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How Does The Author Use Language In The Rattler

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The short story The Rattler is a story based on the theme of man vs. nature. A man becomes conflicted when he encounters a rattle snake while walking in the desert. This very man is put into a position where he needs to determine whether or not he should kill this reptile. The man’s final decision is what helps the reader connect with the characters of the passage. In the short story The Rattler the author uses language and details as tools to help convey the point of view of the man, the actions of the snake and the setting in order to persuade the reader to feel empathy for the man and sympathy for the snake. The author’s use of language and details leads the reader to empathize with the man. The man is having a nice walk after sunset until he runs into a snake. He states that he is not satisfied by “the sport in taking life” and only did it when he was “obliged” …show more content…

The man and snake meet as the man is taking a walk. He had walked into the desert “after sunset”. The darkness makes the man more accessible to risk and hazard. However, it is known for more animals to be alert and awake at night looking for food to hunt and eat. The man had stopped and examined the snake. He thought that he had been the only thing “abroad”. This shows that where they encountered was a secluded area not known to the man. If he walked where he was familiar with, he would expect these types of animals to be roaming around knowing it is their natural habitat. The desert glow sets a calming mood. After the gruesome event, the man recollects how he “might” have departed over the “twilit sands” had he let it go. Despite the killing of the snake, the man has remorse for the snake and wonders how it would have gone on over the beautiful landscape had it not been his duty to kill it. Contrastingly, setting allows the reader to empathize with the man and sympathize with the

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