The Grotesque Gem of the American South: Different Approaches to the Okefenokee Swamp

Deep in the American South lies a swamp so vast, so diverse, so mysterious, perspective changes its very nature. The appeal of this swamp, the Okefenokee Swamp, as an inspiration for writers lies not only in its mystery, but also its many faces. Describing the swamp, from its terrain to its inhabitants, authors can bring out its beauty or terror, depending on their purpose. While both Passage 1 and Passage 2 define and describe the Okefenokee Swamp, they differ in their style, intended audience, and general purpose. While Passage 1 attempts to provide an authoritative, objective, and precise description of the swamp, Passage 2 uses descriptive imagery to convey its essence and spirit.
With an evident attempt at objectivity, the syntax of Passage 1 relies almost entirely on sentences of medium length, uses a few long sentences for balance, and concludes with a strong telegraphic sentence. The varying sentence length helps keep the readers engaged, while also ensuring that the writing remains succinct and informative. Like the varying sentence length, the sentence structures vary as complex sentences are offset by a few scattered simple sentences. The complex sentences provide the necessary description, and the simple sentences keep the writing easy to follow. Conversely, Passage 2 contains mostly long, flowing sentences, broken up by a single eight word sentence in the middle. This short sentence, juxtaposed against the length of the preceding and following sentences, provides a needed break in the text, but also bridges the ideas of the two sentences it falls between. The author employs the long sentences to develop his ideas and descriptions to the fullest extent, filling the sentences with literary elements and images. Coupled...

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...ppeals to the logic and reason of the reader, logos. Although the tones of the two passages are different, and their purposes vary, they both describe the Okefenokee Swamp as a unique and diverse location thriving deep in the southern United States.
The complexity of the Okefenokee Swamp parallels the many different opportunities authors have to approach their descriptions of it. The diverse population of plants and animals that both authors choose to include in their passages appeal to the readers’ senses. While Passage 1 uses the description to convey an impartial examination of the swamp’s landscape, Passage 2 aims at uncovering the soul of the swamp and its inhabitants. Despite the apparent differences in purpose, the incorporation of sensory language in both passages makes accessible to readers a landscape as unfamiliar and daunting as the Okefenokee Swamp.