The greatest chefs in the world use different techniques to produce an outstanding dish. A writer is no different from a chef. There are various techniques that a writer can use to create his masterpiece. In my opinion, one of the most important methods for writers is the use of description. Descriptions, for writers, help make their stories come to life. It is a useful tool to put the reader into the story. A descriptive paragraph will create a vivid image in the reader's mind of the person, animal, place, thing, mood, or just about anything the author is writing about. A good description also appeals to the senses. The reader can actually hear, feel, smell, taste, and see the writer's protagonist sitting on the warm beach drinking fresh lemonade. There are many factors that come into play in descriptive writing. The author must use details to make clear images for the reader. The right mixture of adjectives, adverbs, similes, and metaphors are issues that the writer must consider. But too much of anything is not good. Just like chefs can't use too much spices, the writer must use just the right amount of details. They have to use the amount that is necessary to achieve their goal. Too many details can confuse the reader, or bring them off track from where the author is trying to take you. There are a lot of good ways to use description in your writing. Whatever your topic is, make your writing more vivid with details about color, light, size, and shape. When you want to describe an object, you should divide the object into parts and describe each part in detail. Always try to appeal to the reader's senses. In turn, your words will jump out of the page and paint a perfect picture for...
pages: 3 (words: 613)
comments: 1
added: 12/02/2011
Although Captain John Smith and William Bradford, historians and leaders of their respective colonies, Jamestown and Plymouth, desired to lure settlers to their colonies through their writings, the methods and style they used to accomplish their goals varied with their personal beliefs and values. Though both sought to set forth an example for the colonists they were enticing, Smith strived to attract those with courage, vigor, and an adventurous spirit while Bradford tried to appeal to Godly men and women. Both graphically described the untamed setting of the new land, yet Smith always creates an aura of adventure and romance while Bradford focuses on the hardships and difficulties experienced by the colonists accompanied by God's provision. To support these different values and motives, Smith uses elaborate descriptions and an ornate style in his focus on adventure while Bradford employs biblical allusions, providentialized events and simplicity in his God-focused writing. In Smith's General History, he emphasizes the rugged and brave characteristics he wants out of his colonists. Tales of danger and hardships, some of which are only debatably true, appeal primarily to the brave and the adventuresome, the type of people he sought to attract. "…Then as many as could laid hands on him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready to beat out his brains, Pocahontas, the King's dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms, and laid her own upon his to save him from death…" (Smith). Indeed, dangerous and exciting tales pervade his work, serving to attract the courageous to his Jamestown. Whereas Smith wrote an appeal to the courageous, Bradford sought the addition of godly men and women to his colony. Biblical allusions and providence saturate Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation attracting those who possessed knowledge of the Bible and...
pages: 4 (words: 878)
comments: 1
added: 06/21/2011
Essay On 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G Wells What techniques does H.G Wells use to make 'The War of the Worlds' a gripping and successful story? For this module of coursework I will be explaining the literary skills and techniques that H.G Wells has exercised in his masterpiece 'The War of the Worlds'. Wells' effort in his legendary novel has been loved and enjoyed by all generations of readers for decades, as it tells the tale of a nations' interplanetary battle against Martians from the red planet – Mars. His text was, for its published year (1898), very advanced and forward thinking, and that is what surprises many readers of this novel. The main character, whose name we never discover, is a news reporter living in South London, probably Merton. He narrates the tale in a semi-documentary style borrowed from other novels of the time that sprouted out because of the unification and militarization of Germany, and that were predicting war in Europe. The story is told in specific places around London, which adds a feeling of localisation and makes readers see the story differently then if were to be set in a generic place. The character that narrates is, as we find out, a very intellectual and educated man and knows many people high up in his field of work. The story starts with a gripping introduction "No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own", saying how we are being watched by these Martians supposedly with far greater power on this earth, but that they are as susceptible to the ways of life and death as we are. Wells' carries on with "That as men busied...
pages: 5 (words: 1207)
comments: 1
added: 07/13/2011
Harry Potter: Good or Evil? Throughout adolescents, a child is taught to use his or her imagination. A child is read stories of a talking cat or a silly old bear while still young and naïve. The child is read such stories to encourage use of his or her creativity. The ideas of such characters are for pure amusement and are obviously fictional. Unfortunately, today there are issues of censorship that stifle a person's creativity. The most recent book being criticized by censors is J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Censors claim that the reading of such novels encourages witchcraft, and therefore should be banned. Although critics of the Harry Potter series are well intentioned in their ideas of banning this novel in schools, the actual banning of the novel is far more destructive. What these critics fail to recognize is that the reading of such an imaginative novel allows for children's creativity to flourish, rather than allowing them to turn to negative forms of entertainment. The banning of certain novels in schools is extremely important in today's society, but only when the novel is destructive to a child's upbringing. In past history, such classics as Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, and J.D. Salinger's Catcher In The Rye have been banned. Critics justified their actions by stating that such novels are inappropriate for school age children. Critics have now targeted the highly creative Harry Potter series. At the beginning of the school term the American Library Association was bombarded with complaints from parents about potentially harmful content in the series. Unfortunately, opinions vary and there is no simple answer. Although citizens of the United States are given the right to Freedom of Press under the First Amendment, this does not allow...
pages: 5 (words: 1331)
comments: 2
added: 07/27/2011
Emma & Clueless - Comparative Study Welcome ladies and gentlemen. As you all know we have today been able to successfully resurrect the author Jane Austen of the novel Emma. It is her novel that I adapted and we transformed to create Clueless. She has both viewed and critiqued the film and will now speak to us about her views on our representation. Good morning, Amy Heckerling and production team, My deepest gratitude to you for providing me with the opportunity to experience the late twentieth century, and especially the transformation of my own novel Emma. I must admit that after viewing the film Clueless I was deeply shocked. The setting and context of my story of one woman's journey of self-awareness and development, has changed immensely over time. The result of this can be seen in your chosen method of representation. This new medium, film, has caused my entire story to be compacted into a ninety-three minute experience and although it provides an immediate visual impact, the techniques do not allow a detailed development of character or events. The plot has been modernised and altered in several ways, yet the main storyline remains, revealing that the concerns of human nature transcend context. The characters and their development especially Emma/Cher, form a parallel, although I do not believe the characters in Clueless evoke the same degree of empathy as those in Emma. Most importantly, through transformation it becomes obvious that certain themes, the importance of self-awareness, social and moral responsibility, perception and deception, and marriage and relationships, are universal. I cannot believe the changes that the world has experienced since I was alive. The differences in context between my novel and Clueless are what form the basis of transformation and this is why, upon first viewing, Emma is barely recognisable within the film. The setting...
pages: 12 (words: 3082)
comments: 1
added: 08/27/2011
The Catcher in the Rye has truly earned it's place among great classic works. J. D. Salinger created a literary piece that was completely unique. The entire novel was written in the first person view of the 17-year-old, Holden Caulfield. The majority of the story is compiled of Holden's rudimentary monologue of 'complexly simple' thoughts, the rest utilizing his relay of previous dialogue. That and the use of unique punctuation, digressing explanations, and complex characterization, transformed the simple plot into the complex literary classic.
The novel's dialogue and monologue alike, manage to relay the feel of natural speaking such as:
"I mean you'd be different in some way - I can't explain what I mean."
The contractions; you'd and can't - since they are common in everyday language - establish a very common and simple tone. Stress on the first syllable of "different," reinforces the tone by demonstrating how typically they speak, just as in reality. He uses dashes for pauses and signaling associative digressions. Instead of signaling pauses, commas are used mostly where mechanically required, for instance:
"So all of a sudden, I ran like a madman across the street - I damn near got myself killed doing it, if you want to know the truth - and went in this stationary store and bought a pad and pencil."
Holden Caulfield creates a thought provoking point of view. On the surface many of his thought patterns seem unrelated and straying from the topic. His association of topic with digression is used almost constantly throughout the novel. However, realizing that these digressions are very relevant and even crucial to the topic allow the reader to gain true insight to the character. His statements about his sister's intelligence, followed by explanations of how well she listens, reveals Holden's associations of intelligence with being quiet and observant....
pages: 6 (words: 1647)
comments: 1
added: 10/18/2011
The novel by Melina Marchetta "Looking for alibrandi" has got a lot of similarities to real life situations. The time that I read it, it really fitted in well with my life and I'm sure a lot of teenage kids life, because the main character and teenager kids have some things in common. For example we are in our prime years of school and we are experiencing new things in the world and at school. In this novel Josie Alibrandi tells the story of a year in her life. The scene, which I have selected, which is on page 83 chapter 8, is when Josie and her enemy Carly have a fall out and Josie hits Carly (violently) and breaks her nose. The reason I've selected this scene, is because this is the first time Josie calls upon her father for help. When her father turns up to help, Josie is very surprised. This helps them bond together and it is a very special time. Here the author is trying to tell the reader that family is the most important thing and when people need help they can always call upon their family. I totally agree with this view and that's why I have selected this scene. The (extraxt) is mainly dialogue with some descriptive writing. It all starts out when Carly calls Josie a wog and basically tells her that she's a bastard. Josie doesn't like hearing it from a non-wog so; she hits Carly with her science textbook and breaks her nose. Carly's dad (Ron Bishop) threatens to sue Josie, and warns her that she better call her lawyer. Then to everyone's surprise Josie announces to Carly, Ron and sister Lousies that her fathers a barrister. In this scene the choice of adjectives indicate a scene of high tension;...
pages: 3 (words: 694)
comments: 1
added: 11/11/2011
Chekhov's story, A Chameleon, centres on the injustice of the Russian society and the privileges received by the upper class. Chekhov lived in a society where the only peaceful way to bring about a change in conditions was to educate people of the society's shortcomings through the use of satire. Therefore Chekhov's purpose in writing the story is to draw his reader's attention to the inequalities in society, in an attempt to bring about reform. He does this through the literary techniques used to convey his point of view, in particular the humorous nature of the story and its characters. Chekhov uses caricature, irony, and hyperbole to enhance the comic situation that he depicts. He also uses descriptive writing, dialogue and irony to communicate his message. The comical situation that is being relayed in the story immediately draws the attention of the reader. The police superintendent, Otchumyelov, fluctuates in his decision regarding the fate of a dog that has bitten a mans finger, while a crowd of townsfolk watch as Hryukin, who received the bite, makes attempts at revenge on the dog. 'On his half drunken face is plainly written: "I'll pay you out, you rogue!"', 'I must have damages, for I shan't be able to use this finger for a week, may be.' The dog is described as 'the culprit who has caused the sensation'. The reader sees that it is ludicrous to be calling a dog a culprit, and just as ludicrous for Hryukin to expect justice to be carried out on the animal. The ridiculous situation is intensified when Otchumyelov makes a great effort to find who owns the dog so that it can be brought to justice. 'Whose dog is it? I won't let this pass! I'll teach them to let their dogs run all over the place!... find out whose dog...
pages: 7 (words: 1743)
comments: 1
added: 11/15/2011
Comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences of , "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac & "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. " On the Road" is a unique American novel of it's time and so is Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac symbolizes for many, an entire generation of disaffected young Americans of the 1950's. At the time it was written America was undergoing drastic changes and a sense of void brought on by the Cold War, and as such created a feeling of dislocation for many. Many Americans experienced a sense of purposelessness and disillusionment. The main character Sal Paradise represented the disillusioned Americans at that time. Much of the novel is spent 'on the road" in a car. Dean Moriarty, the other main character in the novel, represented the "rebel" in most Americans during the 40's and 50's. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain was written around 1885 is also a novel on American interactions and their perspectives on various critical issues that affected at that period of their lives. Written after civil war, it tells the story of Huckleberry Finn who was in search of his own identity. The book focuses on life in the Mississippi, on slavery and people's view of slavery at that time. At the start of "On the Road" like "Huckleberry Finn" I thought was not going anywhere. Sal's life in "On the Road" seemed meaningless, and in "Huck Finn" Huck was always restless about his life. Both books written in the first person by male characters tells the story of loyalty, friendships, and lessons learned on their journey. The Mississippi River was the main getaway in "Huckleberry Finn" with often times a raft as the main mode of transportation, while in "On the Road"...
pages: 3 (words: 659)
comments: 1
added: 11/30/2011
Existentialist Themes in Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms The philosophy of Existentialism demands much from its students; it requires one to view their life as a series of decisions and consequential repercussions in a world of alienation and meaninglessness, death being the only certainty. The great American author Ernest Hemingway also makes similar demands of his readers. He strips away the frills of descriptive writing, leaving only the bare bones of the story, often with no traces of hope or humanity. He leaves it up to the reader to draw conclusions about the lives of the characters and the mood of the situation. Both stylistically and thematically, major themes of Existentialism such as absurdity, existence preceding essence, and alienation can be traced in Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. To begin, Existentialism can be found in Hemingway's writing style. First, however, it is necessary to understand a basic, underlying theme of Existentialism; the notion that the world is without purpose, value, or meaning. It is only by personal choice that this is no longer so; the authentic decision to apply meaning to one's life. These decisions must be made based on the stimuli one has received from one's senses, for that is all the information man can use to make such choices. This concept is well described by Nietzsche, who says "All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth comes only from the senses" (Nietzsche 134). How does this tie into Hemingway's style? Hemingway is characterized by his spare, 'no frills' writing. He uses the "iceberg principle"; by describing the top part of the iceberg that is above the water, the reader must comprehend the remaining 7/8ths that is submerged. He masters the art of implication and subtle nuances of dialogue. Here is an excerpt from A Farewell to Arms that exemplifies...
pages: 10 (words: 2703)
comments: 1
added: 12/06/2011