Waukegan, Illinois

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. Douglas “pointed a finger” and the village springs to life, so much so that Bradbury explains, “Yes sir, he thought, everyone jumps, everyone runs when I yell.” These descriptions indicate that Douglas believes he is in command of the town. Another element in establishing the mystical environment in this passage is Bradbury’s use of comparisons, mainly simile and metaphor. In line 25, Bradbury explains Douglas “saw his hand jump everywhere…Like the goddess…

Ray Bradbury brings us back to a time when we all were full of creative potential and explores how summer was an important aspect of childhood. In Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine, there is a significant assortment of literary terms used to emphasize an overall magical and mysterious atmosphere. Bradbury commences the passage with many rhetorical devices to characterize the beginnings of summer and describe how this day is so important to a young child, bright with creative vision. The author…

In Ray Bradbury's novel, Dandelion Wine, the author uses a variety of rhetorical devices to point out on Douglas Spaulding's imagination. In the authors writing, he uses metaphors and personification to portray Douglas's vision of summer. He describes the main character's hometown as "swarming seas of elm and oak and maple" and "early-morning stream" these are metaphors, it allows readers to visualize the setting of his home and symbolizes how summer is slow and steady. In addition, the author…

Dandelion Wine and The Time Machine are two very famous classics, and continue to work their way into everyone’s hearts to this day. The author’s purpose is also known as a theme, or symbol of the book. Both Dandelion Wine and The Time Machine have many themes, and symbols. These books are used in many programs that my foreign friends go to and use their English skills for good things. For example, my friend in India uses these books in his school. These books are great, and have many things to…

The book is set in 1928 Green Town, Illinois. The time period in which this book is set is very important because of the view on machines at the time. In 1928, machines were a very new concept, and many people did not know whether or not to trust them. Bradbury had a very cautious view on machines, and it comes through a lot in the book. If the book had not been set in 1928, then I believe the theme "technology should not be used to replace everything" would not be so evident. The fact that it…

No one had known that on August 4th, 1961, an individual was born that would one day inspire the world. Barack Hussein Obama Jr. was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to parents Ann Dunham, an elementary teacher whom later on received her PhD in anthropology, and Barack Hussein Obama Sr., an economist in the Kenyan government. Mr. Obama Jr. is a descendent of a line of strong, independent people. His grandfather, Stanly Dunham, was a World War II veteran and his grandmother worked to become the first…

“Oh Captain! My Captain!” is about a son who is attempting to inform his father about good news, unaware that his father has just passed away in a battle. Walt Whitman, the author of “Oh Captain! My Captain!” laments over the loss of his hero, Abraham Lincoln and viewed him as the greatest president in United States History. Whitman saw a “grand tragedy that promised ultimate purgation and unification for America” in the death of Lincoln (Reynolds). Because of this view on President Lincoln,…

Dorothea Dix was at a young age relatively in charge of keeping house and taking care of her younger siblings due to her mother’s crippling depression and likely other mental illnesses and her father’s abusive achollisim. While her mother likely being her first and most formative experience with mental illness, she was in no way her last. Having always had a fascination with the mentally ill Dorothea took a teaching position at the East Cambridge Women’s prison where she was shocked to see the…

No matter your stance on President Obama or his administration, many would agree that he can passionately deliver a great speech. With 2016 being the finale of his 8-year term, the upcoming State of the Union address will be the last one of Obama’s presidency. As he prepares to address the country on Tuesday, January 12 at 9 p.m. ET, many Americans from all sides of the political spectrum are preparing to watch the President’s final formal speech online. The word on the White House streets is…

In this case presentation it focuses on research on stem cells to find possible ways to cure many disease. A group of scientists created a line of stem cells out of human embryos that could be used for genetic engineering research in November 1998. When George W. Bush became president he received immense pressure to ban the funding and research for stem cell research, and it led him to ban the proposed funding for the research. To support his actions Bush argued that the stem cells found by the…