Language

Given that the short story “Scary Movies” by Stephen Amidon is told from the perspective of a nine-year-old boy, the language is very simple and easy to understand. All the events are depicted from an innocent point of view, yet it is always clear what events the story touches upon. For example, when the narrator talks about Martin Luther King Jr., he does not mention his name directly: “Suddenly, the show was interrupted by a special report. Someone named King was dead. I was confused – this was America, we didn’t have kings here” (ll. 122-124).

To make the story more vivid and effective, the author uses several linguistic techniques and devices which we outline below.

Imagery

Imagery is the use of descriptive language in literature. Imagery also has the purpose of creating vivid images in the minds of readers, helping them to visualize how the characters or the setting look or how the characters act. Here are just two examples of imagery.

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Similes and metaphors

An interesting metaphor stands out in the text. The “tempest of joyous fear” (ll. 74-75) is both a metaphor and an oxymoron (opposing terms appear together - joy and fear), and it presents the healing role of scary movies: people enjoy being scared because they have...

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Symbols

At the beginning of the story, the Roxy Theatre is a symbol of harmonious coexistence and acceptance. Although everyone else in the cinema is African-American, the two white boys are permitted to enter. Although the boys believe that they are not seen by others, they are in fact noticed and tolerated, as they are harmless and want to enjoy the same type of entertainment.

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