Style
Select a passage from the novel that stands out to you for its style. Type the passage and then, explain the effect of the choices the author has made or why the passage is stylistically important.
Note: style refers to the way something is written and the choices the author makes in how to express him or herself. It does not refer to content, which would be what happens in a passage. Some things that mark style are tone (and how diction conveys tone), syntax, imagery, and figurative language.
Note: style refers to the way something is written and the choices the author makes in how to express him or herself. It does not refer to content, which would be what happens in a passage. Some things that mark style are tone (and how diction conveys tone), syntax, imagery, and figurative language.
Comments
This quote takes place when Blue is trying to escape from her abusive husband, Paul. She is hiding in a bathroom stall at the Greyhound bus station when this quote occurs. Orange wrote Blue's thoughts and actions in short, fragmented sentences to express the fear she was experiencing. Her mind and heart were racing in dread of being found by her husband. The short sentences help build suspense for the reader as well and elicit the same emotions of uneasiness that Blue is feeling. This passage is important because it shows how Orange's writing makes readers feel as if they were in the character's shoes. The brief, descriptive sentences allow the readers to comprehend what is happening but the shortness of them is building tension which correlates to what is happening in the plot at that moment.
Katy Pedersen
This paragraph in the novel was the one that stuck out most to me. Similar to Katy's passage, Orange uses a series of short sentences at the beginning in order to convey a sense of suspense. Orange follows the shorts sentences with longer ones in order to depict the scrambled thoughts in Opal's mind about Orvil's outcome. This passage gives vivid imagery as the door swings open and close, forcing the reader to infer Orvil's fate. This builds up a series of emotions in the reader, from concerned to hopeful. In addition, Orange personifies the swings of the door. Opal waits for "what the swings will say" almost as if the swings are actually speaking to her. This creates a sense of anticipation in the reader. This passage allows the reader to be placed in the mind of Opal and feel her many different emotions. The concept of even numbers seen throughout the book is finally brought back in this meaningful moment that allows the readers to connect to the character on a personal level. The many different emotions that Orange was able to evoke just in one paragraph through his use of short sentences, imagery, and personification makes this one of the most captivating passages in the novel.
Carlie McIntyre
Marisa Helff pt. 1
Further, Orange also used figurative language. Through metaphors he emphasizes the role of chance in the creation of a child. Orange uses the metaphors “you were the nested Russian grandmother doll of possibilities in your mom’s ovaries” (Orange 208) and “you were two halves of a thousand different kinds of possibilities, a million heads or tails, flip-shine on a spun coin” (Orange 208). These metaphors help to build up the idea of possibility and chance. There were many possible outcomes in Thomas’ birth, but the one that played out in the end was the arrhythmic heartbeat, which helped become closer to his community through drumming.
Another choice Orange made in the passage was the use of repetition, mainly of the phrases “Before you were born” and simply “you were”. Partially, this circles back to the use of 2nd person point of view and immersing the reader, but it also helps to show the inheritance of culture. As Orange repeats “before you were born, you were…”, he is showing how you are connected to your culture even before birth. This, in combination with the metaphors, show how there was the chance for various facets of Thomas’ culture to be passed down to him, both positive and negative, and he got one that is positive, drumming.
Marisa Helff pt. 2
This is an excerpt from Tony Loneman's first chapter. Octavio had just called him and told him that he would be the one to hide the bullets, and asked him to make sure that "feathers and [stuff]" to wear for when he did so (25). Here, Orange uses imagery to create a picture of Tony standing in front of his TV in his regalia for the reader. Doing this allows the reader to feel the sense of pride that Tony feels in this moment. This outfit he is wearing barely fits, yet through Orange's description you can feel the confidence that Tony typically lacks, restored. In this passage Orange also repeatedly uses the word "I". This makes it more personal- rather than listing each description one after another, restarting each sentence with "I" forces the reader to remember that this is a moment that Tony Loneman is reflecting upon himself. Not only how he looks, but how he feels and how he connects to his culture.
When I was reading this paragraph from Octavio Gomez's chapter,I was immediately pulled in by it's suspense. This quote is from the beginning of the paragraph, so Orange meant for it to pull in the reader. It made me wonder if their operation was going to be successful, or if what the whole story was leading up to was going to be a bust. The description of Octavio's sweat and worried feelings added to the action and suspense and made this section very interesting to read. This paragraph, along with the rest of the chapter served to provide suspense leading up to the powwow robbery, and in my opinion, was a much needed section to pull in the reader further.
This is a quote from the first chapter of Tony Loneman. In this chapter, he explains his life and why he is the way he is. He looks different than most people because his mom drank alcohol when she was pregnant with him and he has fetal alcohol syndrome. This passage shows the readers how Tony is not just lonely and scared, but is angry about his life. In this passage, he is telling the readers that when he reads to his grandma, Maxine he feels different about himself. When he reads the books about Indians, it makes him feel less alone and more confident. This passage really stuck out to me in terms of style because it sets a different tone. It goes from upsetting that Tony feels that way about himself, to happier showing that something he does makes him forget about all of that. Overall, I feel like this section of the book gave the readers a better understanding of Tony’s life.
Amanda Teodoro
Orange wrote this passage in a style that made Jacquie's flashback experience feel painfully realistic. He captures how a real person would feel when experiencing the flashback, and how a real person’s thoughts would start to spiral. Orange chose to not have the memory hit Jacquie all at once. Instead, he formed the memory detail by detail— "She saw the big hole first. Then her daughter's emaciated body. There were little red and pink holes up and down both of her arms" (Orange 105). Once Jacquie is fully in the flashback, Orange shows how traumatic the experience was for her to see her daughter. He uses the word “body” several times when referring to the daughter, suggesting that Jacquie could no longer feel connected to her in that moment because she was in such shock. Orange then goes on to show how Jacquie is spiraling so fast into the memory that she loses control of her thoughts. Orange shows how her thoughts quickly progress, beginning when she remembers the bullet wound on her daughter. Orange uses short sentences—“The big hole. The shot between the eyes. Like a third eye, or an empty third-eye socket”, and then by goes into great detail about Veho the spider. After associating the bullet hole with the empty eyesockets that Veho the spider would leave on his victims, Jacquie spirals even more, and associates Veho with the white people that forced out and murdered natives for their land. She thought about how they took the land, until “your eyes are drained and you can’t see behind you and there’s nothing ahead, and the needle, the bottle, or the pipe is the only thing in sight that makes any sense”. Orange uses “and” instead of commas, making Jacquie’s thoughts feel faster and more frantic.
Stephanie Sudusky
This passage takes place after Orvil hears gunshots. After Orvil is shot, every sentence in this passage begins with "he". Orange is directly stating everything that Orvil is doing, thinking, and feeling in the moment. This creates a tone of urgency because it feels like there is no time to go into great detail and explain everything in-depth. This builds tension and allows the reader to feel the same stress that Orvil might be feeling in the moment. Orange's repetition of "he wants" and then the progression to "he needs" shows the reader the sequence of thoughts that is going through Orvil's mind. At first, Orange uses "he wants" to show what Orvil is thinking of doing in that moment. However, the passage then progresses to "He wants to keep breathing. He needs to keep breathing." This is where Orvil remembers the severity of the situation and the importance of him staying alive. The sudden change makes it so the readers almost have the same realization that Orvil does. While a want is something you may desire, a need is necessary to survive. Beginning with the repetition of want shows how Orvil's desires immediately come to mind when he feels his wound. His needs come second in Orvil's train of thought, but they are what the chapter ends with. Ending with the needs shows that it is the final conclusion that Orvil arrives at. The simplicity of the sentences and the repetition that Orange utilizes allows for the readers to experience Orvil's thought process as he is going through a crisis.
In this section, Orange uses the metaphor of a braid to describe how the Powwow is an event that brings all of the Native American people together. Although all of the characters have an aspect of life in which they are struggling with, reuniting at the Powwow reminds them of why their culture and heritage is so important. Additionally, Orange uses climatic syntax in the phrase, “we’ve been coming for years, generations, lifetimes…” to emphasize on the significance of the Powwow, and get readers to truly understand how long of a tradition it has been. Finally, antithesis is shown at the end of the section: “blessed, and cursed” to highlight the ups and downs throughout life. Although each of the characters has had both blessed and cursed times in life, they are still able to join together at the Powwow to celebrate their culture. The Powwow serves as a celebration of Native Americans, but also brings the characters relief from the struggles they face in their personal lives.
I think you chose a great passage to analyze and how you examined the authors words was outstanding. Through the morbid description readers could feel the pain Jacquie was experiencing. The colors of the body made reader's skin crawl but allowed the for us to understand how terrible her daughter's death was. I like how you not only talked about the description but Veho as well. Readers can feel the anger and hurt when Jacquie talks about how Veho leaves Native Americans with needles, bottles, or a pipe as the only things that make sense. Jacquie is a recovering alcoholic so for her, she can relate to being stripped of everything and feeling helpless and only having a bottle to turn to.
Katy Pedersen
I agree that the passage you chose created suspense for the readers and was a good set up for the events to come. The plastic not setting the metal detector off, and the guard who was too absorbed in his newspaper, shows just how unaware and unprepared people are for the robbing that is about to occur. Readers are aware of what's about to happen but knowing that other characters have no clue, builds suspense and worry for readers as they hope their favorite character can escape to safety.
Katy Pedersen
I really liked how you mentioned that Orange used more short, broken fragments in his writing instead of fuller and complete sentences. I also noticed this when the characters were talking in first person more rather than when their stories were told in third person. For example in Blue's section she said "Then he calls. I press the top button of my phone in. He's probably there. Walking through the bus station" (Orange 205). I feel like Orange chose to make short sentences in order to mirror the thoughts of the characters. It feels more real and like the character is having a conversation with themselves or someone else rather than just having the reader read the lines of the story. It engages the reader to feel as if the characters are real and are actually thinking and saying these lines.
Ava Galdenzi
Ava Galdenzi
This passage is when Orvil goes into Opal's room and tries on the regalia. Orange uses short and sudden sentences to create suspense. Orange also uses direct words like "hesitation" and "worry" to show how Orvil is scared of Opal seeing him wearing the regalia. The same effect happens when the reader reads the rhetorical questions at the end of the sentence. It gets the reader to wonder what is going to happen next. Orange's style in this passage represents the fear that the Native Americans had to express their tradition. In the lines following this passage, Opal says that wearing regalia consists of "'Too many risks... Especially around powwows'" (Orange 118). Furthermore, the words "hesitation" and "worry" show how the American settlers took over everything that was important to the Native Americans: their culture, traditions, outfits and how the Native Americans were afraid and hesitant to express themselves.
This passage stuck out to me because it was the last passage of the book. It also stuck out to me because Tony is dying, but the tone of the passage is positive. Orange purposely ended the book positively even though what is happening is tragic. Orange filled this passage with positively connotated words and figurative language to give a positive tone. He used words like “light” “sing” and “morning” which are all positive and welcoming words. He also included the symbolism of the birds which represent freedom, another positive aspect of the passage. Orange did all of this on purpose to make readers feel content with what is occurring. Tony is dying in this passage, but Orange wants the readers to understand that he is finally free. The readers don’t sympathize with Tony but instead they are content with Tony’s death because he is escaping all of the negative things from his life.
Erika Roof
I like how you highlighted the language that Tony uses when he talks about The Drome. I agree that it shows how passionate and angry he is about it. I also think that he is so angry about it because it is something that is out of his control. Readers can tell that he is resentful of this by the way he refrains from drinking even after he turns 21. This shows how strong Tony's feelings are about The Drome which is why Orange uses swear words to emphasize Tony's powerful emotions.
Erika Roof
This paragraph stood out to me for many reasons. The description of the way Bill initially falls after being shot--his phone laying out in front of him, the intense throbbing, and with his blood seeping onto the concrete--is extremely descriptive. Orange uses this powerful imagery to portray an emotional and important moment in the book, where Bill was looking to save Edwin's life, but ended up losing his own. Furthermore, Orange adds in much more description, letting the reader know what Bill is thinking as he is dying. The ringing and buzzing Bill describes feeling, the way he wonders what they'll use to clean the blood, and when he remembers a specific traumatic moment in Vietnam are all described with short sentences, dragging out Bill's death, as if to depict his death as slow and painful.
I like how you both mentioned the short, fragmented sentences that Orange uses throughout the book, while interpreting the meaning of that style differently. With Katy's specific passage, I definitely felt uneasy and fearful as Blue was hiding from Paul in the bathroom stall. In my opinion, that was one of the most suspenseful events to take place in the book, which is due to Orange's use of those short, staccato sentences. Similar with Carlie's passage; the short sentences are used to create suspense, as well as depict the confused and nervous thoughts going through Opals's mind. Orange's use of short sentences throughout the entire novel allows the readers to feel and experience the emotions the characters are feeling.
The paragraph you chose to write about is another one of my favorites. As I read this passage, I felt like I was experiencing the pain and remembering the trauma that Jacquie had had in her past, and was still going through in her present life. The gradual description of Jacquie's memory of her daughter allows the reader to understand the spiraling thoughts going through her head, just as you mentioned. The passage yo chose is overall very emotional, and shows the readers a moment where Jacquie is vulnerable and breaks down.
I felt that you chose a perfect example of how the author uses both suspense and imagery to make readers feel like they understand what the characters in the novel are going through. I agree with you that the short, fragmented sentences show Blue’s thoughts and emotions, displaying the fear she is experiencing in that moment. It also helps to build the tension and suspense because the choppiness of the sentences leaves readers wondering what is going to happen next.
The use of second person in this passage is a unique choice that Orange makes. In the passage, the narrator - Thomas Frank - discusses his life through the second person narrative. Rather than simply using first person, Orange chooses to narrate Thomas’s life in a way that incorporates the reader. This stylistic choice puts the reader in the life of Thomas - which allows the reader to better understand his struggle. The shortness of the sentences in this passage also adds emphasis on addiction. The passage gives a simplistic reason and cause for why addiction starts: “Most addictions aren’t premeditated” (Orange 217). Orange is acknowledging that most of the time addicts don’t plan their addiction. Rather, they become victims of a disease.
Izabella Mott
I also found this passage to be an interesting style especially with the use of second person. I like your discussion of the writing going from vague to specific - something I didn’t pick up on until now. I believe that Orange started out vague to have the story be more relatable, then become more specific in relation to Thomas’s story.
Izabella Mott
I love the passage you chose. I agree with all of your comments about Orange's description and how vivid the imagry was. As I read this passage I was initally shocked at the contents and how deep the description was. That being said, it also appealed to my emotions and made me want to read on. This type of imagry tends to be my favorite since it is elaborate and adds to a reader's experience. I hope to incorporate this type of description into my own writing.
Jetta Powers
When Octovio comes to his grandma ill, she describes the qualities of a curse and how it can affect a person. This relates to her culture and beliefs. Orange uses the metaphor of a bullet as a curse and the aim to show the person's desire to inflict a curse upon someone. This specific use of the metaphor stuck out to me because curses and weapons have a similar negative connotation- they are used to hurt a person. I believe Orange used this specific metaphor to clarify the meaning of a curse in Native American culture where a reader may be unfamiliar of the context
Jetta Powers
EXPLANATION
The passage above was written by Tony Loneman who was born with FAS. As he begins to speak his first few words, the readers notice that he struggles structuring sentences properly. Often times he uses the wrong verb tense or has difficulty explaining who someone is. For example, when the story opens up- he does not explain who Maxine is, he simply introduces her as Maxine; making it sound as if everyone knows who she is. Often times when someone is born with FAS, they have intellectual or developmental difficulties and have trouble properly composing their sentence structure. Typically when a teen or adult talks about a parent, they say, “my mother says...” but someone who has FAS may struggle with this and simply say “mom said…”. In doing this, Orange is able to show the readers just how much Tony struggles with speaking simple sentences because of his disability. Another component that adds to the style of the sentence is how Tony explains how he ‘“was in her”’ instead of saying “when my mother was pregnant with her”. When Orange chooses to write his sentence like this, it allows the reader to physically hear and see exactly how his disability prevents him from having a certain level of sophistication in his speaking. He also says ‘“...I was back in front of the turned off tv”’, because this is improper grammar- it allows the reader to further understand just how much trouble FAS causes him in his speaking.
I absolutely loved the passage you chose! Going off of what Jetta said, the passage yo chose was so vivid and clear- I felt as though I could see everything as I was reading. As I was reading, I could see blood seeping onto the dry concrete. While I'm watching that scene play out in my head, I am able to hear his very thoughts going through my head- causing a much more emotional reaction.
Calley Marcarelli