Girl Rising Metaphors

The first selected reading relies on second-person narration to show how girls are affected over time by societal expectations that internalize feelings of inferiority. By describing the action of the girl in second-person, the reader experiences the decline of confidence and individuality in a girl’s personality. The contrast of past and present self, told through anecdotes, emphasizes the progression of shame and degradation of self that a girl faces in society, particularly in school. The author shows that society’s treatment of girls affects their self-worth. After being called too “vicious” for having a competitive spirit, the story relays the experience of muting one’s personality to fit the desired role of girls (Findlen 3). Another incident by the

An unlikely promiscuous figure became the pinnacle of peace and equality. This figure is Malala Yousafzai, a driven girl from the valley of Swat in Pakistan, stood up against her peers and spoke out against an imposed custom on girls. Malala’s endeavours began with the introduction of the Taliban within Pakistan. Now ran by tyranny, Pakistan became a place of oppression, especially against the rights of females. Malala and her father, Ziauddin, were among the very sparse population of activists within Pakistan, advocating against the Taliban’s influence. Malala effectively expresses her story by utilizing rhetorical devices such as evocative imagery, juxtaposition and ethos.

Rhetorical strategies are a great way for an author to get their tone and what they want to share to their reader. In Barbara Jordan’s Becoming Educated she uses rhetorical strategies to do just that. Jordan uses repetition and diction to increase her effectiveness of her message. She does so that the reader can also relate to what she is going through. By using repletion and diction she weaves these rhetorical devices throughout her experience to increase its effectiveness to convey her voice and her personal sense of growth.

“Girl” is a short story in which the author, Jamaica Kincaid, unofficially presents the stereotypes of girls in the mid 1900s. Kincaid includes two major characters in the story “Girl”, they are the mother and the girl. Although the daughter only asks two questions in this story, she is the major character. The mother feels like her daughter is going in the wrong direction and not making the best decisions in her life. The whole story is basically the mother telling her daughter what affects her decisions will have in the future. The mother believes that because her daughter isn’t sitting, talking, cleaning, walking or singing correctly it will lead her to a path of destruction. “Girl” is a reflection of female sexuality, the power of family, and how family can help overcome future dangers.

Rhetorical strategies are used to convey what values an author is trying to explain to the reader, as well as how great of an impact those values, or experiences have. Sherman Alexie uses rhetorical strategies and language to identify the value and intensity of each experience in his writing. His use of tone, repetition, and anecdotes are apparent in Sherman Alexie’s pieces, “Indian Education” and “Superman and Me,” each using these strategies to better inform the reader of the intensity, and value of his experiences.

“...rumor on the street: The Taliban were going to take control of Swat…. Our hearts sank”. (58) Malala’s peers and classmates started to get nervous and scared to come to school after the continuous threats being thrown upon them. Using others stories in her book helps create a tone by using negative connotations to set the reader in a dark and scared mood. When Malala gives stories from her, other students and families, it provides a believable strong story. The readers are then provided with reliable information from people who experienced the story itself. With the help of reliable facts and quotes, Malala uses logos to persuade the reader about the Taliban and how it destroyed them.

For a reader in 2017 “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid might seems very surreal and harsh as a story; mostly because of the very grating and mean language that is used when the mother is talking. The mother’s heartless language makes is really uncomfortable even though at the end of the day, she speaks nothing but love into her daughter’s life. She is giving her daughter social and family teachings, sharing with her the cultural and social values that will help her girl to have a peaceful and respected household and a happy life.

The rhetorical situation helps the audience understand all aspects of which the rhetor writes. When an audience understands the rhetorical situation, they are able to make a judgment on whether they believe the author to be credible or not, or their writing to be effective or not. Mary Crow Dog and Maya Angelou are both effective rhetors because their rhetorical situations work together to make their essays compelling. “Civilize Them with a Stick” by Mary Crow Dog and “Graduation” by Maya Angelou each introduce effective rhetorical situations as they establish their individual identity through their educational experiences.

In both the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and the poem “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, young girls are lectured on who they should be in life and how they should act.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of literature is the message the author is trying to portray in his or her writing. One of the ways an author can do this is through the use of rhetorical devices. Rhetorical devices, such as a metaphor or alliteration, are used to persuade an audience and highlight the intended meaning of the writing to the reader. In the narratives, “On the Rainy River” and “A&P”, the authors of these stories use rhetorical devices to show the development of the main protagonist. “On the Rainy River” revolves around a man named Tim, who is conflicted on whether or not to join the army during the Vietnam War. On the other hand, “A&P”

From the start the girlchild was given gifts that stained in her mind as what she was suppose to become in life. With the little dolls, GE stoves and irons, and lipstick her parents put this ideal image of the perfect woman in her head. With these types of presents the girlchild is already learning her role in society.

Malala Yousafzai used an anecdote in her speech to relate her story with the audience. In the speech it says, “The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.” This example gives the audience hope that they can take action and achieve gender equality rights by using their words and actions. The anecdote appeals to the audience’s emotions, by using specific word choice such as strength, power, and courage. This helps connect Malala’s view to the audience. “I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, Why are the Taliban against education? He answered very simply. By pointing to his book he said, A Talib doesn’t know what is written inside this book. They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal beliefs.” This quote shows the audience why the terrorists do crimes and mass murders, and Malala Yousafzai is teaching her audience to be forgiving and use words and

The education system also has power upon the lower class society, as they make decisions about who is given opportunities. The worker in the boarding school tells Briski that the children have low chances to get enrolled as they are children of sex workers. Other than their family reputation and status in society, their physical appearance and talents depend on how they are represented. Briski mentions that Puja is from a family of prostitutes but it’s difficult to interpret because of her well groomed appearance. This confirms that wider society judges the appearance of individuals to give them a presentable identity. Also, Avijit is given the opportunity to represent India in Amsterdam because of his artistic talents, whereas the non-talented kids are set back in the country looking for other minor opportunities. However, despite the daily challenges and hardships the children and women face in the Brothels of Calcutta, they value their relationships with family and friends. The children are grateful for Briski’s attempt to help them benefit from education and escape the chaotic lifestyle of the Brothel, even if some of them didn’t benefit from this opportunity. Briski’s mission to help the lower class society suggests how much she values the connection she developed with the children over the years. Therefore, Zana Briski’s documentary, Born into Brothels, portrays the tough life the

Oonya Kempadoo Buxton Spice and Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl’ gives an introduction to the female community and make one aware of the stereotypical expectations of women. The instructions were given to the girl child mainly encompass domestic chores, but also include guidelines for moral conducts and social arrangements. The stereotypical role of women for several

Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl explores these controversies and writes a long form poem that includes a list of rules for young girls to follow as advice that will help them be more likeable and become a reputable “woman”. These rules are delivered in a direct emphasis with strict undertone. The guidelines given to the young girl can be inferred as a mother teaching her daughter who is at the age of adolescence. Jamaica Kincaid’s long form poem Girl highlights the stereotypical social responsibilities of young girls which is heavily defined by language, culture, and mothers. In the poem the mother figure covers everything from how to