Language usage and word selection of any passage may determine its intensity and affect upon its audience. Eudora Welty's autobiography, One Writer's Beginnings, about her early experiences of reading and books that later had an impact on her writing career, unquestionably utilizes strong language and many other literary devices. Descriptive and powerful words creating a distinct passion for Welty's desire to read were also effective tools in Welty's diction. As Welty is compared to a dragon, figurative language comprises the text with a more analytic perspective. Her language conveys the intensity and values of her experiences as a child. .
All throughout the passage of Welty's autobiography, an instance of figurative language was analyzed and examined. An extended metaphor could be derived from Welty's text, as she explains to the audience of her librarian, Mrs. Calloway. "I saw I had met a witch," (line 24) as Welty describes the librarian. However, rather a witch, Mrs. Calloway could be correlated to a dragon. Through, the whole segment, a relationship of the strict librarian and a dragon could be implemented. An analogy can be made of the librarian that protects her domain of the library as a dragon would protect its domain of a castle or cave. Welty exploits words with exceptionally strong implications such as devouring, seized, and bliss, and can be arguably linked to metaphor of Mrs. Calloway representing a dragon. It is under a negative connotation that the librarian is the dragon and guardian of the library. Welty shows the intensity and power of the librarian through her language by saying, " she sat with her back to the books and facing the stairs, her dragon eye on the front door- (lines 4-5), and ".spoke in her normally commanding voice- (lines 8-9). The figurative language of the extended metaphor was prevalent and analyzed. .
Welty showed her devotion to reading. Strong, descriptive and eloquent words added to the strong affect upon the audience.
