Nostalgic past memories initiate a smile to the face as a peaceful giggles or may be a non-serious frown rekindles emotions that trigger both sorrow and excitement. Such episodes may pave way to cherishment of the beautiful existence during childhood moments.
“An American Childhood” by Annie Dillard and “Always Running” by Luis J. Rodriguez are both a magnificent set of narrations that make a depiction of childhood memory of rule breaking and world driven away by adults.
In “American Childhood by Dillard”, the strategies happens to heighten the reader’s curiosity to know more due to its drama hence the desire to know more. She employs surprise, identification and action verb emphasis. Dillard shows surprise from the onset of the story to the end. For instance, from the political machine, an adult male encapsulates and resorts to chasing the kids even to a point where a normal person couldn’t. This makes us spread out, smack together snow balls, aim and then the Buick Draws high and fires.
Her well detailed sentence use is coupled up with a vivid succession of actions. The detailing and naming helps the reader obtain a vivid picture of the surroundings that they feel as if they experienced the cognate babyhood memories. The tone in the two stories is alike though they assume two different directions. Rodriguez gives a context describing the South San Gabriel poor streets inhabited by Mexicans. He explains how people are seated on metal chairs and fold up tables. However Dillard doesn’t give more details about the street.
The way the man chases the kids is well explained in paragraphs 11-14. The paths the kids follow are well known to them. For instance, he chases them round yellow house, under the low tree, up the bank, cutting through a hedge and then later across grocery driveway store among other places. The narration is so candid that it creates a very clear picture in one’s mind. This enables the reader to be able to visualize about the environment.
Works Cited
"Always Running Comparison With An American Childhood". Anti Essays. 26 Mar. 2013
