Language
An overview of the language of “Spoil the Child” by Howard Fast reveals that the author mixes common, spoken American English (with colloquial, slang expressions) with Standard English. The informal language contributes to giving the story the local color and to suggest that the characters are simple folks, without too much education:
"No use cryin'," I said.
Ma said: "What are we going to do?"
"Go on west. Ain't hard now to go a few hundred miles more. Reckon it won't be hard. Pa said—"
Ma was staring at me, her mouth trembling. I hadn't ever seen her look just like that before.
…
Imagery
This figure of speech refers to the overall sensory images created in a text related to setting, characters, and action. For instance, when the setting is described, the author creates visual imagery: “…the prairie was just a roll of yellow and brown, a thread of cloud above it. It frightened me to be alone on the prairie.”; “I saw …
Similes
Similes are also figures of speech which usually contribute to imagery as they help readers make mental associations between different objects, features, attitudes, etc. Here is a list with some of the similes from the text:
“I could see pa like a black dot”
…
Metaphors
A few metaphors (words or phrases applied to something to which they are not usually applied to) further embellish the text. For instance, “sea of whispering yellow grass” is both a metaphor and a personification. It is a metaphor because the fields of grass are depicted as a sea, and it is the personification because the …
Repetition
Repetition is also occasionally used in the short story. For instance, the mother repeats the same saying twice: “Spare the rod and spoil the child” and through this technique, the author draws readers’ attention to the meaning of the title.
…
Symbols
…
The horse and the mules are symbolic of the difference between adulthood and childhood. David is never allowed by his father to ride the horse. Instead, he tries riding the mules in his absence, trying to imitate him.
…
