"The Stone" By Louise Erdrich (Book Review Sample)

Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course: Date: The Stone by Louise Erdrich Introduction Louise Erdrich’s story, The Stone, is a unique piece of fiction. It revolves around a girl who picks a strange stone at the beach and develops a strong relationship with it. Later, it becomes a source of comfort to the girl (6). They develop a friendly and somehow intimate relationship. The girl does not want the companion of a man. She is satisfied by being with the stone (8). The story turns a stone to human abilities. Its relationship with the girl changes from a mere object of attraction to that of a companion, friend, and, to some extent, an intimate partner. The author uses imagery, alliteration, personification, and flashbacks, among many other literary devices to demonstrate that evolution. At first, the stone is just a mere object lying on the beach (2). However, it has certain unique features. Its appearance draws the girl’s attention. Thus, the stone becomes an object of attraction. The author has used imagery to demonstrate the meaning of the stone and its relationship to the girl. She describes it as having an owlish or blind look (2). The stone has two symmetric holes in it. It has the size of a human skull. Its surface is smooth. The author generally describes it as having an odd appearance (2). These details reveal the use of imagery. The device involves giving vivid descriptions to paint the picture of the object, phenomenon, or person being described in the minds of a reader. In this context, the imagery helps the audience to understand how and why the girl is attracted to the stone. Afterward, the stone becomes the property of the girl. She keeps it a secret not wanting any person, including siblings or parents, to know or take it away (2). The girl protected her identity intensely by placing it in secret places. She always concealed the stone whenever she thought someone took an interest in it (3). The author uses ambiguity to refer to the girl and stone. Their names are not given throughout the story. Instead, the author continually mentions them in an article. The technique makes both stone and the girl mysterious. This is a reflection of the secretive meaning and relation between the two. The girl continues to hide the stone in her lower drawer, often afraid that it can be stolen, misplaced, or disappear in any other manner (3). The stone later becomes a confidant, companion, friend, and partner to the girl. This relationship begins with the incident when Vic cuts off her hair in class (4). The girl takes the fallen pieces and later on places them in a hollow present in the face of the stone. After that, she feels a strong sense of relief. The girl forgets about her previous embarrassment in class (4). She is not bothered by the aggressive comments from both her teacher and parents. At one point, the girl, while in a bathtub, becomes deeply aware of the stone (4). She feels that “the smooth and empty scoops in its face seemed profoundly interested in her” (4). The author further uses personification to describe this relationship. A stone is normally an object. It does not have a face. Similarly, it is difficult for it to develop an interest in another person. This is an example of giving an object human characteristics. The author further uses alliteration to emphasize the relationship. She says “a gentle, thrilling ripple spread through her body” (4). The letters are repeated in this sentence to create a musical sound. This draws attention to the emotional relationship that emerged between them. The author also uses flashbacks to ex...