Rhetorical devices

Antithesis and juxtaposition

Antithesis means creating contrast between opposite ideas and situations. One example from the text is: “We were two very excited girls, giggling but scared half to death” (p. 33, ll. 24-28). The example conveys the contrasting feelings Antonia had when leaving her village with the purpose of going to the US. One the one hand, she experienced the excitement of freedom and adventure. On the other hand, she knew how dangerous it was to try to cross the border illegally.

Antonia talks about her employe…

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Rhetorical questions and repetition

Two rhetorical questions are featured in the text. The first one is: “…not stay there. ‘Like a flower in the dust,’ he said. But how was I to make my way?” (p. 33, ll. 1-2) The question helps introduce the idea that people from Mexico feel like they have no chance of a better life unless they go to the US – even if they have to do it illegally. It also suggests the challenge faced by Mexicans who want to make a better life for themselves and move to the US.

The second one is: “Who'd want to buy soap or toilet paper if they showed a lo…