Saturday, March 14, 2009
Discussion 3- Literary Elements and Figurative Language
Figurative language plays an important role in this book. Since the book's written from the point of view of Death (which is already an example of personification), things should be described in a creative and abstract way. In the interview in the back of the book, Marcus Zusak says, "...It's probably what I love most about writing--that words can be used in a way that's like a child playing in a sandpit, rearranging things, swapping them around." Not only does this quote make me respect the author much more, but it describes the use of figurative language in this book perfectly. One example of figurative language in this book is when Death is describing the life of a soldier in WWI. "Cold sweat--that malignant little friend--outstaying its welcome in the armpits and trousers." (175.) In this quote, sweat is being personified. Another example is when Rudy and Liesel are pouring ice onto the street so Otto Sturm would slip when he biked over it. "The road was icy as it was, but Rudy put on the extra coat, barely able to contain a grin. It ran across his face like a skid." (162.) Here, a simile is used to describe Rudy's smile and also, interestingly enough, connect it back to the theme of slipping on ice. The use of figurative language in this book is both interesting and original, in that the most unlikely things to be described figuratively are the ones chosen.
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Hahah, I adore the quote you picked from page 162 Eliza; "It ran cross his face like a skid" helps us realize just how spontaneous and quick Rudy's smile was, after he had looked over his handy work. Figurative language does seem a lot stronger when it connects back to a central idea, like you had mentioned. It's that whole act of showing, not telling, that Zusak uses a lot which makes this book so much more enjoyable to read! But geez, poor Otto and the whole him getting robbed thing.
ReplyDeleteMe? This isn't my post.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I love that example and I love what Cindy said about showing and not telling. That's a perfect way to describe Zusak's writing style. It's almost as if he knows that he can't describe a smile as moving quickly across Rudy's face unless he personifies it. In fact, he personifies almost everything. It's as if every aspect of the world is living, which is how it must seem to Death, who knows better than anyone that nothing is dead until it receives a visit from him.
I love that quote about the Rudy's smile. I didn't even think about how it related back to the thought of the skidding and falling on the ice, so good catch. Also, good point about how the things we least suspect to be figurative, end up being just that. Zusak personifies the strangest things-Death, and sweat?-, and it certainly keeps me interested.
ReplyDeleteI like that you talked about personification. I feel that this is one of the main ways in which the author makes use of figurative language. This contributes to the theme of the book, as right from the start the narrator "Death" is already being personified.
ReplyDeleteI like that you talked about personification because Death uses it quite a bit. Death is an example of personification which I thought was interesting. I also liked that you used the quote about Rudy's smile and I agree with you that the things least expected can end up being figurative.
ReplyDeletePersonification is such an important literary element because it gives us ways to think about a character compared to something completely different and helps our imagination just run. I noticed a lot of different but common elements of figurative language also.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote that you picked out was, "Cold sweat--that malignant little friend--outstaying its welcome in the armpits and trousers." (175). I Can completely agree with this statement and its just so fascinating to see the wording that Zusak uses to describe a universal feeling. I don't know about anyone else, but i feel the exact same way about cold sweat, but i would never be able to put it into words like Zusak does.
ReplyDelete"outstaying its welcome in the armpits and trousers", such a different way to describe something, instead of just saying "it was annoying", this also makes it sound more playful. Death does use personification alot, probably because we feel that death is a personification itself.
ReplyDeleteGood idea reading the interview in the back. I agree that the words are very unique. There are numerous similes in the story, and it's funny that the author uses a simile to describe his writing. The personification in the story is very interesting, especially since Death is a personification itself.
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