npopular. Though the mother in this essay uses extraordinary words and is obviously a well-educated woman, the diction used by the speaker is generally straightforward to the average person; therefore, it can be concluded that the story was written for the average person. The terms used are nonetheless very specific and suited to their purpose of describing the mother, especially with several precise adjectives appearing constantly. The mother has an emotional voice (p. 78), holds unpopular, even fantastic, positions (p. 78), and gives a vibrantly innocent look (p. 77) after destroying a game of bridge. However, the essay does require thinking, as several of the examples of the mothers behavior and phrases that she employs are very clever and include a much more sophisticated diction, as is true in the mothers life. When she responds to the question Save stamps? (p. 75) with NoI build model airplanes (p. 75). Even the speaker could not understand what her meant for years, which was that building model airplanes was her hobby, not collecting stamps. The tone and diction that the speaker uses is simple, but the reader has to work harder to understand examples of things the speakers mother does or says.The speaker also makes good use of literary devices, though they rarely appear. She makes an allusion to Samson (p.77) when talking about how her mother is capable of running the world and correctly packaging superior products, but she is Samson in chains (p. 77) because she is a potentially great hero who is powerless to do anything. When a person opposes the mother, she would fly at him [the person who opposed her] in a flurry of passion, as a songbird selflessly attacks a big hawk (p. 79). This simile gives the reader a clear image of the speakers mothers intense feelings and her vivaciousness; she is fearless to take on any challenge. The mother herself applies personification to objects, calling them intelligent (p. 78) if they are of ...
