The beds are small and worn, "the walls [are] white washed and the floor unpainted.."(19). Nailed to the wall was an apple box which prohibited workers from setting up roots; making it easier to move in and out. This imagery painfully establishes the life a transient worker faces. Steinbeck chooses the characters language to be quite simple which is
Steinbeck presents the bunkhouse as a very simple and boring place. You know this because of the description given about the bunkhouse in the passage; "the floor was whitewashed and the walls unpainted". Since it says that "the floor was whitewashed and the walls unpainted" it shows that it is very simple because there are no vibrant colours or anything that stands out. That also shows that it is very boring because there is no variation in colours so you will always be looking at the same thing. The word "unpainted" suggests that the inhabitants of the bunkhouse are quite lazy because they can't be bothered to paint the walls.
She notes how the Midwest assessors declared the region a “dreary plain.” This conjures images of an uninviting and dull region whose landscape is almost depressing. While Marquart does acknowledge that the landscape is bland, she also shows how it is seemingly inviting. She notes how the upper Midwest was the “heartland”showing the importance of this small area. Marquart characterizes the upper Midwest’s landscape as one which is bland and dull yet neat and orderly, and at the same time through use of juxtaposition, diction and reference to others’ opinions. She was able to paint pictures in the reader’s minds to allow them to imagine this dull yet beautiful
Capote’s Characterization in In Cold Blood “The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call ‘out there.’” Truman Capote views Holcomb in In Cold Blood, as these other Kansans do; referred to as ‘out there’ for its unsubstantial presence and anonymousness to the rest of the world. Through the use of figurative language, syntax, and choices in diction, Capote’s view of Holcomb is characterized as a barren town with an anonymous community. Capote furthers his characterization of Holcomb through the use of figurative language. One example of figurative language that’s used can be seen in the first paragraph when he describes the environment of Holcomb’s locale as having ‘hard blue skies and desert-clean air.’ Through this imagery, Capote sets the area of Holcomb as being portrayed as hard. The desert-clean air introduces the idea that there is nothing in Holcomb to taint the desert environment.
The bunkhouse is described as a “rectangular building” which gives the impression of it being long and thin in shape like a corridor representing the migrant’s narrow pathway in life. They don’t have hopes and dreams and they will never achieve anything and they only have one path which they are forced to take as there is no other way for them to go about life. The “rectangular building” also suggests how boring their lives must be. It is just like a boring straight edged shape with no bends of excitement or happiness. Steinbeck describes the bunkhouse as plain dark hostile place with “small, square windows”, which creates the impression of a dark and lonely environment.
This monotonous, serenely boring life gave the man an excuse to break away from the mundane, going out on an outing; unshaven, uncharacteristic of himself. His slow and uncertain pace indicative of the adventure he was to undertake, he ends up into the stereotypical ‘bad part of town’. The author provides literary illustrations that embed this scene into the reader’s mind. ‘Three boys threw stones at pigeons. Paper clogs the fences like drifted snow.’ The sentences in these sickly paragraphs are shorter and to the point: defining the setting in stark, brief sentences; contrasting to the beginning sentences – the ones used on the basis of introducing the rather monotone character.
The themes of “The Bean Eaters” are poverty and old age. This poem is about an old couple who is barely getting by. They no not own expensive things and luxuries and, in fact, do not even own their room that they live in. All that they truly have are their memories and regrets of the past. The items that they do own are simple such as “plain chip ware” and “tin flatware.” This couple has already lived their good days and the couple is simply existing, but not living.
Brown used a similar technique with different results. His passage contained less detail which made his landscape seem less detailed and less important. The words Brown uses give the readers a sense of the desolate and worthless land that he is creating with his words.
Logan Genson When an individual enters a dull office, you instantly get the impression that the person who occupies it is a very boring person. But with a more in depth look, it’s clear that Bobby’s office captures his love for popular culture to a tee. He also has things that are very close to him personally. The office is very plain. The shelves lay empty and do nothing but collect dust.
Skrzynecki use the word “darkness” to describe the inside of the museum which symbolises his sadness. The tone of sadness emphasises how he doesn’t want to be there, he doesn’t have any connection with the museum and Australian culture. Skrzynecki used different colours such as “grey”, “yellow and brown” to create a dull and cold image which create a distance between the museum and him. Also the dull atmosphere further reflects Skrzynecki’s negative feeling and makes him harder to connect with Australian culture. “TO remind of pass/ Which isn’t mine.” Indicates where Skrzynecki had tried to fit in with the museum but the tone of sadness and depression show that he had failed to connect with the new culture and country.