Student Question
What literary devices are used in "Footnote to Youth"?
Quick answer:
The short story "Footnote to Youth" employs various literary devices, notably symbolism, sensory imagery, and code switching. Symbolism is represented by the moon, signifying the cyclical nature of life and human conditions. Sensory imagery, employing the five senses, is used to depict the story's backdrop, emphasizing the challenges of subsistence farming. Code-switching, the usage of multiple languages, is used to engage a Filipino audience, reflect Spanish influence, and authentically portray the characters' experiences.
Villa's short story "Footnote to Youth" contains several literary devices, including symbolism, sensory imagery, and code switching or mixing.
The story is set in the Philippines. In it, Villa highlights how youthful marriage (and parenthood) is fraught with consequences when a couple neglects to consider the preparations necessary for its success.
Villa skillfully uses literary devices to tell his story. Below, I'll highlight some of the main devices he uses:
Symbolism: In the story, Villa uses symbols like the moon to highlight the cyclical rhythm of life and the phases of man's condition. Blas, in marrying young, recapitulates the experience of his father, Dodong, perpetuating an inevitable cycle of suffering and privation. For more on the symbolism of the moon in the story, please refer to the links below.
Sensory imagery : This is language that uses the five senses to tell a story or make...
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a point. Here are two examples from the story (you can probably find many more on your own):
The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. ...
The ground was broken up into many fresh wounds and fragrant with a sweetish earthy smell.
Villa engages the senses of smell and sight to highlight the backdrop of his story. The pastoral imagery underlines both self-sufficiency (Dodong's father is a farmer) and the challenges of subsistence agriculture. The family is poor, and there are few prospects in life for Dodong in his farming community.
Code switching or mixing: Although this is more of a sociolinguistic concept, it underlines important cultural aspects of the story Villa is trying to tell. Code switching refers to the literary practice of using two or more languages to tell a story. In Villa's story, for example, he infuses the English text with words like carabao (Spanish for water buffalo), kundiman (a Tagalog word referencing red cotton cloth of a cheap nature), and batalan (a Tagalog word referencing an area in the back of the house that serves as a washing station).
In using multilingual text, Villa manages to address a Filipino audience, highlight the Spanish influence on Filipino culture, and speak authentically about the experiences of his characters. Try to find other Tagalog or Spanish words in the story and explain how they contribute to the telling of the story.
References