Isabel Allende's Two Words

At first I believed that the “fly tracks across the page” (Allende, 2), were significant because she learns that they are words on a newspaper. This alters the course of her life because she no longer is doomed to become a prostitute or a servant. This one conversation changes the remainder of her life. During the class discussion everyone agreed that the “fly tracks across the page” (Allende, 2), are words on newspaper and that it saved her from a life as a prostitute or a servant (Sept, 20). Many individuals agreed that this gives her the power of language and a future which alters the remainder of the story allowing future events to take place (Class discussion, Sept 20). Many peers pointed out that this moment changed Belisa's life, giving

In an excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou’s tone and syntax reveal the final hopes African American’s have for a better life. In Joe Louis’s intense boxing scene, the strength African American’s have will be proven by his victory. Maya and the rest of the black community are extremely anxious during the fight, since it is a make it or break it situation. Maya Angelou’s tone displays a desperation for change they will only get if Joe Louis wins. Her negative tone acknowledges the injustice African Americans experience by the insulting comparisons made to them; Maya realizes “it would all be true, the accusations that we were lower types of human beings. Only a little higher than the apes” (135-6). Maya expresses her views, she feels that white people are superior in society, and black people lack power.

Walimai, by Isabel Allende, is a narration of a tribal man. The story begins as he starts to voice his opinions against “the white ones”, which he describes as men who “show a lack of respect” (1). He believes all of the living creatures shall be respected, and failing to do so may “lead to grave danger” (1). This teaching must be passed on to generations to come. Unfortunately, the white ones go against the beliefs of the elders, and uproots their tribe. For many occurrences, they are forced to “leave everything and run away like mice” (1). They take over the land, forcing them to move the entire tribe to a far away venue where “the women had to walk hours to find clean water” (3). Because of exhaustion, the Walimai was caught by the soldiers and forced him to work as a rubber collector.

? . . . it made no difference if they studied medicine or had the right to vote, because they would not have the strength to do it, but she herself [Nivea] was not brave enough to be among the first to give up the fashion.? (6, Ch 1) The women in this society are dependant on the dominant male figure to handle political and economical duties. This point of view is intended to mimic the older generation of women ad present a foundation for the growth of an enlightened generation. Allende uses this excerpt to present a foundation of structure to the novel by beginning with the extremes of opinion, which are followed in the novel through different generations. Alba for example,

From the very first page of Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate it is clear that the real world in which her characters inhabit shall be greatly exaggerated. When Esquivel's narrator describes Tita as being so sensitive to onions that “when she was still in my great-grandmother's belly her sobs were so loud that even Nacha, the cook, who was half deaf, could hear them easily.” (Esquivel, p. 5) the reader encounters something at once refreshing, as is always the case when one experiences the supernatural where least expected, and yet ancient at the same time. While Esquivel could have attempted to tell her story, really the tale of a (mostly) unrequited love, in a straightforward manner, the casual inclusion of the extraordinary places it immediately in the tradition of magical realism.

that he only did it to get revenge for what her grandfather did to his

The House of the Spirits written by Isabel Allende is an extraordinary novel that weaves together, history, politics, and current events to create a unique piece of literature. Throughout the novel on several occasions it is clear that there is inequality between the aristocrats and the peasants and this leads to struggle between the classes. The issue of class struggle takes the form of growing conflict by causing a division between the Conservatives and Socialists. At the head of the Conservatives is Esteban Trueba, a violent and materialistic figure. He believes people need to work their way up to the top and there is no reason that peasants share the upper classes wealth. On the other hand, Pedro Tercero Garcia represents the

Isabel Allende’s short story “Clarisa” records the story of a woman, reverenced by the people of her community and who is kind without exception, even to those who wished her harm. “Clarisa gave everything she owned to the needy, ”(Allende 36). Her generous nature and adherence to helping others depicts Clarisa as the model of affection and compassion, who gives absolutely everything she owns and even spends “ the last cent of her dowry and inheritance” (Allende 434). For this very reason others hold her in high esteem and perceive her as saintlike.

In the book Isabel Allende experiments with various literary devices. The many different narrative voices used in this book allow the reader to understand the book from dissimilar perspectives. As the story unfolds, one can see the symbolism that occurs in many of the events. The story revolves around the different generations of the Del Valle family. Symbolism is used as a literary device in this book to apply ideas and images to explain something in particular. Symbolism provides meaning to the writing beyond what is actually being described. The plot and action that take place in this story can be thought of as one level, while the symbolism of certain things in the writing of this story act on another level to enhance the story.

Maya Angelou’s poetry occupies a very special position in her development as a writer (Chow 1). As a child, Angelou went through five years of complete silence after she was raped at the age of seven years old, by a man named, Mr. Freeman. As a result of telling about her traumatic experience, her uncle’s literally kicked the man that raped her to death. Beings she spoke of her traumatic experience and the result of the man dying, she then imagined that her voice had the potential to kill. Thanks to her teacher, Bertha Flowers, at school Angelou started writing poetry as a means of expression of her life events through her poetry (Chow 1). Poetry thus played an essential part in the recovery of her voice, which in

There is a magic that exists in this world. We use it every day, but we tend to overlook it. This magic that I’m talking about is the use of words. Words are very powerful. They can build up nations or tear empires down. The power of words is prevalent in Isabel Allende’s short story, “Two Words.” She is able to convey her message that words have a magical power to them through literary devices. I believe that the strongest of these literary devices is Allende’s use of imagery, specifically imagery that conveys the character’s personalities, the feelings between Belisa Crepusculario and the Colonel, and the sense of mystery behind words.

They thought it was over, that he was finished and done with, but failure was not an option for the “Brown Bomber”. “Champion of the world” is an excerpt from the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; written by Maya Angelou. This chapter/essay takes place in the late 1930s, before African Americans started their movement for equal civil rights. Maya Angelou was born in 1928, living through these times of civil inequalities, Angelou shares her personal experiences in this chapter. Angelou descriptive imagery, diction, and detail to recall her vivid memories of Joe Louis fighting as a symbol of hope for the black community. The apparent fear of Joe losing the fight demonstrates the desperation of the African American community to rise above the racism and inequality of the time.

Throughout the 17 short stories in Tim Winton’s novella ‘The Turning’, there are a number of different language techniques that Winton has used to enhance the central theme. Some of the main techniques that Winton had used include; colloquial language, inclusive language and intertextuality. Winton had used these language techniques across two stories, Damaged Goods and Long Clear View to make the audience feel/think/ a certain emotion or thought.

In this poem “Woman’s Work”, the mother is forced to do household cleaning which represents a domestic life and the impact of gender specific roles. This poem is written in the third person point of view. The speaker is the daughter of a mother who doesn’t work outside, but only inside of the house, and is forced to do household cleaning with her as she hears her friends playing outside in the street. Author Julia Alvarez uses imagery, simile, and alliteration to portray the meaning of the poem that women work harder than men.

I'm going to be analyzing the short story, New Directions, By Maya Angelou. It's a story with a strong theme of courage. A book that reminds us that we can still make a name for ourselves, even if we have to do it alone. I'll be discussing a few of the key elements of the story such as the plot, setting, and mood in this analysis.