An author’s main intention when writing literature is to send a message regarding social factors and shed light on issues not readily visible to society. As a result, they adopt various strategies, which may sometimes conceal the real meanings of text or use words that attract and retain their audiences’ attention to achieve their goals. Therefore, literary elements or devices are components authors use to paint a clear image of what they want to portray to their readers. In the featured excerpt, Anne Tyler incorporates various elements to guide her audience into the characters’ initiatives. However, the author heavily relies on foreshadowing, imagery, and dialogue to inform readers of the complex relationship between the characters and describe their high self-consciousness.
Foreshadowing is a literary element writers use to hint at what is about to come in a story. Foreshadowing aims to increase the reader’s tension and narrative suspense, thus absorbing them into the plot. In the excerpt, the author suggests a wedge between residents of Harper Road and those not living in the establishment. The author notes that the people, like their houses, were ‘newish’ because they settled in the area after investors developed a furniture factory at Garrettville. In addition, Tyler informs the audience that the two girls did not know any of these individuals, which is a good thing as they would not be too self-conscious. As a result, the author insinuates that something unusual might happen because of the divide between the characters. Foreshadowing effectively molds readers’ thoughts and expectations because it provides a basis for what is bound to occur in the narrative. Hence, it encourages readers to keep on reading and finding out more about the story.
Vivid imagery is another technique Anne Tyler uses to describe the characters’ unique attributes and shed light on their self-consciousness. The second paragraph of the excerpt describes the girl’s appearance as they prepare to engage in sales and marketing in the strange neighborhood. The author proposes that the girls put effort into looking neat despite their limitations. Similarly, Tyler describes the first house and its features, suggesting that individuals in the residential area were well off. For example, the house was modern, and its door had a light that was on even during the day. Finally, the author offers a vivid description of the young woman who opened the door. Although the two girls were frightened, they were at ease when they saw a woman younger than their mother and more stylish. Additionally, she wore a miniskirt, bright lipstick, and short brown hair. These descriptions engage readers and allow them to picture the scenarios as they unfold.
A common literary element the author adopts throughout the text is dialogue between the characters. Dialogue is a device the author uses to facilitate characterization and enrich the plot. However, it informs readers of the character’s attributes and their line of thought. For example, the audience notes that both girls are scared to approach their customers and would not want to pose as salesmen despite raising money for their orchestra. However, they understand each other and agree on a resolution that allows them to participate. In addition, the short conversation between the two girls suggests that Willa is mature as she is good with older people. However, their inability to control their laughter prevented them from closing the sale. Despite the woman’s attempts to inquire about the reason for the visit, the girls did not comply and instead opted to walk away.
The author excels at building her audience’s suspense by limiting the information provided regarding the cause of their hysterical laughter and the woman’s reaction and expression after the event. The author first engages her readers in suspense by describing the strange nature of the new houses and neighborhoods. Although the souses were wooden, they were well-constructed and had cutting-edge features. Additionally, she creates more suspense by describing the girl’s uncontrollable laughter instead of the reason. The author only mentions that the girls started laughing after the little child called the young woman ‘mama’ and asked who they were. Thus the suspense leaves readers brainstorming about the potential cause of the girl’s laughter and whether they offended the woman with the behavior.
Literary elements are critical when composing literature because they allow authors to present their ideas using different approaches. Moreover, literary elements provide closure and inform the audience of the plot, the character’s attributes, and thoughts. For example, Anne Tyler adopts foreshadowing and suspense to gain the attention of her audience and indulge them in her story. As a result, she successfully initiates the readers questioning as she advances her narrative. In addition, she employs dialogue and vivid description to create further awareness of the conditions, feelings, and actions perpetrated by the characters. These elements allow the audience to interact, engage with the characters, and empathize with their situation. Hence, the devices the author adopts play a crucial role in making the story livelier and enhancing the readers’ anticipation.