2020-05-21
1473Revision of SDs
| A Quoted Phrase | Stylistic Device, Its Function (It is used to describe what? / whom?) | Stylistic Effect achieved by using it in the story |
| the wholesome bread-and-milk | Epithet, it’s used to describe everyday nutrious but not delicious breakfast for children | the author emphasizes the unappetizing breakfast |
| the older and wiser and better people | The periphrasis ‘older wiser and better people’ is used to describe the older generation | It produces some ironical effect |
| the veriest nonsense | epithet, used to describe Nicholas’s talking to his aunt | the author wanted to draw our attention to the situation |
| with the insistence of a skilled tactician who does not intend to shift from favourable ground … | metaphor (military word), used to describe the manner of Nicholas’s repetitions that was a frog in his bowl of bread-and-milk | ironic effect |
| by an unwarranted stretch of imagination | Idiom; this phrase means something is definitely not possible or true | To show that the aunt has a negative attitude towards the boy and never believes him because he is a child |
| a circus of unrivalled merit and uncountable elephants | zeugma, used to describe a circus in a neighbouring town | to produce a humorous effect |
| He felt perfectly capable of being in disgrace and in a gooseberry garden at the same moment. | zeugma, used to describe the author’s attitude to the boy | ironic effect |
| trivial gardening operations | epithet (military word), used to describe the work in the garden | to emphasize irony towards aunt because she works in the garden only to make sure the boy will not have opportunity to get into the garden |
| to keep a watchful eye | metaphor, used to describe the way aunt was watching Nicholas | to covey aunt’s strictness and atmosphere between aunt and Nickolas |
| forbidden paradise | biblical allusion, used to describe Nicolas’ wish to get to the gooseberry garden | to strengthen the ironic effect |
| a woman of few ideas | epithet; to describe the aunt | To underline aunt’s narrow-mindedness |
| Nicholas made one or two sorties … | military term, irony, used to describe Nicholas’s attempts to get into the garden | To reveal irony |
| self-imposed sentry-duty | military term, metaphor; to describe the aunt’s way of watching Nicholas | To achieved ironic and powerful effect |
| a plan of action that had long germinated in his brain | used to describe Nicholas’s plan | to create a bright image in the reader's mind |
| a fat, important-looking key | epithet, personification, to describe the key that opens the door | To emphasize the importance of this subject |
| unauthorized intrusion | epithet; military term, to describe how the boy got into the lumber room | to create the atmosphere of secrecy and illegality |
| for aunts and such-like privileged persons | sarcasm, used to describe adults and other adults | To emphasize a humorous effect |
| a stale delight | epithet, used to describe gooseberry garden | to have impact on the reader |
| so carefully sealed from youthful eyes | metaphor, used to describe the situation in more ironic way | ironic effect |
| unimagined treasure | epithet; to describe the lumber room | to produce an ironic effect |
| for the eyes to feast on | metaphor, used to describe wonderful things from the lumber-room | To achiev positive and humorous effect and curiosity |
| for many golden minutes | epithet, used to describe time which Nicholas spent in the lumber-room | To underlined the importance of time |
| … the angry repetitions of Nicholas’ name gave way to a shriek, and a cry … | metaphor, used to describe the manner of how the aunt was calling the boy | To achieved ironic or humorous effect |
| the prisoner in the tank | Metaphor, military term; to describe how the aunt sat in the rain-water tank | To achieved ironic or humorous effect |
| in a fearsome silence | Epithet; to describe the atmosphere during tea time | To achieved ironic or effect |
| punitive expedition | epithet, used to describe expedition to Jagborough Cave | to imagine the terrifying picture of it |
| disastrous effect | epithet, used to describe Bobby’s feelings | To produce some negative effect. |
| frozen muteness | epithet; to describe aunt`s behave and mood | ironic effect |
| suffered unmerited detention | Epithet, used to described aunts feelings about the incident with the rain-water container | ironic effect |
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What makes “The Lumber-Room” an extraordinary piece of writing?
The “Lumber Room” is a humorous short story was written by British novelist and short-story writer. Hector Munro is best known for his short stories. Owing to the death of his mother and his father's absence abroad he was brought up during childhood, with his elder brother and sister, by a grandmother and two aunts, so we can say that this short story is the bright and realistic representation of the author's childhood.
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The author touches on a topical topic for many generations - the relationship between adults and children. This is probably why this story captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world. This story is about all of us. After all, we all, like the boy from the story, rebelled against the tasteless but healthy breakfast in childhood, mischievous and considered the instructions of adults something incredibly stupid. However, everyone sooner or later grows up and turns into strict adults. Often when communicating with children, we forget that we were children too. Unfortunately, adults are constantly immersed in any problems and they do not care about the feelings of their children. They are older, which means they know better. And sometimes playing ‘gods’ they hurt the feelings of their children. Punishments, reprimands, and constant harsh remarks are harmful to the child. The writer says that adults should understand and have more empathy for children's behavior. Munro is critical of the arrogant attitude of adults.
This is the distancing of two generations due to the inability to understand each other's needs and express their feelings. These needs and emotions are based on the values and preferences they have. An aunt representing the older generation is not able to understand such a simple feeling as how a child's food preferences and abstinence will obey boring rules. Being a narrow-minded and moralizing person, she considers herself right in all her decisions and actions. She abuses her power over young children. At the same time, she loses her composure when she is ridiculed and exasperated. The older generation, represented by the aunt, assumes that all the needs of the child is ‘the wholesome bread-and-milk’ and expeditions. What children lack is praise, smiles, love and attention. On the other hand, the younger generation represented by Nicholas is always looking for opportunities to make her lose her temper. They are both well versed in each other's characters. All their communication is a real verbal duel.
I think that this lumber room is a symbol of adult life, since only adults can enter it. Children are not allowed to enter, but they really want to get there - as soon as possible to grow up and enjoy all the delights of life. Children want new experiences.
It is also worth noting the expressive style of the author. The text contains a lot of different epithets (wonderful things, instant attention) and metaphors (to keep a watchful eye; the prisoner in the tank), zeugma (a circus of unrivalled merit and uncounted elephants) and biblical allusion (forbidden paradise) strengthening ironic effect.
So, the relevant theme and vivid style of the author make this work truly immortal extraordinary piece of writing.
