What struck me about the structure of Kozol's essay (or except from a book) was the parallel of examples and testimonies and these particular scenarios he uses are ones that us literate people would have not been able to comprehend on our own. And because Kozol has brought these every day situations that we can relate to the impact of being illiterate is very apparent and recognizably serious. The examples the author gives us are: not being able to read the directions on prescription medicine, not being able to read the warning labels of cancer on cigarette packs, not being able to read the different products and only relying on logos. These things to us might seem ordinary, trivial and basic but to the illiterates, it is a huge deal.
But before throwing these examples at the reader, the author first tells about a dream of his. This dream consists of panic over being in a foreign place, not knowing the language, not being able to look for help. Most readers could relate to such a circumstance or at least imagine the terrifying experience. Because the author set the dream up first before the examples, the reader is better able to understand the daily struggle of those who cannot read.
After going through all the horrendous things an illiterate person has to endure, Kozol advances towards a theme: not knowing. This is the arc/climax of the selection or at least the main idea he was trying to convey. It is the misinformed that suffer. And while the reader might have picked up on this certain theme along the way, the author spells it out very obviously. It is then here that the scenarios stop and the real testimonies begin.
Having the testimonies last packs a punch into Kozol's point. These are real people who really don't know how to function in a society that is based on the written word. And the selection finally ends with a serious situation that involved a person's inadequacy in terms of being illiterate.
The structure of Kozol's essay is designed to place drama and emphasis on a serious subject.
I agree that the parallel examples are a pertinent part of the essay as they bring the situation to light in more meaningful terms. It was interesting to see how everyday life is effected by not being able to read things like soup cans.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned in your post that the examples of difficulties the illiterate face included in the essay are such basic everyday, tasks that they provide insight to literate individuals. I agree with your analysis because as I was reading the essay, I found the examples easy to comprehend and relate to, even though I am most definitely literate. I also agree that the inclusion of the testimonies adds extra emphasis to Kozol's overall message-- that illiteracy is a immensely difficult struggle, that many literate individuals fail to understand.
ReplyDeleteas much as the essay likes to drive home the beyond obvious point that yes, people who cannot read in a society based on a system of communication in which literacy is almost required are at a disadvantge, the essay itself has many fallacies in it's arguments and the ways it presents them (starting with the statistics), as well as trying to lend itself important by mentioning past philosophers. However serious their problem, he mentions no real solutions, nor the fact that a lot of people teach myself. It is my family's philosophy that we teach ourselves literacy. I learned how to read before kindergarten by going through books on my own and asking teachers, relatives, hell even some guy at a bus stop once, how to pronounce words.
ReplyDeleteIts just a pointless essay.
Eddie, please beware of calling it "pointless." This essay, and others by Kozol, are often anthologized with good reason. Furthermore, if you read the preceding comments you will see that this is part of a larger work. That was not the point of this essay, as it is an excerpt.
DeleteI noticed that too, that the examples are taken entireloy for granted by literate people who encounter these scenarios every day. The dream is very important and for me was easily forgotten since it was the beginning but it makes a very large impact as he a literate person makes the connection with a literate audience.
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