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Example research essay topic: Dialect And Culture In American Literature - 1,609 words

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Dialect and Culture in American Literature In order for a literary piece to be considered a work of art, it has to stand the test of time. It has to be unique and it must also separate itself from the mass quantities of words which are merely written down on paper. It must have character, and when read by the audience it will take on a special meaning for that individual. What better way of capturing the audiences attention is there than with the use of dialect and culture?

It simply engulfs the reader and sets the tone of the authors intention. American Literature is fortunate in having such diverse cultures as its foundation. All walks of life have contributed to the outstanding success of American literary works, and it is mainly due to the dialect or language that sets it apart. Carefully chosen diction and dialect help accentuate the realism of the characters to the reader, and language styles help establish distinct characteristics and settings. One of the most recognizable dialects in American Literature would be the Southern dialect. Used a great deal, it is definitely one of the many dialects that is noticed quickly when starting a literary work.

In "Nelle" Harper Lees novel to kill a mockingbird, language usage makes the characters come alive by making them appear real and believable. Although the story takes place in Alabama, one would not need to know this fact in order to realize that the characters are from the South. In chapter one, the southern dialect is evident early when Jem meets Dill for the first time and says, Shoot, no wonder, then. Scout yonder's been readin ever since she was born, and she aint even started school yet.

You look right puny for goin on seven. The written southern dialect helps the reader to get into character as they read each line. A good example of this is also in Chapter one, when Jem makes fun of Dills name, and Dill replies, s not any funnier yours. While reading through the improper contractions, the reader can almost hear the characters voice. The way the characters speak, and the vocabulary they use throughout the story tells the reader that most of them are uneducated, poor folk. The use of dialect is also used to determine status of the individuals in Lees novel.

In Chapter seventeen, Judge Taylor uses an extensive vocabulary when speaking with Robert Ewell; telling us that he is an educated person who holds a higher status in society. The reader then makes the assumption just by listening to him speak that Judge Taylor is probably well off and looked upon as a leader. Harper Lee does an outstanding job of portraying the characters in his book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by the specific words or vocabulary they use. Dialect completes the overall mood of the story, and without it, the reader would be left dumbfounded. Another type of dialect that is popular in American Literature is Ebonics. African Americans throughout literature have spoken and written a language that is entirely different from others.

This form of dialect is what has set them apart from ordinary writers and made them stand out in literature. This form of writing is found in many works such as slave songs and narratives. One example of this is from the book, Slave Songs of the United States, and it reads: 75. WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE [Let me tell you what is nat " rally de fac' None o' God's chil'n number look back, Who is on de Lord's side. 1.

Way in de walley, Who is on de Lord's side, Way in de walley, Who is on de Lord's side. ] 104. THE GOOD OLD WAY. [As I went down in de valley to pray, Studying about dat good old way, When you shall wear de starry crown, Good Lord, show me de way. O mourner, let's go down, let's do down, let's go down, O mourner, let's go down, Down in de valley to pray. ] Another example of the use of Ebonics is in Owen Dodsons "Black Mother Praying. " In the lines 12 - 15, the mother prays: You know bout this war thats bit the skies and gouging out the earth. Last month, Lord, I bid my last boy away to fight. I got all my boys fightin now for they country. Didnt think bout it cept it were for freedom. (993).

This type of dialect puts the reader in the mood that the author is trying to portray. There is no mistaking who is praying here, and the audience automatically interprets the meaning by the feelings and emotions used throughout the poem. From the language alone, the reader knows that the character is African-American, because Owen Dodson does a tremendous job of choosing the proper vocabulary to portray her. Many poems, short stories, and novels that have stood the test of time and have become well known were taken from the authors own life. The passion they put into their writings actually derived from experiences and their past. In Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie, familiarity between Williams own family and the characters of his play seem to parallel one another.

According to the biography of Tennessee Williams, the author states, Tennessee used his own familial relationships as inspiration for the play. His own mother, who is often compared to the controlling Amanda, allowed doctors to perform a frontal lobotomy on Tennessee's sister Rose (Unknown). Williams culture is primarily what shaped many of his writings and the dialect is a direct result of his own lifestyle. As in Tennessee Williams works, Isabella Van Wagener, also known as Sojourner Truth, drew from her past as a catalyst for her writings.

The culture and the background of her lifestyle were amazingly hard (Annas & Rosen, p. 565), and in her story, Aint I a Woman, it is written in the only dialect she knows, that being hard also. Truth says, Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud puddles, or gives me any best place! And aint I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me!

And aint I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mothers grief, none by Jesus heard me. And aint I a woman? . Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Soujouner aint got nothing more to say" (Annas & Rosen, 566). The way Truth uses her vocabulary and flashes back to her culture and lifestyle tells the reader that she is a woman who has been through a great deal as a slave. Her audience sees the struggle and conflict just from the use of words and dialect.

In Harriet Beecher's Stowe's, Uncle Toms Cabin, the formula for the stereotype is the more unintelligible the dialect, the blacker the character. Stowe's Eliza and George speak more clearly than the fully black characters, such as Uncle Tom. An example of Toms dialect can be heard when he says, Children! I appeared you dont know what year satin.

Forever is a dreadful word, children: its awful to think ont. You ought ener wish that ar to an human critter (Stowe 61). Along with the dialect and language, the culture of clothing can also reveal vital information about characters. In Mark Twain's, Puddnhead Wilson, racial identity is assumed by the fact that "her heavy suit of fine, soft brown hair, is concealed by "a checkered handkerchief" (12). Set against her white appearance, Twain chooses one of the most powerful and persistent racial markers with which to identify Roxy, her head rag (Morris 39). Other characteristics of Roxy's calling that gives her away consist of over-worn and homely rags, which are not meant to be considered fashionable.

In Horatio Alger Jrs, Ragged Dick, Dick is a poor white character who also speaks with a strong dialect. Dick is a homeless youth in New York City. He works as a bootblack. Alger writes: Dicks appearance as he stood beside the box was rather peculiar.

His pants were torn in several places, and had apparently belonged in the first instance to a boy two sizes larger than himself. He wore a vest, all of the buttons of which were gone except two, out of which peeped a shirt which looked as if it had been worn a month. (4). The description of Dick is similar to that of the slaves in Uncle Toms Cabin. Dick can be seen as black, by his traits of poor upbringing, language and appearance. When speaking to a customer, Dick says, I have to pay such a big rent for my mansion up on Fifth Avenue, that I cant afford to take less than ten cents a shine. Ill give you a bully shine, sir (5).

The dialect shows his uneducated and impoverished upbringing, the same as the slaves in Stowe's Uncle Toms Cabin and Twain's Puddnhead Wilson. As seen in these various forms of writings, cultural backgrounds and dialects play a major role in American literature. The mere substance for which authors rely on to convey their message is the vocabulary and appearance of their characters. This sets the tone in which they portray their own experiences and struggles, while painting an exact picture for the audience to become involved. Uniqueness in language becomes the authors way to steer the reader in the direction he wants, giving them feeling and emotion to draw their own conclusions.


Free research essays on topics related to: test of time, uncle toms cabin, tells the reader, kill a mockingbird, southern dialect

Research essay sample on Dialect And Culture In American Literature

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