TOW #14: The Way to Rainy Mountain

In the essay, The Way to Rainy Mountain, N. Scott Momaday tells of the customs, history and practices of his people and ancestors, the Kiowas. Momaday is a well-known Native American Author and is very in touch with his culture. He appears to address the masses and I believe that this piece was really intended for anyone who is willing to read it. Through his use of imagery and figurative language, he is able to paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader in order to educate them about his people's way of life. Momaday emphasizes the fact that the kiowa people are a plain tribe and he talks much about nature and their home. He says, "The grass turns brittle and brown and cracks beneath your feet.. Great green and yellow grasshoppers are everywhere in the tall grass, popping up like corn to sting the flesh…". This is just one instance that the author uses this incredibly descriptive and detailed language and really helps the reader get a true glimpse into the home area of the Kiowa tribe. Momaday also uses a lot of figurative language. One quote that really stuck out to me was, "The sun follows a longer course in the day, and the sky is immense beyond all comparison. The great billowing clouds that sail upon it are shadows that move upon the grain like water, dividing light." His strategic use of metaphor gives the audience a better understanding of what the sky really did and how he perceived it to be. Over all, I thought that Momaday did an excellent job in achieving his purpose. I felt as though I was standing there next to him, in the southern plains as he vividly described his people's home and way of life. I really enjoyed, The Way to Rainy Mountain, and have never read a text with such detail and description.

TOW #13: Frank Sinatra Has a Cold

In the essay, Frank Sinatra Has a Cold, Gay Talese profiles and describes one of the biggest icons of all time, Frank Sinatra. Talese, an reknown american author, helped to define literary journalism, which is undoubtedly shown in this particular piece. He wrote for both the New York Times and Esquire Magazine, two of the most popular journals in America, so he appears to be writing to the common people, who want a glimpse into what Sinatra is really like. In order to paint the true picture of the established singer/actor, he uses vivid imagery and anaphora to achieve his purpose. His use of imagery and detailed descriptions give the reader a holistic idea of Sinatra's world. Talese writes, " He had been silent during much of the evening, except now in this private club in Beverly Hills he seemed even more distant, staring out through the smoke and semidarkness into a large room beyond the bar where dozens of large couples sat huddled around small tables or twisted in the center of the floor to the clamorous clang of folk-rock music blaring from the stereo." This extremely detailed description is just one example of how Talese incorporates imagery in order to illustrate the typical scene of the singer. He also uses anaphora to add emphasis on important subjects. While describing how Sinatra is viewed by people, he says, "Or better still, he is what in traditional Sicily have long been called uomini rispettati -- men of respect: men who are both majestic and humble, men who are loved by all and are very generous by nature, men whose hands are kissed as they walk from village to village, men who would personally go out of their way to redress a wrong." He uses similar forms for multiple phrases to provide an in-depth example of how others view Frank. Overall, I believe that Talese wrote a truly excellent piece and helped me see the iconic singer in a very different way. Frank Sinatra Has a Cold has to be one of the best nonfiction pieces I have ever read, and it was thanks to Talese's extreme skill and detailed descriptions that gave me a glimpse into the life of one of my favorite singers.

TOW #12: The Omnivore's Dilemma #1

In the book, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan discusses the impact of the food industry on America and how what we eat can majorly change our society. An published author, journalist, activist and Berkeley professor, Michael Pollan delves deep into the world of food and stresses how choosing what to eat is incredibly important. While addressing his large audience of American food consumers, he uses a second person point of view and complex diction to show that food problems are extremely widespread and to stress the importance of having knowledge regarding food consumption. His use of a second person point of view has a major impact on the text. He says, "Grab a beer for your beverage instead and you'd still be drinking corn. Read the ingredients on the label of any processed food and, provided you know the chemical names it travels under, corn is what you will find" (18). This strategic use of "you" makes the topic seem much more general and widespread. Pollan is speaking directly to his audience and essentially saying this applies to all of you, not just me. It not only makes the book more approachable and easy to visualize but it also makes his point stronger. He also uses very complex and specific diction to increase his credibility. He describes, " For modified or unmodified starch, for glucose syrup and maltodextrin, for crystalline fructose and ascorbic acid, for lecithin and dextrose, lactic acid and lysine, for maltose and HFCS, for MSG and for polyols, for the caramel color and xanthan gum, read: corn" (19). All of these big and scientific words increase Pollan's ethos by making him appear to be very educated about the topic of food. It adds a lot of weight to his argument. After reading much of the text, I do think that Pollan did an exceptional job at achieving his purpose. I feel much more educated about the modern food industry and I think that this book would be beneficial for everyone to read. Through his use of second person point of view and complex diction, Michael Pollan attempts to educate Americans of the importance of food and their choices regarding it.