To me the theme of Keith's essay is that you have to be prepared to follow up until the point where you need to veer off to get to your goals. At the beginning the author talks about how they actively follows the bunny footprints but as soon as they start to go away from the path, they forge their own.
Two of my favorite pieces of writing are when the author adds in a flair of their voice. For example, 'This is a good day. So far my level of error is having bought unfrosted Pop-Tarts. Doesn't count.' Things like this are really relatable and help you connect with the piece on a more emotional level. Additionally, the last sentence has really good word choice and flow. 'But I did;t learn it myself until all the tracks were gone, and I could enter wonderland alone.' It really sums up the piece nicely and ends it on a happy and almost majestic note.
I agree with your choice of themes as it is so universal. The idea of having to forge your own path after following someone else's can be applied to life when children follow their parents up until it is time for them to go off on their own. Keith shows just how prepared she is to go it alone by listing off the items she brought along for her journey and adding bits of knowledge she has about hiking throughout the piece. I found her style of writing to mimic that of a travel journal as she wrote in present tense and often used short, matter-of-fact statements. "I put my snowshoes on. It is 8:00 in the morning. I have been awake for four hours, driving for three." She sets the scene of her trip and tells it like it is. I also agree that her humor is apparent in quotes such as "I have followed the tracks of rabbits and birds, foxes and deer, moose, and humans. I have followed my own tracks. I have purposefully not followed the tracks of a bear." These lighthearted quips throughout the story make the short statements and descriptions more lively and enjoyable to read.
ReplyDelete