The essay "Keeping Up" uses the modes of expression the most effectively. It uses almost, if not, all of them. To me, it is very clear where they are used.
The whole essay is a narrative really. Sedaris is describing he ways couples react to each other on vacation, most of the time specifically describing a certain couple he heard fighting. "When fighting on a vacation, there is nowhere to go except storming back to your hotel" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, page 13). That cut out is a narrative, as well as an expression because he is describing a past event, and also a dialogue.
But at the same time, the essay is also an internal monologue. Throughout the entire essay, Sedaris is speaking to the audience from what he is thinking in his mind. "I lie on my couch thinking, why don’t you just ask?" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, page 12).
Sedaris used examples of himself and Hugh, his husband on vacation too. There is lots of dialogue between them as well. He cannot stand how fast Hugh walks when in large crowds, and describes as he at the same time is using his internal monologue to narrate what happens in the situations.
“’There you are,’ I say. And when he asks where I have been, I answer honestly and tell him I was lost.” (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, page 19) This phrase is an example of many things. It is narrating what is happening, there is dialogue, internal monologue is happening as Sedaris thinks, there is description, and the only thing left out is exposition. But there is plenty of that in other parts of the essay.
This essay uses every mode multiple times. I think it’s the best one that I read to represent the different types of modes we learned about.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
3.) Which Essay Effected the Most
The essay "The Monster Mash" effected me the most. It talked about death, which is a touchy subject for me, and well anyone I am sure. It really made me think about life and death, and how vulnerable it is.
In the essay, Sedaris tells how seeing so many dead people intrigued him but also disgusted him. It was intriging because all the people had died in pecular ways, for example, falling off a latter while changing a lightbulb, how unordinary. (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 113) He tells how after having this experience, he is not able ti see people the same agian for weeks, always imagining them dead.
Sedaris described the dead people very detailed as well, describing a man who jumped off a building and his eyes literally fell out. That was disturbing. He talked about how, as a child, he was actually quite interested in death, as most kids are. And even when he was desgusted by it in the autopsy room, it was still intriging. I was intriged as well.
The author does a good job of keeping the reader inturestes, but also is confusing and you can lose what the topic is sometimes when you are reading. HIs experiences are pecular and sometimes I wonder if they are actually real. But in the end, I believe what I am reading because he is a pecular man and I am sure he has weird experiences.
I liked this essay the best because it had the most desription and touched me the most, even if it wasnt in a good way. Sedaris' weird way of thinking and writing is an exciting thing to get a glimpse inside of through his books.
In the essay, Sedaris tells how seeing so many dead people intrigued him but also disgusted him. It was intriging because all the people had died in pecular ways, for example, falling off a latter while changing a lightbulb, how unordinary. (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 113) He tells how after having this experience, he is not able ti see people the same agian for weeks, always imagining them dead.
Sedaris described the dead people very detailed as well, describing a man who jumped off a building and his eyes literally fell out. That was disturbing. He talked about how, as a child, he was actually quite interested in death, as most kids are. And even when he was desgusted by it in the autopsy room, it was still intriging. I was intriged as well.
The author does a good job of keeping the reader inturestes, but also is confusing and you can lose what the topic is sometimes when you are reading. HIs experiences are pecular and sometimes I wonder if they are actually real. But in the end, I believe what I am reading because he is a pecular man and I am sure he has weird experiences.
I liked this essay the best because it had the most desription and touched me the most, even if it wasnt in a good way. Sedaris' weird way of thinking and writing is an exciting thing to get a glimpse inside of through his books.
1.) Individual Essay Reviews
The Monster Mash
The main idea of this essay is that you can die at any second, so be aware.
Sedaris is giving different ways he has experienced the different ways people have died and how pecular and spur of the moment they are. He talks in a sense of urgancy as if he too is worried about dieing. After having his experiences with many dead bodys at the morgue, he now has a new view on death. "Even the smallest things like a grape can kill you, I've seen it." (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 16)
Momento Mori
The main point of this essay is agian, slightly about death. Sedaris is trying to symbolize how certian objects can flood thoughts to your mind by just looking at them, for example, his skeleton he bought for Hugh.
Sedaris' tone is very sarcastic, but also serious in a way. H egives many scenarios where he has bought something and it speaks to him, and he eventually get used to it. Like his dog painting and his stove. But is skeleton is different because it continues to speak to him and eventuallly it starts changing his views on life. "You are going to die" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 156) says the skeleton. Sedaris trys to change himself so the skeletons words are not so harsh.
All The Beauty You Will Ever Need
The main point of this essay is that when you are with someone, you should be perfect to them and they should love you for you. Other people should respect that no matter how weird you are.
Sedaris tells about how he is messy and rude sometimes to his boyfriend but he stilll loves him. And sometimes his boyfriend is "beyond faggy, picking flowers in a feild for the table" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 159) but Sedaris stilll love him. He tells about a couple he is buying drugs from and how pecular they are, but he doesnt question them because he is not one to talk. He gets relationships, saying about his man, " I am alll the beauty he will ever need" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 165)
Keeping Up
The main pont of this essay is slightly complicated. The essay stared out at how couples yell a each other on vacations, but I think the main idea ended up being how David needs Hugh.
Sedaris hears a couple outside his window and thinks abou tthe many times he has been mad at Hugh, only to get scared about leaving him and feel better. "Hugh takes care of it all, and without him, I'm like a wild animal." ( David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 18) His tone is thankful, and it shows that he actually needs Hugh, considering that he himself is "afraid of people" and "could never live by himself." He includes that Hugh always walks fast, but without seeing the back of his head infron tof him, he would always get lost.
Road Trips
The main point of this story is how Sedaris felt and how he started to come out and tell people he was gay.
The tone of the essay is almost relieved. It is a personal experience he is glad to let go of. The essay tells how/who he told first and why. Also his troubles of being a homosexual as a child. "Im a homosexual." (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 66) His way of starting to tell the world is tellling a random couple who picked him up. Sedaris istrying to get the reader to picture his torment and how he finally brought himself to confess.
Of Men and Mice
The main idea of this essay is about Sedaris wanting people to believe his storys because he wants to impress.
Sedaris tells scenarios about him with taxi drivera, and higher drivers, with him telling his storys. He didnt get the reactions he waned and this makes him question himself. His tone is almost irritated in this essay, as if he is still not satisfied. "These are certianly dark times, both for the burning, abnd those who would set them alight" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 204). This shows how he is relating his burning mouse story to everyday experiences and how he is distrought over it.
The main idea of this essay is that you can die at any second, so be aware.
Sedaris is giving different ways he has experienced the different ways people have died and how pecular and spur of the moment they are. He talks in a sense of urgancy as if he too is worried about dieing. After having his experiences with many dead bodys at the morgue, he now has a new view on death. "Even the smallest things like a grape can kill you, I've seen it." (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 16)
Momento Mori
The main point of this essay is agian, slightly about death. Sedaris is trying to symbolize how certian objects can flood thoughts to your mind by just looking at them, for example, his skeleton he bought for Hugh.
Sedaris' tone is very sarcastic, but also serious in a way. H egives many scenarios where he has bought something and it speaks to him, and he eventually get used to it. Like his dog painting and his stove. But is skeleton is different because it continues to speak to him and eventuallly it starts changing his views on life. "You are going to die" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 156) says the skeleton. Sedaris trys to change himself so the skeletons words are not so harsh.
All The Beauty You Will Ever Need
The main point of this essay is that when you are with someone, you should be perfect to them and they should love you for you. Other people should respect that no matter how weird you are.
Sedaris tells about how he is messy and rude sometimes to his boyfriend but he stilll loves him. And sometimes his boyfriend is "beyond faggy, picking flowers in a feild for the table" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 159) but Sedaris stilll love him. He tells about a couple he is buying drugs from and how pecular they are, but he doesnt question them because he is not one to talk. He gets relationships, saying about his man, " I am alll the beauty he will ever need" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 165)
Keeping Up
The main pont of this essay is slightly complicated. The essay stared out at how couples yell a each other on vacations, but I think the main idea ended up being how David needs Hugh.
Sedaris hears a couple outside his window and thinks abou tthe many times he has been mad at Hugh, only to get scared about leaving him and feel better. "Hugh takes care of it all, and without him, I'm like a wild animal." ( David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 18) His tone is thankful, and it shows that he actually needs Hugh, considering that he himself is "afraid of people" and "could never live by himself." He includes that Hugh always walks fast, but without seeing the back of his head infron tof him, he would always get lost.
Road Trips
The main point of this story is how Sedaris felt and how he started to come out and tell people he was gay.
The tone of the essay is almost relieved. It is a personal experience he is glad to let go of. The essay tells how/who he told first and why. Also his troubles of being a homosexual as a child. "Im a homosexual." (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 66) His way of starting to tell the world is tellling a random couple who picked him up. Sedaris istrying to get the reader to picture his torment and how he finally brought himself to confess.
Of Men and Mice
The main idea of this essay is about Sedaris wanting people to believe his storys because he wants to impress.
Sedaris tells scenarios about him with taxi drivera, and higher drivers, with him telling his storys. He didnt get the reactions he waned and this makes him question himself. His tone is almost irritated in this essay, as if he is still not satisfied. "These are certianly dark times, both for the burning, abnd those who would set them alight" (David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, page 204). This shows how he is relating his burning mouse story to everyday experiences and how he is distrought over it.
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