Repetition and Metaphor in the Short Story, Eleven by...

Use of Repetition and Metaphor in Sandra Cisneros Short Story, Eleven In the short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, a young girl named Rachel is characterized. Through a specific incident, Cisneros shows how Rachel does not act as old as eleven ideally should. Through repetition and metaphor, Cisneros alludes to Rachel?s personality and childish views. This story basically tells of a girl?s pride being hurt. It was Rachel?s birthday and her teacher embarrassed her by stating a raggedy old sweater was hers. The metaphors Rachel uses to describe this article of clothing and her age throughout the story are indicators that she is still a child and that she lives a simple life. For example, Rachel said ?Because the way you grow old†¦show more content†¦(lines 19-22) By using dolls and trees to explain the concept of age, it can be inferred that these are objects Rachel is often surrounded with. Another reference to her youth is her statement rattling inside me like pennies in a tin Band-Aid box. (line 30) The extremity that Rachel took the issue of the sweater to shows Rachels level of maturity. She pushed it to the very top corner of her desk so it was hanging all over the edge like a waterfall. (line 83) She acted as if the ugly sweater had a disease and would harm her if she was near it. Cisneros also uses repetition to show that Rachel still has the characteristics of her younger years. ?I am eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one.? Rachel claims that sometimes you cry like if youre three (line 16) or say something stupid, and that?s the part of you thats still ten. (lines 11-12) Cisneros is pointing out that Rachel is eleven but still envelops many characteristics of her younger years. Another example of repetition ifs this statement ?Mama is making a cake for me for tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy Birthday.? This makes Rachels childish excitement about her birthday evident. Also, by repeating this, it shows how important this day is to Rachel and how she thinks it isn?t fair she is ridiculed on such a special day. Through metaphor and repetition, Sandra Cisneros characterizes Rachel as a young girl stuck in her childish ways. SheShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Eleven By Sandra Cisneros1246 Words   |  5 Pages In the short story, â€Å"Eleven† by Sandra Cisneros, a young child named Rachel experienced her eleventh birthday in a classroom. As the story progresses there is a change in the tone- from nonchalant to sadness to anger. Cisneros uses various forms of figurative language throughout â€Å"Eleven†, such as repetition, metaphors and similes, and symbolism. Cisneros immediately starts off with the phrase she will use throughout the duration of the story, â€Å"[...] when you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine