Style of writing in lines 39-52
Part of the STX English A exam assignment from May 31, 2021 requires you to analyze the style of writing in lines 39-52 in the article “Death by Civilization” by Mary Annette Pember. The language is descriptive and dramatic and helps Pember illustrate her mother’s experience and trauma.
In lines 39-52, Pember engages the audience using metaphors that make the description of her mother’s suffering seem more vivid and dramatic. For example, the metaphor “invisible demons” (l. 39) suggests that Pember’s mother is deeply affected by the horrors suffered while in boarding school. In the same note, the metaphor “forever burned into her amygdala” (l. 52) suggests that Pember’s mother still had a powerful effect in her adult years.
When it comes to the choice of words, Pember engages her audience by using terms with negative associations. For exa...