Douglas Spaulding, age 12, showcases his magical powers in a short excerpt from Ray Bradbury’s novel Dandelion Wine. Bradbury paints a wizard-like portrait of the young boy by employing mystical diction and equally important comparisons to establish a rampantly magical atmosphere throughout the passage.
Bradbury lays the foundation for magic through copious use of magical diction, word choice that reinforces the atmosphere. Lines 35-39 are especially significant because they mention young Douglas racing up “dark spiral stairs” in a “sorcerer’s tower” in order to “perform his ritual magic.” These words are all in the semantic field of magic and sorcery and the fact that Bradbury chose them to describe Douglas’ adventure links the entire episode with mysticism. Furthermore, the “bleak mansions” across the city “opened baleful dragon eyes”, eyes of creatures that are inextricably linked with magic and sorcery. But perhaps the most noticeable example of this magical diction is the second half of the passage starting in line 45. …show more content…
In line 25, Bradbury explains Douglas “saw his hand jump everywhere…Like the goddess Siva”. A Hindu goddess, Siva is often portrayed as having many arms, and this simile carries the same association to young Douglas: Bradbury portrays the young boy as having his arms here and his arms there, doing everything at the same time. The village lights that Douglas seems to have control over “candles on a black cake” and when Douglas “exhaled again and again…the stars began to vanish.” This description suits two different purposes. First, the contrast of the town’s lights in the early morning are likened to the weak but significant light of a birthday cake. Secondly, the stars are also likened to flames that are extinguished when Douglas “blows” them out. Both comparisons establish Douglas as a sorcerer of great
Bradbury lays the foundation for magic through copious use of magical diction, word choice that reinforces the atmosphere. Lines 35-39 are especially significant because they mention young Douglas racing up “dark spiral stairs” in a “sorcerer’s tower” in order to “perform his ritual magic.” These words are all in the semantic field of magic and sorcery and the fact that Bradbury chose them to describe Douglas’ adventure links the entire episode with mysticism. Furthermore, the “bleak mansions” across the city “opened baleful dragon eyes”, eyes of creatures that are inextricably linked with magic and sorcery. But perhaps the most noticeable example of this magical diction is the second half of the passage starting in line 45. …show more content…
In line 25, Bradbury explains Douglas “saw his hand jump everywhere…Like the goddess Siva”. A Hindu goddess, Siva is often portrayed as having many arms, and this simile carries the same association to young Douglas: Bradbury portrays the young boy as having his arms here and his arms there, doing everything at the same time. The village lights that Douglas seems to have control over “candles on a black cake” and when Douglas “exhaled again and again…the stars began to vanish.” This description suits two different purposes. First, the contrast of the town’s lights in the early morning are likened to the weak but significant light of a birthday cake. Secondly, the stars are also likened to flames that are extinguished when Douglas “blows” them out. Both comparisons establish Douglas as a sorcerer of great