Figurative Language In The Pie By Gary Soto
Introduction
The Pie is a short story written by Gary Soto, which revolves around a young Mexican-American boy named Roberto. The story provides insights into the life of Roberto, who goes through a series of experiences that shape his character. One of the essential elements that make the story unique is the use of figurative language. Figurative language is a literary device that uses words or expressions to convey a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. In this article, we will explore the use of figurative language in The Pie by Gary Soto.
Imagery
One of the most prominent uses of figurative language in The Pie is imagery. The author uses vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures of the events, characters, and settings. For instance, when Roberto describes the pie, he says, "The filling was so red and luscious-looking that I slobbered into my shirt." This description creates a mental image of a delicious-looking pie and shows how much Roberto craves it.
Similarly, when Roberto describes the girl who gives him the pie, he says, "She was a girl in my Spanish class with whom I had never spoken." This description creates an image of a shy and introverted girl who does not interact much with others.
Metaphors
Another instance of figurative language in The Pie is metaphors. The author uses metaphors to compare two things that are not alike but share some common characteristics. For example, when Roberto describes the pie's crust, he says, "It was as if God had given up on making a good pie crust and left it to burnt offerings." This metaphor compares the burnt pie crust to a sacrifice that is offered to God, conveying how bad the crust was.
Another metaphor that the author uses is when Roberto describes the girl's face, he says, "Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master." This comparison creates an image of a perfectly shaped face, emphasizing the girl's physical beauty.
Similes
The author also uses similes in The Pie, which are figures of speech that compare two things using the words "like" or "as." For example, when Roberto describes how he felt after eating the pie, he says, "My eyes watered like a sprinkler on the Fourth of July." This simile creates an image of tears streaming down Roberto's face, emphasizing how much he enjoyed the pie.
Similarly, when Roberto describes the girl's hair, he says, "Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze." This simile creates an image of shiny and wet hair, emphasizing how attractive the girl is.
Personification
The author also uses personification in The Pie, which is a literary device that gives human qualities to non-human objects. For example, when Roberto describes the pie, he says, "The juice from the filling soaked through the napkin and made my fingers sticky." This personification gives the pie the ability to soak through the napkin and make Roberto's fingers sticky.
Similarly, when Roberto describes the ants that crawl over the remnants of the pie, he says, "The ants were busy, an army of them, crawling over the crust." This personification gives the ants the ability to be busy and form an army, emphasizing how many ants there were.
Hyperbole
The author also uses hyperbole in The Pie, which is an exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. For example, when Roberto describes how much he craves the pie, he says, "I wanted to eat her pie the way some kids want to run away from home." This hyperbole emphasizes how much Roberto desires the pie and compares it to a severe desire to escape.
Similarly, when Roberto describes how bad the pie crust was, he says, "The crusty was as hard as a rock." This hyperbole exaggerates how bad the crust was and compares it to a rock, emphasizing its hardness.
Conclusion
The use of figurative language in The Pie by Gary Soto adds depth and meaning to the story. The author uses various literary devices such as imagery, metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole to create vivid mental images of the events, characters, and settings. The use of figurative language also helps to convey the characters' emotions, desires, and motivations, making the story more relatable and engaging. Overall, The Pie is an excellent example of how the use of figurative language can enhance the quality of a story and make it more memorable.