Student Question

What type of figurative language is used in the short story "Charles"?

Quick answer:

In the short story "Charles," the author uses various types of figurative language including imagery, irony, metaphor, and repetition. Imagery is used to paint a vivid picture of Laurie's transformation, while irony is present when the mother discovers that Charles is Laurie's alter ego. A metaphor is used when Charles becomes a symbol for disruptive behavior. Lastly, repetition of the name "Charles" emphasizes his significant influence on Laurie's family.

Expert Answers

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In the opening paragraph of the short story "Charles," Jackson utilizes imagery by writing:

The day my son Laurie started kindergarten he renounced corduroy overalls with bibs and began wearing blue jeans with a belt

Imagery uses words to captivate the reader's senses and allows the audience to create a mental picture of the events taking place in the narrative. Jackson's use of imagery conjures the mental picture of a confident young boy, strutting around in blue jeans and acting like he is grown.

Jackson also utilizes irony by portraying a mother who believes that there is a disobedient boy in Laurie's class, threatening his education and acting as a bad influence on her son. The irony takes place at the end of the story when Laurie's mother discovers that Charles is actually Laurie's alias.

Jackson also utilizes a metaphor, which is when an author portrays a person, place, or thing as being something else and makes an implicit or hidden comparison between two seemingly different things. Jackson uses Charles as a metaphor by writing:

With the third week of kindergarten Charles was an institution in our family; the baby was being a Charles when she cried all afternoon; Laurie did a Charles when he filled his wagon full of mud and pulled it through the kitchen

In Laurie's household, Charles has become a metaphor for any disobedient or disruptive behavior, which Laurie continually compares to his unruly alias. When the baby is crying, Laurie calls her a Charles, which is another way of identifying her disruptive, annoying behavior.

Jackson also utilizes repetition throughout the story by continually repeating the name "Charles." Through repetition, Jackson creates a leitmotif and underscores the significant effect Charles has had on Laurie's family.

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