A Mother In Mannville

473 Words1 Page

Dialogue and events help set the tone, reveal aspects of a character, or propel the action. When an author uses dialogue, it creates conversation between two or more characters. Conversation is often used in a story to display an argument, discussion, or friendly chat. Every story is made up of a series of events. Events are what happen in a story. Without events or dialogue, the story would not flow consistently. Dialogue is often used to develop characters and plots. In A Mother in Mannville, by Majorie Kinnan Rawlings, the reader can tell that the woman underestimates the boy at first, when she says “You? But you’re small.” Although the author does not state specifically that the woman is disdainful towards the boy and his wood-chopping …show more content…

They keep the story moving and advance the plot. When the woman first met the boy, she didn’t think he could chop wood very well. “I visualized mangled and inadequate branches.” (Rawlings, Par. 8) There is an unexpected plot twist when the woman realizes the boy’s skill in chopping wood, and her point of view towards him changes. “I looked at him, actually, for the first time… I could picture him at four… and that same—independence? No the word that comes to me is integrity.” (Rawlings, Par. 20) If the woman and boy had never met, the woman would have never changed her attitude towards him. She looked at him in a new light. In the story, The Man Who Was a Horse, by Julius Lester, there is no dialogue, and the events in the story propel most of the action and introduce the characters. Lester starts by explaining how Bob has a special, unusual connection with horses. “Many people thought it odd that he could bring in a herd of mustangs by himself.” (Lester, Par. 1) This foreshadows that maybe Bob will have an opportunity to prove his skills. “One day several of the cowboys went out to capture a herd.” (Lester, Par. 2) Because of this event, it opens up an opportunity for Bob to prove that he can actually capture a herd single-handedly. The events in a story help to advance and propel the

Open Document