LITERARY ANALYSIS: Although it consists mainly of dialogue, this memoir
excerpt contains no quotation marks. How does the author's use of language
and style enable readers to distinguish between the voices of the characters,
give those characters personality, and establish a tone? Use original
commentary to support your response. Angela’s Ashes
In the memoir excerpt from Angela's Ashes, the author's use of language and style compensates for the lack of quotation marks, allowing readers to distinguish between the voices of the characters, give them personality, and establish a tone. Frank McCourt employs various literary devices to achieve this.
One way McCourt differentiates between the voices of the characters is through their distinct dialects and colloquial speech. For example, when Angela speaks, her dialogue is characterized by her poor, uneducated background. She says, "Ah, God help us, Frankie, it's a long way we've come," using a vernacular that reflects her working-class Irish upbringing. In contrast, Malachy, the father, speaks with a stronger Irish accent, using phrases such as "God bless the work" and "Saints preserve us," which adds authenticity to his character. By relying on dialect and colloquial speech, even without quotation marks, McCourt allows us to differentiate between the characters’ voices.
Moreover, McCourt's writing style and use of sentence structure help establish the characters' personalities. For instance, when Angela speaks, her dialogue is often filled with hesitation and uncertainty, reflecting her timid and submissive nature. For instance, she says, "Frankie, I'm not sure, but maybe you could give it a try?" Here, the author's sentence structure and use of qualifiers like "maybe" and "I'm not sure" convey Angela's lack of confidence and her inclination to defer to others. In contrast, when Malachy speaks, his dialogue is more assertive and confident, reflecting his outgoing and unpredictable personality. McCourt's style and sentence structure, in combination with the characters' words, effectively bring out their individual personalities.
Finally, the tone is also established through the author's choice of words and the pacing of the dialogue. When Angela speaks, her tone is more passive and resigned, reflecting her acceptance of her circumstances. For instance, when she says, "God help us all," the author's choice of words conveys a sense of helplessness and resignation. On the other hand, Malachy's tone is more lively and optimistic, as seen when he enthusiastically exclaims, "My four lovely boys!" The different tones created through the characters' dialogue reflect their differing outlooks on life and their current situations.
In conclusion, despite the absence of quotation marks, the author's use of language and style in Angela's Ashes enables readers to distinguish between the voices of the characters and give them personality. Through dialect, sentence structure, word choice, and the establishment of tone, Frank McCourt effectively brings the characters to life and enhances the reader's understanding and engagement with the memoir.