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Syntax In Owls By Mary Oliver

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Nature is a place filled with livelihood, imagination, and diversity. It is praised for its beauty and mystifying inhabitants. In “Owls”, Mary Oliver is fascinated by the alluring aspects of the landscapes surrounding her; yet, she also seems to be frightened due to nature’s predators and dangers. These perplexing emotions are evident throughout the passage as Oliver describes her encounters with owls and flowerbeds. Through a variety of syntax and amusing paradoxes, Oliver is able to successfully convey her puzzling feelings towards nature. Mary Oliver uses a diversity of word arrangements in order to emphasize her responses and give life to her writing. She instantly begins the passage with a lengthy sentence filled with catalog that expresses …show more content…

The long sentence contains a plethora of information necessary to introduce the topic at hand. Oliver is able to effectively make a sudden transition to smaller clauses which highlight crucial points throughout the text. By adding a variety to her writing, Oliver is able to use her distinctive style as way to contribute towards her description. She does not recount the characteristics of nature in a monotonous manner by repetitively describing it the same way. The variety in syntax reflects the diversity of the outdoors itself. Oliver goes beyond the regular technique of imagery to create a visual representation for the reader. She takes advantage of syntax to convey the mixed feelings she has towards nature; she wants the audience to understand how the earth is both beautiful and treacherous. Using distinctive sentence structures can potentially confuse and make it difficult for the reader to follow the writer’s concepts. However, Oliver is able to use the strategy to reveal her confusion when discussing the notion of nature. She is able to successfully integrate syntax diversity as a way to develop her perspective on the

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