Evaluate the following descriptive paragraph. How well does it appeal to the reader's senses? What is the overall effect? "About 15 miles below Monterey, on the wild coast, the Torres family had their farm, a few sloping acres above a cliff that dropped to the brown reefs and to the hissing white waters of the ocean. Behind the farm the stone mountains stood up against the sky. The farm buildings huddled like the clinging aphids on the mountain skirts, crouched low to the ground as though the wind might blow them into the sea. The little shack, the rattling, rotting barn were gray-bitten with sea salt, beaten by the damp wind until they had taken on the color of the granite hills. Two horses, a red cow and a red calf, half a dozen pigs and a flock of lean, multi-colored chickens stocked the place. A little corn was raised on the sterile slope, and it grew short and thick under the wind, and all the cobs formed on the landward sides of the stalks." — John Steinbeck, “Flight”
This descriptive paragraph appeals to the reader's senses quite effectively. The use of specific details and vivid imagery helps the reader to visualize the setting and experience it through their senses. The mention of the "brown reefs" and the "hissing white waters" appeals to the sense of sight and sound, while the description of the farm buildings being "gray-bitten with sea salt" appeals to the sense of touch. The mention of the wind blowing the buildings into the sea creates a sense of movement and adds to the sensory experience. The mention of the horses, cow, calf, pigs, and chickens appeals to the sense of sight and adds to the overall effect of a lively and bustling farm. The description of the corn growing short and thick under the wind and the cobs forming on the landward sides of the stalks appeal to the sense of touch and also give a sense of the challenging conditions of the farm. Overall, the paragraph effectively appeals to the reader's senses and creates a vivid and immersive mental image of the setting.
The descriptive paragraph above appeals to the reader's senses quite effectively. The author uses vivid language to describe the setting, allowing the reader to visualize and imagine the scene. Words like "wild coast," "brown reefs," "hissing white waters," and "stone mountains" create a sense of nature's power and beauty.
The paragraph also appeals to the reader's sense of touch and texture. Words like "clinging aphids," "crouched low to the ground," and "gray-bitten with sea salt" create a tactile experience in the reader's mind. These descriptions convey the harshness of the environment and the toll it takes on the farm buildings.
Additionally, the paragraph appeals to the reader's sense of sound. Phrases such as "rattling, rotting barn" and "hissing white waters" create an auditory experience, enhancing the reader's immersion in the setting.
The overall effect of the paragraph is to paint a vivid and evocative picture of the farm and its surroundings. Through the use of sensory details, the author transports the reader to this rugged coastal landscape. The desolation and harshness of the environment are conveyed through the descriptions of the farm buildings and the way the corn grows. This creates a sense of tension and challenges the reader's emotions, setting the stage for further exploration of the story.
The descriptive paragraph from John Steinbeck's "Flight" is highly effective in appealing to the reader's senses. The author skillfully utilizes vivid imagery to create a sensory experience for the reader.
The paragraph paints a visual picture of the setting, describing the farm as located "about 15 miles below Monterey, on the wild coast," with sloping acres above a cliff that drops to "brown reefs" and "hissing white waters" of the ocean. The mention of the "stone mountains" standing against the sky adds depth and gives the reader a sense of the scale of the landscape.
The description also appeals to the tactile senses, as the buildings are described as "gray-bitten with sea salt" and "beaten by the damp wind." The use of the word "huddled" to describe the farm buildings and their positioning against the wind emphasizes the vulnerability and precariousness of their position.
Furthermore, the paragraph engages the reader's senses of sound and color. The author mentions the "rattling, rotting barn" and describes the farm as having a flock of "lean, multi-colored chickens." The mention of the "red cow and red calf" adds a splash of color to the scene.
The overall effect of the descriptive paragraph is to immerse the reader in the rugged and harsh environment of the farm. The use of sensory details allows the reader to visualize the setting, feel its harshness, and hear the noises associated with it. This sets the tone for the story and helps the reader to understand the challenges faced by the characters.