Writer A.S. Patrick, in his narrative essay “The Rattler”, portrays his encounter with and killing of a rattlesnake. Patrick’s purpose is to show that the killing of the rattler was necessary but not his first choice. He employs aggressive diction to evoke ambivalent feelings in the audience as he characterizes the snake, marks dramatic shifts in scenes and justifies his actions.
The diction the author uses, especially the strong adjectives and use of similes create suspense and sympathy for his actions. The author is trying to get the audience to agree with or justify his circumstance, Patrick uses words and phrases like “abruptly”, “unprovoked attack” and “furious signal” to explain the confrontation. He is attempting to get the audience
The diction the author uses, especially the strong adjectives and use of similes create suspense and sympathy for his actions. The author is trying to get the audience to agree with or justify his circumstance, Patrick uses words and phrases like “abruptly”, “unprovoked attack” and “furious signal” to explain the confrontation. He is attempting to get the audience