Personal Response 1

Personal Response

Dylan Pinter

Literary techniques are used in stories to enhance the quality, depth and effectiveness of the writing. There are a multitude of different techniques that are used, depending on what meaning or emotion the author is trying to convey. In I Stand Here Ironing many literary techniques are used to enhance the story. The three most prominent and important techniques that are used are stream of consciousness, anaphora and flashback.

The first literary technique, stream of consciousness, is used in I Stand Here Ironing to give the reader more details and background information to do with the story. The author uses this technique to enhance the emotion that the mother shows towards her daughter. An example of this in the story is when the mother and narrator says “The old man living in the back once said in his gentle way: "You should smile at Emily more when you look at her." What was in my face when I looked at her? I loved her. There were all the acts of love.”  This quote demonstrates emotion because it shows the audience that the mother really does love her daughter, and that she tries, but it is hard for her to show her love to anyone.

Much like stream of consciousness, the author uses anaphora to exaggerate a point and to make sure the reader understands what is trying to be said by the narrator of the story. A perfect example of anaphora in I Stand Here Ironing is when the narrator repeats the words “She was a beautiful baby.” This particular anaphora shows the mothers love towards her baby, and puts emphasis on how much she still loves her daughter, despite how much she has changed throughout the years.

The third and final literary technique, flashback, enhances I Stand Here Ironing by giving the reader insight into the characters past. Through flashback, the narrator is able to tell the audience about certain events that have occurred in the past, which helps the audience develop opinions and knowledge of the characters personalities. This entire story is essentially a flashback. The mother is reflecting upon her previous regrets and shortcomings as a parent to her first daughter. There are times during the story where the mother does however talk about certain past events, such as when she says “They persuaded me at the clinic to send her away to a convalescent home in the country where "she can have the kind of food and care you can't manage for her, and you'll be free to concentrate on the new baby."“ These flashbacks helps to move the story forward by ensuring that the reader has a solid understanding of the past and present emotions that the characters are experiencing.

 In I Stand Here Ironing, the author effectively uses literary techniques to help create emotion and understanding. Stream of consciousness, anaphora, and flashback are all used in different ways to accomplish the same general goal. This goal is to have the reader respond and appreciate the emotion felt by the narrator and mother throughout the story. The author essentially wants the readers to understand the overall moral of the story – that you don’t always have to conform to societies stereotypes and ideals in order to be loved.