The short story "The Snake" by Ervin D. Krause takes a person by the hand and .
shows them what it is like to be in that position. The story shows many different views on .
creatures that have been thought as ugly and disturbing in most people's lives today. The .
author demonstrates how a beauty of a simple creature can have a great effect on a human .
being. He demonstrates this through foreshadowing and imagery.
Foreshadowing is one way to show what could happen in the future. The author .
puts everything into perspective, which makes the reader feel like he is experiencing what .
is happening in the story. " I hoped that the boy, my brother's son, would soon come .
across the broad black area of plowed ground, carrying the jar of cool water."(1) The .
uncle had his mind on the water and not on his work. This points out to the reader that he .
is not focusing on what he is doing, and it adds suspense to the story because you aren't .
sure what might happen next. "I almost ran over the snake and I was thinking of the .
boy, and the water- (1) This proves that the foreshadowing that had been demonstrated.
came true. " the gleeful of brutality."(3) When gleeful is used to make people think of .
happiness, and brutality makes people think of harshness and punishments. That tells the .
readers that the boy is enjoying what he is doing now, but he will have to pay for it in the .
end. Since the boy had been cruel towards the snake, then the uncle must feel the same .
Valladao 2.
way towards the boy, especially since it hurt such a beautiful creature.
Imagery is an excellent way to make the reader feel like they are apart of the .
story. "The body caressed through my hands like cool satin, and my hands, usually .
tanned and dark, were pale beside it" (1) The image becomes stuck in the minds of the .
reader.
