Summary Of The Branch By Louise Erdrich

The narrator in Louise Erdrich’s The Strange People is characterized as a doe, a “lean gray witch” (i, 20) and finally, a “shadowy body.”(i, 25) Her own actions ultimately trigger this transformation, and are further emphasized through three jarring shifts within the poem. Despite portraying the narrator as prey in the beginning, she is not faultless. By placing double meanings on the word “burning,” (i, 6) it allows the self-destructive actions of the narrator to be evident. Also, by juxtaposing the cold and warmth described in the poem, the reasoning behind the doe’s self-destructive actions is explained, and ultimately paints her in a more nuanced light. Even so, her self-destructive actions highlight the consequences resulting from her attempt at self-preservation. She transforms into a “lean gray witch” to save herself, and yet it destroys her self-identity. The poem exposes the bleak yet nuanced consequences of destructive desires and self-preservation, and how even when necessary and justified, leads to the unfortunate loss of one’s identity.

The dust was thickening to an impenetrable fog” at the beginning of his story, this description of nature throughout the article afterward definitely brings an environmental effect on readers. In contrast, in Homesteading in Saskatchewan, the readers see a different scene in prairie in the same era through the author’s narrative history, by introducing Salloum’s parents and their children’s life at that time. Going back to In The Lamp at Noon story, along with the author developing the plots, Paul and Ellen’s responses to their environments help readers understand the atmosphere is depressed, despair, and suffocated. To depict details of the dilemma and conflict between Paul and Ellen, he drew the clear imagery of the characters’ behaviors and thoughts, for example, “She mustn’t. He would only despise her if she ran to the stable looking for him.

By allowing the listener to understand the work involved in keeping a garden alive and well then comparing that garden to bearing and raising children will force the reader to think twice about having children. The figurative language situates Margaret Sangers’ points of her speech into a different perspective so that audience members who may be confused will understand that she is telling the audience of all the hard work it is to take care of a child. Additionally, a different example can assist others to genuinely grasp the time and effort it takes to raise

We are all born with a God-given moral compass, but not everyone chooses to use it. Many people have differing opinions on good and evil in the world, but they are often misunderstood. In the book The Round House by Louise Erdrich, Father Travis and Linden Lark have different worldviews on good and evil, which influence protagonist, Joe Coutt’s, actions and the development of his sense of right and wrong. Throughout the book, Joe must learn difficult lessons regarding morality that will greatly affect his future, depending on what decision he makes: good or evil.

“Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn, New York. Especially in the summer of 1912” (5), is the famous first sentence in Betty Smith’s bestseller, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (ATGIB). Joche says this book reads realistically because it was

The desert is home to both the man and the snake. The snake “held his ground” since the man was in its territory, but at the same time the man was concerned for all the people back at the “ranch house.” Both the man and the snake felt like the other was a trespasser in their territory that could prove to be dangerous. The beauty of the day causes the unexpected outcome of the event. “Light was thinning” and the “savory odors” were “sweet” upon the desert air which had become “cooler”. The rich, sweet odors of the day, the time in which the encounter is happening, and the feel of the air outside creates a warm feeling atmosphere. Lastly, the moment of which the encounter happens heightens the sorrowful ending. “Light” had already departed the desert until there were only “twilit” sands. The encounter all happened around twilight, the most beautiful time of day, which makes the end result only more depressing, allowing the reader to connect to the man and sympathize for the

In Rachel Carson’s The Obligation to Endure an image from the original version of her work Silent spring is shown. The image appears to be of a flowering tree branch, possibly of a fruit tree, crossed with a pesticide sprayer. It is intended to show the reader that just about everything we see as beautiful is tainted by poison.

In conjunction with the symbolic representation of Elisa’s life, the dramatic description of the environment can also be seen as a unique representation of the relationship conflict between husband and wife. Steinbeck’s foggy description demonstrates conflict through the following statement, "a time of quiet and waiting." This description is interesting because the fields are personified as waiting for rain, however, “rain and fog do not go together” therein lies the conflict just as Elisa waits for a positive change in how her husband treats her (Palmerino, Gregory J). Gregory P. further points out that, “The natural elements of the foothills ranch seem as unwilling to confront each other as the characters that inhabit its environs. Hence, fog and rain can be seen as the female and male equivalents to Elisa and Henry.” This only further solidifies the deep rooted troubles within Elisa and her relationship with her husband. The setting of the story is personified to act as a symbolic representation of the couple’s relationship (Steinbeck, John 337-338).

In Mary Oliver’s poem The Black Walnut Tree, she depicts a deep meaning in the relationship between a black walnut tree and the family through the synthesis of poetic devices and figurative language. A debate between mother and daughter, on the issue of selling the walnut tree to pay mortgage. A transition occurs going from the literal sense of needing money, to the tree symbolizing their family tree and ancestors. Metaphors and symbolism spark a new meaning to the conflict associated with the tree, arising a new issue of the shame and betrayal that would be if they were to sell the tree.

The atmosphere of this exposition is clearly foreboding: "the dark clouds, broken chimneys, unused street, solitary cat, and dead air" all prove ominous and reflect the sordid ruling mood. Failed culture and solitary of aimless women ("a cat moved itself in and out of railing") not knowing exactly what to do about their predicaments in which

When, much to his surprise, he discovers how the lake in the woods was still the same, how the bedroom still smelled of lumber, how the girls were still fifteen, as if “no years have gone by” and the only thing that changed was the man. That it is his son who sneaks out in the morning to the sweet outdoors now, who explores the streams, who gazes with childish awe at the thunderstorms, who runs out in joy and relief to go swimming in the rain. And that it is time to move on and realise that he can’t relive those moments as the figurative ‘right’ to do so, has moved on to the next generation. That in this moment he can only be the father, no longer the son. “The Brown Wasps” has the writer experiencing sorrow and despair due to a place, that is primary to his being, being non-existent and thus, the essay focuses more on the effects of time on the world around the man, rather than the man

The short story “Greenleaf” by Flannery O’Connor tells of Mrs. May, an old, bitter, and selfish woman. She thinks badly of everyone around her, including her own two sons. It also compares her family to that of the Greenleaf family, who Mrs. May sees as inferior to her. O’Connor unveils the story of Mrs. May and her demise through the use of point of view, character, and symbolism. She uses the third person omniscient view to give the reader a sense of Mrs. May’s character, and the symbols of the bull, and the conflict between the bull and Mrs. May to show Mrs. May’s destruction as well as give the story a deeper meaning of God’s grace.

“Rip Van Winkle” describes multiple images that make it a story with a deep desire to connect with nature.

In this “Autumn” chapter, Claudia MacTeer uses flower imagery to describe how she and Frieda respond to their environment. This metaphor calls attention to the importance of nurture and environment for these young children, especially during these formative years of childhood. Like flowers, we depend on our environment for sustenance, so in turn, Pecola Breedlove, Soaphead Church, and Louis, Jr., inherit the legacy of self-loathing and Claudia and Frieda MacTeer inherit the legacy of self-worth.

Evil also personifies the earth with these conations stating that the once kind “earth turns evil”. Together with grief’s taste this helps the reader to visualise even more clearly the future earth which Wright imagines. From the picture that she has developed inside the reader’s head Wright hopes for them to get a better understanding and a greater concern for the consequences that follow a lack of environmental attention.