Note: Your teacher will grade your response to the question below to ensure that your receive proper credit for your answer. Evaluate the following descriptive paragraph. How well does it appeal to the reader's senses? What is the overall effect? "About 15 miles below Monterey, on the wild coast, the Torres family had their farm, a few sloping acres above a cliff that dropped to the brown reefs and to the hissing white waters of the ocean. Behind the farm the stone mountains stood up against the sky. The farm buildings huddled like the clinging aphids on the mountain skirts, crouched low to the ground as though the wind might blow them into the sea. The little shack, the rattling, rotting barn were gray-bitten with sea salt, beaten by the damp wind until they had taken on the color of the granite hills. Two horses, a red cow and a red calf, half a dozen pigs and a flock of lean, multi-colored chickens stocked the place. A little corn was raised on the sterile slope, and it grew short and thick under the wind, and all the cobs formed on the landward sides of the stalks." — John Steinbeck, “Flight”
The descriptive paragraph effectively appeals to the reader's senses by using vivid imagery and descriptive language. The mention of the "brown reefs" and "hissing white waters" of the ocean engages the sense of sight and sound. The mention of the "stone mountains" and the "clinging aphids" appeals to the sense of touch and creates a strong visual image. The mention of the "gray-bitten" buildings and the "color of the granite hills" engages the sense of sight and touch. The description of the animals, such as the "red cow and a red calf" and the "lean, multi-colored chickens," appeals to the sense of sight. The mentioning of the corn growing "short and thick under the wind" engages the sense of touch and depicts the harsh conditions of the environment. Overall, the paragraph effectively appeals to the reader's senses by providing detailed and descriptive imagery. The overall effect is to create a vivid and immersive picture of the setting.
The descriptive paragraph effectively appeals to the reader's senses by painting a vivid picture of the setting. The use of descriptive language allows the reader to imagine the physical landscape and experience the sensory elements described.
The overall effect of the paragraph is to create a sense of wildness and isolation. The mention of the "wild coast" and the "stone mountains" evokes a feeling of ruggedness and untamed nature. The use of words like "hissing white waters," "rattling, rotting barn," and "gray-bitten with sea salt" creates a sense of decay and harsh conditions. The description of the animals and crops on the farm further reinforces the idea of survival in a challenging environment.
Overall, the paragraph effectively appeals to the reader's senses and creates a vivid and atmospheric setting.
To evaluate the descriptive paragraph and assess how well it appeals to the reader's senses, we need to analyze the language and imagery used. Let's break down the paragraph and examine the sensory details included.
The paragraph starts by setting the location: "About 15 miles below Monterey, on the wild coast, the Torres family had their farm, a few sloping acres above a cliff that dropped to the brown reefs and to the hissing white waters of the ocean." This description appeals to the reader's sense of sight and sound. It creates an image of a rugged coastal landscape with a cliff, reefs, and the sound of hissing waves.
The paragraph continues to describe the surroundings: "Behind the farm the stone mountains stood up against the sky." This adds a sense of grandeur to the scene, appealing to the reader's sense of sight and emphasizing the farm's modest position against the impressive backdrop.
The following sentence focuses on the farm buildings: "The farm buildings huddled like the clinging aphids on the mountain skirts, crouched low to the ground as though the wind might blow them into the sea." This description appeals to the reader's sense of touch and provides a vivid image of the buildings huddling and seeming fragile in the face of the wind.
The paragraph then mentions the appearance of the buildings: "The little shack, the rattling, rotting barn were gray-bitten with sea salt, beaten by the damp wind until they had taken on the color of the granite hills." This appeals to the reader's sense of sight and touch, illustrating the effect of sea salt and wind on the structures, as well as their resemblance to the nearby hills.
Finally, the paragraph mentions the animals and crops on the farm: "Two horses, a red cow and a red calf, half a dozen pigs and a flock of lean, multi-colored chickens stocked the place. A little corn was raised on the sterile slope, and it grew short and thick under the wind, and all the cobs formed on the landward sides of the stalks." This description appeals to the reader's sense of sight and adds a touch of movement and life to the scene.
Overall, the paragraph does an excellent job of appealing to the reader's senses. It primarily focuses on visual and tactile details, painting a vivid picture of the setting and conveying a sense of ruggedness and harsh conditions. The use of specific imagery enables the reader to form a clear mental image and better connect with the story.
The paragraph's overall effect is to immerse the reader in the environment of the Torres family's farm. It presents a descriptive and evocative scene, capturing the unique characteristics of the location and setting the stage for the story to unfold.