In The Horizontal World, a memoir by Debra Marquart, the author portrays the perceptions of her hometown, North Dakota, along with the rest of the upper Midwest in different perspectives. With the incorporations of many accounts of the region, Marquart includes the popular belief that the Midwest is dull and bleak. Though the memoir constitutes these stereotypical beliefs, the author uses these misconceptions in her argument to embody the importance of North Dakota.With the change of tone, use of diction, and the personal attachment to her hometown, the author is able to refute the generalizations made against the midwest & make the audience come to a consensus that there is a uniqueness to the undermined Great Plains.
Marquart begins the memoir by describing the environment of North Dakota. She sets the tone when exclaiming …show more content…
The authors use of imagery alongside diction with the terms ‘lonely’,’treeless’ & ‘devoid’ shows that she is intentionally being overdramatic, and dark to inspire a sense of sarcasm in the audience. In doing so, she is establishing a humorous tone, and is invalidating that depiction of North Dakota. The author continues this mocking tone, when including a statement made by a comedian about the ‘square states’. When comparing the upper Midwest to “a region that spawns both tornadoes and Republicans,”(Marquart, 13-14), the use of diction is apparent. The term ‘spawned’ heightens and once more over-dramatizes the statement. The author is also equating the Republicans and tornadoes together to further enhance her use of sarcasm. The addition of this hyperbole helps support that the generalizations made about the upper Midwest is false. The author then connects the idea that stereotypes dictate people’s perception in a broader sense when claiming that “being blonde,
Marquart begins the memoir by describing the environment of North Dakota. She sets the tone when exclaiming …show more content…
The authors use of imagery alongside diction with the terms ‘lonely’,’treeless’ & ‘devoid’ shows that she is intentionally being overdramatic, and dark to inspire a sense of sarcasm in the audience. In doing so, she is establishing a humorous tone, and is invalidating that depiction of North Dakota. The author continues this mocking tone, when including a statement made by a comedian about the ‘square states’. When comparing the upper Midwest to “a region that spawns both tornadoes and Republicans,”(Marquart, 13-14), the use of diction is apparent. The term ‘spawned’ heightens and once more over-dramatizes the statement. The author is also equating the Republicans and tornadoes together to further enhance her use of sarcasm. The addition of this hyperbole helps support that the generalizations made about the upper Midwest is false. The author then connects the idea that stereotypes dictate people’s perception in a broader sense when claiming that “being blonde,