One of the stories we read in class that I noticed used “commonplace but precise language” was the story by Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” The part that most stood out to me was when the simple image of the horse shaking its harness bells questioning the actions of the man riding him. “He gives his harness bells a shake / To ask if there is some mistake.” The line is using common words and yet I felt it was overwhelmingly charged. That one moment, the horse is inquiring about stillness, brings animation to the hushed woods and underscores the pause of the speaker between action and reflection. This moment seems to be peaceful in a way but also a little heavy, like the quiet could pull someone in too deep if they’re not careful. The horse shaking its bells feels almost like a nudge back to reality, back to responsibilities. It’s a small action, described in a straightforward way, but it carries so much meaning.
Daily Archives: May 2, 2025
In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, there is use of commonplace objects being described in a way that makes them quite impactful. There are two quotes from the story that stood out to me in this way, the first being “They must have been familiar sights, walking around the shopping plaza in their shorts and flat ballerina slippers that always scuffed the sidewalk, with charm bracelets jingling on their thin wrists; they would lean together to whisper and laugh secretly if someone passed who amused or interested them.” The use of “charm bracelets” combined with the visual image of them in a shopping plaza, their outfits, and the way they are behaving, transports me back to my younger years and I connect with it greatly. Identifying the noises that the charm bracelets are making is incredibly additive to the experience as a reader. The second quote that stands out to me is “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home… her laugh, which was cynical and drawling at home—”Ha, ha, very funny,”—but highpitched and nervous anywhere else, like the jingling of the charms on her bracelet.” The use of the sound of the charm bracelet to connect to the character’s laugh is very auditorily descriptive. Comparing the two quotes that both mention the charm bracelet, the first paints a picture of a time and place, and the second paints a picture of an energy coming from the character.
Raymond Carver’s idea about using “commonplace but precise language” to give everyday objects or moments immense power reminds me of James Joyce’s “Araby.” I chose this story because it’s the one I relate to the most. When we read it in class, I shared how much it reminded me of my own teenage years. Just like the boy in the story, I had a crush when I was younger, and the emotions he describes felt so real to me. One example of “commonplace but precise language” in “Araby” is the line: “Her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.” This quote takes something as simple as a name and turns it into something powerful and emotional. It’s not overly dramatic. t’s just honest and precise, which makes it even more relatable. For me, it perfectly captures how overwhelming and exciting it feels to have a crush as a teenager. I remember feeling exactly like this about someone back then, where just hearing his name would make my heart beat faster. What makes this story match Carver’s idea is how Joyce uses simple details to show deeper meaning. For example, the street where the boy lives is described as “The other houses of the street, conscious of decent lives within them, gazed at one another with brown imperturbable faces.” This description is simple but gives a clear picture of the boring, quiet world the boy wants to leave. Even the market scene, with its “jostling drunken men” and “bargaining women,” feels busy and messy, showing how the boy’s romantic feelings don’t fit in such an ordinary place. This combination of precise descriptions and everyday objects—like a name, a street, or a marketplace—makes the story feel so real and relatable. That’s why I chose “Araby” for this assignment. It’s not just […]
In my opinion, Raymond Carver pointed out how powerful the ordinary language can be when it is used clearly and with emotions. One story that got me thinking was “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel García Márquez which we learned at the first week of semester. What I found powerful was how the author described an extraordinary presence using very simple and familiar words. There’s one moment where the narrator says “Not only was he the tallest, strongest, most virile, and best built man they had ever seen, but even though they were looking at him there was no room for him in their imagination.” None of the words are fancy nor complicated however the way they’re combined together reflects how Esteban feel huge, mysterious, and unforgettable, short to the point.. I felt like I could see him with my eyes.
In Langston Hughes’ “Salvation,” the quote says, “I began to be ashamed of myself, holding everything up so long,” which shows Raymond Carver’s idea of using commonplace but precise language. This short quote expresses the tremendous burden and anxiety that the teenager experiences throughout the church meeting. The term “holding everything up” is commonly used, but in this context, it specifies the tension of social expectation as well as the boy’s increasing guilt over not experiencing the experience of God that others claim to have. Hughes’ straightforward delivery helps readers to sense the boy’s nervousness and solitude, making the scene emotionally real. This is consistent with Raymond Carver’s claim that commonplace words can have a huge psychological impact when utilized carefully. The simple language of this one statement allows us to comprehend his emotions precisely. It provides an instance that some of the most genuine and heartbreaking writing needs no detailing; it simply needs to be authentic and straightforward.
