Dillard’s childhood love of reading is so intense that she expresses the excitement of opening a new book as “a land mine you wanted to go off”(Dillard, 263). She describes her favorite books as “bomb” (Dillard, 263) which serves to connect the reader more deeply to her feelings about the books she reads in her childhood, for this wording insights visions of explosions and action, perfectly complimenting the excitement reading a new book. When the young Dillard discovers the library she is suddenly catapulted into a new world of knowledge. By employing connotative diction Dillard is able to transport the reader into her thoughts, furthering their understanding of how significant her memories of her old home were to her at this time in her life.Ī love of reading is not uncommon books often present an adventure, escape, or a roller coaster of new information. This careful wording shows the reader how precious the memories of her past home are to her. Her memories of her old home are like “scenes of light” (Dillard, 135) to Dillard.

She wishes to return, but this is impossible, so she instead fruitlessly attempts to remember “everything” (Dillard, 135) around her.

Holmes’ brilliant mind and her damaged feelings about leaving her old home. Her desire to remember “everything” (Dillard, 135) stems from both her love of Mr. Dillard’s wish to “notice everything” (Dillard, 135) conveys how important and urgent it is to her to “trap” (Dillard, 135) her past memories. Soon after moving she becomes fixated with Sherlock Holmes, wanting to use his talents of observation to capture and preserve her own life and past. In Dillard’s case her family moves from her early childhood home when she was eight. Moving to a new home is a common occurrence in many people’s lives and can often be an upsetting one, especially when young. Dillard uses her connotative diction to further the reader’s understanding of the significance Dillard’s move from their first house, her discovery of the library, and her ascension into young adulthood.

An American Childhood details the childhood of the author, touching on her various shifting interests, growing awareness of the world, and events that shaped her youth. Examples of such finely-tuned diction can be found in classics such as: The Iliad, A Tale of Two Cities, and the memoir An American Childhood by Annie Dillard. This type of emotional wordplay often assists the reader to understand the significance of the event the author describes. Simple words or phrases often speak volumes about one’s feelings or intentions, and such careful wording is frequently used in literature to express the subtly or extremity of an author’s feelings.

An american childhood