February 5th, 2009

Journal Entry #3: Literary Terms

1) Page Number: 27

Technique: symbolism 

Quote: "Janie said nothing except, 'Ah'll cut de p'taters fuh yuh. When yuh comin' back?'"

Why: The "p'taters" as it is said in the dialect are a symbol of the busywork that the women of that day were left at home to do while the men went off on their own business. The use of the p'tater symbol is to better develop the atmosphere between the characters with the woman doing the domestic work while the man is off doing business as it seems it should be done. With that atmosphere, the understanding of the characters is increased giving the reader a better sense of the era's gender roles.

2)Page Number: 29

Technique: Figurative Language

Quote: "He did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon."

Why: This description of Joe is used to show the man's great importance he has to Janie and the thrill that he brings her when he is with her. He is also a representation of what lies beyond the area of land and life that Janie knows which has a sense of mystery to it as well as the great importance.

3)Page Number: 30

Technique: Personification

Quote: "The thought put a terrible ache in Logan's body"

Why: At that moment, the thought is personified as putting an ache into Logan's body in order to convey just how heavy it had been to him. If it had been of lesser importance, it could have been said as "with that thought, Logan's body began to ache" but instead it was written as it was which showed that it is a key piece.

4)Page Number: 31

Technique: Simile

Quote: "Logan looked like a black bear doing some clumsy dance on his hind legs."

Why: The simile of Logan resembling an awkward black bear doing a dance is used to further contrast him to the seemingly amazing qualities of Joe from earlier in the chapter. Joe is described as being a wonderful man worthy of desire whereas Logan continues to be seen in a worse and worse light as the story continues. The black bear is chosen for the simile instead of something more docile as it conveys more of a malicious tone about Logan coming from more than just the way he speaks to Janie.

5)Page Number: 32

Technique: Simile

Quote: "The morning road air was like a new dress."

Why: The feeling of the air as she ran away being like a new dress communicates the idea that even the air feels new as she begins a new life. The fact that even the air is new to her also hints that in her new life only what is in her mind will remain of Logan, his demands for her to chop wood and peel potatoes and to drop everything that she's doing just for him.