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Summary Of On The Subway By Sharon Olds

323 Words2 Pages

In "On the Subway", the author, Sharon Olds explicitly describes an experience she had while using public transportation. Sitting across from her was an African American male who casually resembled a common mugger. In her thoughts, she analyzed and considered the obvious differences between her life of lavishness, which represents white superiority, and his supposed life of struggle and abuse, representing black inferiority. Olds displays this analyzation of both worlds by using imagery and simile. To begin, Olds uses the poetic device of imagery in order to give a visual description. For example, she writes, "He has the casual cold look of a mugger, alert under hooded lids." In this statement, Olds notices how suspicious

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