Comparison and contrast essay
Charlie Plummer
College Composition and Research
Comparison and Contrast Essay
December 13, 2016
Levels of Darkness In Young Adult Literature
“Dark” literature has made it on the controversial topic list. Today’s young adults have made a maelstrom in the literature world. The discussion on age level requirements to be allowed to read the deeper and more intellectual books about today's struggles and obstacles are discussed with controversy. Meghan Cox Gurdon’s editorial, “Darkness Too Visible” and Sherman Alexie’s response with “Why the Best Kids Books are written in Blood” both wrote articles on the same discussion but in opposing sides. Gurdon’s “Darkness Too Visible” and Alexie’s “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood” both used repetition; however, their central ideas and their styles create different emotions for their readers.
Gurdon and Alexie use different emotions to describe how the explicit books take away a child’s innocence. Gurdon said, “Likelihood to young people who might not otherwise never imagined such extreme measures” (par. 14). She has the idea that children haven’t experienced these “extreme measures” and don’t need to read about this life, when really she is just protecting a subgroup (wealthy-white children). However, Alexie has a different perspective on this topic. Alexie states, “They aren’t trying to protect the poor from poverty. Or the victims from rapist. No, they are trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature is and should be” (par. 17-18). Alexie believes young adult literature could not be too dark considering a large percentage of kids have seen or even experience the darkness discussed in these books(Alexie par. 12). By saying this Alexie is trying to convaid the message of, i’m not saying anything these students don’t already know or live through everyday.
Another point were author’s Gurdon and Alexie disagree is, using opposite tones while expressing the appropriateness of today’s young adult literature. Gurdon’s tone is negative against the dark literature. Gurdon states, “So dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just apart of the run of things in novels.” (par. 3) Gurdon is portraying that today's young adult literature is very casual when bringing up such dark topics. She also states, “If a girl cuts her flesh with a razor to relieve surging feelings to self-loathing, she will find succor in reading about another girl who cuts” (Gurdon par.12). As well as using sarcasm. On the other hand, Alexie’s tone is to his point and in support of the dark literature. Alexie said, “Almost every day, my mailbox is filled with handwritten letters from students-teens and pre-teens-who have read my YA book and loved it” (par. 7). Alexie says this to show that these books aren’t too dark in fact the books are loved by the students.
Finally the last point is as shown, Gurdon and Alexie look at dark literature differently; however, when looking at “Darkness Too Visible” and “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood,” both writers use of rhetorical question to make a point. Gurdon uses this to get her point across and persuade or subtly influence the audience. For example, she asks,“How dark is contemporary fiction for teens?”(Gurdon par. 3). By asking this, Gurdon is implying a condescending tone basically giving the reader the feeling of how dark do these books have to get before the books are too dark. Similarly, Alexie exemplifies the same type of rhetorical question use. Alexie as well uses it to get his point across and persuade or subtly influence the audience. Alexie states, “What was my immature, childish response to those would-be saviors?” (par. 14). While using this Alexie was using a condescending tone as well as trying to convey the message of her implication that these books are way too dark for young adults,although by that age he had already experienced everything Gurdon implied was too dark.
Although both books have a similarity like, use of repetition there is a big difference; the authors use different styles and create different emotions for their readers when expressing their personal feelings. Both of these writes have expressed equally valid points throughout their articles. However, Sherman Alexie’s use of tone and style did a successful job of persuasion, more effective than Megan Gurdon’s tone and style. The articles combined did a compelling job of showing both sides of the argument of whether or not today’s young adult literature is too dark. These articles allow readers to make an educated decision in which adult literature is too dark for today's young adults or for their own children.
College Composition and Research
Comparison and Contrast Essay
December 13, 2016
Levels of Darkness In Young Adult Literature
“Dark” literature has made it on the controversial topic list. Today’s young adults have made a maelstrom in the literature world. The discussion on age level requirements to be allowed to read the deeper and more intellectual books about today's struggles and obstacles are discussed with controversy. Meghan Cox Gurdon’s editorial, “Darkness Too Visible” and Sherman Alexie’s response with “Why the Best Kids Books are written in Blood” both wrote articles on the same discussion but in opposing sides. Gurdon’s “Darkness Too Visible” and Alexie’s “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood” both used repetition; however, their central ideas and their styles create different emotions for their readers.
Gurdon and Alexie use different emotions to describe how the explicit books take away a child’s innocence. Gurdon said, “Likelihood to young people who might not otherwise never imagined such extreme measures” (par. 14). She has the idea that children haven’t experienced these “extreme measures” and don’t need to read about this life, when really she is just protecting a subgroup (wealthy-white children). However, Alexie has a different perspective on this topic. Alexie states, “They aren’t trying to protect the poor from poverty. Or the victims from rapist. No, they are trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature is and should be” (par. 17-18). Alexie believes young adult literature could not be too dark considering a large percentage of kids have seen or even experience the darkness discussed in these books(Alexie par. 12). By saying this Alexie is trying to convaid the message of, i’m not saying anything these students don’t already know or live through everyday.
Another point were author’s Gurdon and Alexie disagree is, using opposite tones while expressing the appropriateness of today’s young adult literature. Gurdon’s tone is negative against the dark literature. Gurdon states, “So dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just apart of the run of things in novels.” (par. 3) Gurdon is portraying that today's young adult literature is very casual when bringing up such dark topics. She also states, “If a girl cuts her flesh with a razor to relieve surging feelings to self-loathing, she will find succor in reading about another girl who cuts” (Gurdon par.12). As well as using sarcasm. On the other hand, Alexie’s tone is to his point and in support of the dark literature. Alexie said, “Almost every day, my mailbox is filled with handwritten letters from students-teens and pre-teens-who have read my YA book and loved it” (par. 7). Alexie says this to show that these books aren’t too dark in fact the books are loved by the students.
Finally the last point is as shown, Gurdon and Alexie look at dark literature differently; however, when looking at “Darkness Too Visible” and “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood,” both writers use of rhetorical question to make a point. Gurdon uses this to get her point across and persuade or subtly influence the audience. For example, she asks,“How dark is contemporary fiction for teens?”(Gurdon par. 3). By asking this, Gurdon is implying a condescending tone basically giving the reader the feeling of how dark do these books have to get before the books are too dark. Similarly, Alexie exemplifies the same type of rhetorical question use. Alexie as well uses it to get his point across and persuade or subtly influence the audience. Alexie states, “What was my immature, childish response to those would-be saviors?” (par. 14). While using this Alexie was using a condescending tone as well as trying to convey the message of her implication that these books are way too dark for young adults,although by that age he had already experienced everything Gurdon implied was too dark.
Although both books have a similarity like, use of repetition there is a big difference; the authors use different styles and create different emotions for their readers when expressing their personal feelings. Both of these writes have expressed equally valid points throughout their articles. However, Sherman Alexie’s use of tone and style did a successful job of persuasion, more effective than Megan Gurdon’s tone and style. The articles combined did a compelling job of showing both sides of the argument of whether or not today’s young adult literature is too dark. These articles allow readers to make an educated decision in which adult literature is too dark for today's young adults or for their own children.