Eleven
"Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros, uses many literary devices to characterize a complex eleven-year-old. Rachel, the ingenuous 1st person narrator, describes the details of her humiliating eleventh birthday. Although her diction reflects her age, Rachel conveys the difficulty of growing up with adult precision. She is embarrassed and feels helpless whenever she tries to talk, but knows she will soon be home with her parents, and her terrible day will drift away.
Rachel's age is given away not only by the title, but also by her word choice. She makes use of numerous similes, describing crying like uncontrollable hiccups, drinking milk to fast, and little animal noises. Her confidence rattles like "pennies in a tin Band-Aid Box," and she is always on the edge of lapsing into another session of tears. However, Rachel's diction does not simple betray her age. Descriptions like "smells like cottage cheese" are insights into her true personality. She is passionate and curious, almost......
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Approximate Word Count: 658
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |