The Presentation Of The Reader In Stephen King's On Writing

One of the literary devices King used in his writing is metaphor. For example, in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, he says, "Let us all hope that the dark clouds

In the introductory paragraph, King introduces his reason for writing the letter and details who the audience is to be. He explains that he rarely answers criticisms and gives his reasons for answering this particular one. This grabs the reader's attention in the first three sentences of the letter and establishes the importance of the document, intriguing the reader to keep reading what becomes a gripping

King’s emotionally charged words of “lynch” and “brothers” showed sorrow in their lives that create the image of the clergymen to be monsters because of the word choice he used which also would lead to a sense of doubt. These emotions felt by the clergymen allowed room for improvement within society because they started to doubt themselves. King was very skillful with the use of Pathos but he only got his society in lock with the help of other Aristotelian methods.

Lastly, King appeals to character as well as establishing his creditability. For starters, the the vocabulary King chose to use shows that he is educated and possesses the knowledge to respond to the clergymen. King also informed the clergymen that he had previous experience in conducting and participating in non-violent campaigns. This provides credibility because it showed that he had prior knowledge of the behavior and purpose of those participating, while also addressing that past campaigns have always been “untimely”, but with desired outcome. The last and most obvious proof of credibility, is that King was a black man that faced the same adversities that he referred to in the last paragraph of this section. The example being of having to personally tell his daughter why she could not be allowed to go to a public amusement park because she was black and looked at as less than.

King’s writing was both fair and accurate. He seemed to have done lots of research, and written only the facts that had been proven. When he did write anything that seemed a little exaggerated, he would always source the statement making sure the reader knew that he was only stating what someone else said, not the complete truth. King also shows both sides of the story. He gives all characters an equal chance to prove themselves. As seen best with Lorenzo, King praises him first with Lorenzo’s doors, but then he expresses Lorenzo’s incompetence towards the wooden

King uses strong rhetoric efforts and appeals to his primary audience with tone, knowledge, and religion. Dr. King’s tone in this letter varies but it was all done with a specific purpose- to move his audience.

King incorporates a myriad of stylistic devices that shape and develop the theme of the passage in the book. Through the periodic use of rhetorical questions such as,

By answering questions that the reader may have, his objective can remain the focus of the essay. King goes on to say “if, on the other hand, your insanity leads you only to talk to yourself when you’re under stress to pick your nose on your morning bus, then you are left alone to go about your day.” (paragraph 8). This makes the essay relative and more comprehensible for the reader. We all do slightly crazy things from time to time (whether we want to admit it or not is entirely up to us), so King is able to use this method to help get his message through to the reader.

Authors use literary elements and techniques as tools to convey meaning. These devices are the means by which authors bring richness and clarity to a text. They express moods or feelings that allow the reader to connect with the writing. In On Writing, the author, Stephen King makes use of literary elements to tell his story. The techniques King uses are effective in portraying vivid images and feelings in the reader’s mind.

Ethos, ethical appeal and credibility as a writer, is portrayed in every word in this letter. King’s language is more than appropriate to the audience and subject, and his

To set the mood in this piece, King describes where he is writing his work and calls it his “far-seeing place,”(103). He says that he is writing this chapter at his desk down in his well lit basement in the winter, and this place is his sanctum away from the stresses of life. By writing about his current setting in his sanctuary, King showed that he was just like any one of us. King reads books as a release from life’s frustrations.

Early in On Writing, Stephen King uses imagery in sentences such that the reader can clearly visualize what he is trying to convey. Without imagery, the reader will not be interested in the book as much and will think the book is dull and boring. Using imagery helps bring the reader into the story and experience what the author is trying to demonstrate. For example, when King was on his way to the hospital to meet his wife who was about to give birth, he says, “a couple of hundred horns blared a satiric salute. Many people flicked their headlights on and off, bathing me in a stuttery glow.”

This gives the audience something to continually ponder on through the rest of the essay and become one step closer to being fully emerged in the world of Stephen King’s thoughts.

One key passage where King defines writing is when he is describing the revising process. King writes,

Glen provides an opportunity for King to force-feed readers the main ideas they may not have understood or picked up on for themselves.