The Colonel By Carolyn Forche Summary

Energy is an important aspect of any paper because it helps convey the type of story you want and lets the reader know what it would feel like to be in that situation. While reading “The Colonel” by Carolyn Forche, energy could start to be felt from the very beginning and grew stronger with each word. Building on to the vibes that the story starts with creates more complex layers and a sense of really being there in that room with the character telling the story. Forche does this with different types of techniques such as specific words, leaping, and controlling time. Words tell a story but by choosing your words carefully, the writer can tell a story without saying it. “Broken bottles were embedded in the walls around the house to scoop the kneecaps from a man's legs or cut his hands to lace.” this sentence if full of specific words that details give an eerie vibe. Instead of using words such as “in”, “hurt”, or “badly”, Forche chose words that almost make the reader feel as if they are the one getting their skin rubbed …show more content…
Leaping and not telling the full story word for word gives the reader a chance to think about what is going on and figure things out so they won’t get bored. This is evident in the story by the way the author never tells us who he is eating with or whose house he is in, but rather leaves clues throughout the story. By describing the glass in the wall, a gun on the couch, and the way people serve, the reader can include that he is a man of importance and potentially dangerous. When the author tells us about the bags of ears, is when we are confirmed that the hypothesis of this man is true. It is never clear what the man does for a living exactly but that is okay, by not telling every detail and having faith in the reader, it allowed the reader to be more active and feel the energy for themselves instead of being told what to