the flowers by alice walker

“The Flowers” by Alice Walker is a short story written in the 1970’s. The story focuses on Myop, a ten year old girl who loves to explore the land in which she lives. Myop decides to travel deep inside the woods to unfamiliar land where she discovers the decomposed body of a man. It is then Myop quickly grows up and suddenly becomes aware of the world in which she lives. The story relies on symbolism to convey the theme of departing innocence. First the author wants to create an astonishing world in which Myop lives in with really nice skies. Her descriptions of the setting is strong and detailed, for example, “skipped lightly from hen house to pigpen to smokehouse”. This highlights that Myop lives on a fairly big bit of land maybe a farm which is filled with different kinds of animals, also the quote “the days had never been as beautiful as these” shows that this is one of the best days of the year so far and so we would think what could possibly make the day go wrong all of a sudden. …show more content…

The word “harvesting” shows that it is around the end of summer and the phrase “golden surprise” reminds us that Myop is still a young girl and gets excited very easily, the world is a magical place for her. The author reminds us again how young and carefree Myop is, “She struck out at random chickens she liked, and worked out the beat of a song on the fence” and the quote “she was ten, and nothing existed for her but her song”. This shows that Myop does not have a care in the world, the only thing on her mind right now is “her song” and it is as if Myop is in her own little dream

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However Once the story started to display a darker and more secret tone a new setting was introduced. The forest brings about feelings of danger and darkness, all the while Myop is “making her own path”. The solitude of her journey shows the possibility of trouble, creates suspense and prepares the reader for a dark surprise ending. When the darkness that was foreshadowed is finally introduced, Myop show a innocent curiosity as she is “unafraid, to free herself. Also ironic Myop

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