Amanda Preston
Tracy Tenson
Comp 105
February 10, 2014
The Chase
At a first look Annie Dillard’s, “The Chase” is an ordinary tale of children being children. It tells an incident from Dillard’s childhood when she was chased by a man after hitting his car with a snowball. Dillard’s purpose is to convey that even though it is fast paced, the exciting moments in life can be remembered ages after.
Dillard begins her story of the day she was chased by studying the details that led to the day of the chase. Dillard describes the strategies that she has learned by playing football. These strategies toughened her up both physically and mentally. Dillard says all or nothing, to signify the skills required to play football. She continues to use diction such as wholeheartedly, body and soul, fearlessly, fate, to stress the seriousness of her actions. Dillard’s use of vivid details allows her to illustrate the sport in her mind. She says you would get kicked in the face while the kid got away, which makes the readers think of such pain.
Dillard continues to give the reader imagery and details. She describes the setting with the six inches of snow. The author continues to describe her friends- the Fahey brothers, Chickie McBride, Billy Paul, and Mackie Kean are described as dark and furious, grew up skinny, knowing and skilled. These descriptions allow the reader to identify and imagine the characters. Also, Dillard describes the setting using descriptions. “The tracks left by the tires were beige chunks like crenellated castle walls,” which has been seen by anyone who has experienced snow. Dillard described the ice ball from the shape to its color. The situation is intense which is implied by the children spreading out. She implements many of the strategies that she learned while playing football into the chase. She shortens the sentences to create an illusion as if she is speaking while running. Every sentence cut off from needing to take a breath.
Dillard moves to the part where she and her friend get caught by the man. She and her friend are split off from the rest of the group and are lured in a backyard. She begins treasuring her excitement but also the readers. Contrary to what is expected of people being caught, Dillard refers to the man as a hero.
In the end, Dillard begins to describe her amazement at the man’s response. All he said is, “you stupid kids,” after chasing them through Pittsburgh. She begins to list all the violent things any other adult would have done after chasing kids for such a long time. Dillard’s sudden change into a sarcastic tone shows her confusion and she attempts to put this feeling into the readers mind by listing all the possible things the man could have done instead of just having a word.
In conclusion the author combines many rhetorical strategies to keep the readers imagination going. Her use of detail not only tells the story, it also allows the reader to recall a memory in a similar manner. Annie Dillard shows us that exciting moments, no matter how short, can be remembered easily.