What I really admire about Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, is the descriptions that the author uses. There is poetic language, that paints a picture in the reader's mind, better explaining the story. The metaphors and symbolism represent something deeper than just a story of friendship, but of life itself.
I notice that a big theme that uses description, is transition. You can tell when the season changes, or the mood changes because of the author's descriptions.
page 113: The crickets sang in the grasses. They sang the song of summer's ending, a sad, monotonous song.
I find that words like sad and monotonous represent somewhat of an end. But not only does it show change of the season and mood, but foreshadow a sad event or series of events. In this book I find that the descriptions set the mood, that lays out how the events in the book, will go.
I love the way that you can always feel how the characters are feeling and understand their thoughts. It seems as if E.B White captures all the animals' actions at once.
page 33: The sheep lay motionless. Even the goose was quiet. Overhead, on the main floor, nothing stirred: the cows were resting, the horses dozed. Templeton had quit work and gone off somewhere on an errand.
Although they are in separate sentences, it ties together perfectly, as if showing a picture. They all are resting, but separated by different descriptions, as if each one is unique.
Another thing that really brings out the admirable quality of the descriptions, are the similes. The comparisons made, not only describe the scene, but create a beautiful image.
page 77:The grass looked like a magic carpet, The asparagus patch looked like a silver forest.
It creates a somewhat magical image. Taking something as simple as grass, and turning it into a magic component that ties in with the rest of the magic of Charlotte's Web.
I think that the descriptions are what makes Charlotte's Web so enjoyable to read. They help support the plot, themes, and setting. They explain characters and tell us the moods and atmosphere. I believe it makes the book more interesting.
