Throw Out the Rules! Read A Fairy Tale.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/opinion/sunday/throw-out-the-rules-and-read-the-grimm-tales.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
In this article I found diction, details, and syntax. The author has great word choice, uses great examples, and has a variety of sentence lengths and structures.
Diction in this piece was great. I have seen better, but Verlyn Klinkenborg did use different words. Like in the first paragraph, Klinkenborg writes "the power of enchanted princess is axiomatic". Instead of just saying that it was self-evident or just out there, she uses axiomatic. Also she wrties "trouble comes abruptly and in threes." By using abruptly, it is more harsh than sudden. Another example is "like embroidered samplers". When I hear embroidered, I think of a more soft, elegant tone.
Klinnkenborg uses much detail. Instead of just writing about the Grimm Brother's stories and how a new author has adapted them, she uses quotes. She adds in quotes here and there from different stories. It makes the piece more interesting and I personally did not know that some of these phrases came from Grimm. Adding these quotes defintely makes it more interesting to read.
Lastly, she uses syntax. Her diffferent sentence lenghts help with the flow of the article. And she uses many interejections. Normally, this would bother me and make me more confused, but it was quite interesting. She writes "The tale - and mose of the rules within them - are completetely discontinous." Her use of the hyphens instead of commas, is different. And interesting.
I like the paragraph about diction because you use multiple examples from the text to show what you are talking about. The next paragraph about detail isn't as specific, and doesn't use any quotes, so try adding at least one in for an example. In the last paragraph about syntax, combine the last two sentences so it reads "...different and interesting."
ReplyDeleteThe assignment description asks, "how does the author use techniques to create the effects and meanings that you, the reader, observe?" You have a great start, here, in that you found the techniques. Now all you need to do is show how they are used to "create effects and meanings."
ReplyDeleteNoah Symanzik