Examples Of Diction In Maxine Clair

Maxine Clair utilizes a wide array of literary techniques to characterize the adult narrator’s memories Clair frequently manipulates different forms of syntax along with visual imagery and varying forms of diction to better characterize the narrator’s memories. Throughout the passage Clair constantly utilizes visual imagery to describe the setting or action vividly. Clair’s visual descriptions are often followed up with long syntax that normally have different forms of diction i.e. in paragraph 34 Clair attempts to vividly describe her father’s coat and utilizes informal diction in order to do so, Clair states “If you pated the heavy coats between the raggedy mouton that once belonged to my father…” this attempt to create a vivid description of her father’s coat doesn't only have informal diction but it is also tied along with visual imagery e.g. line 37 when Clair states “ the putrid-colored jacket my father wore when…” as well as lengthy sentences which normally keep things flowing.

Clair also characterizes the narrator’s memory using smilies and making references to different things such as analogies. The use of similes and analogies however, tend to be a part of her visual description. In lines 40 Clair states “as fine as wine” which is still a part f the previous couple sentences when she was trying to describe her father’s coat. Author Maxine Clair also makes references to certain paradoxical analogies e.g. lines 4 and 5 Clair states “life was measured in summers then,” and the expression “ ‘I am in this world, but not of it’ and appealed to me”. The first part of the statement is a simple remembrance/ flashback of when the narrator’s young life however, the second part of that, refers to the expression, that is a bit more complex as it presents itself as a