Question

Read the excerpt from chapter 7 of Obasan by Joy Kogawa.


How different my two aunts are. One lives in sound, the other in stone. Obasan’s language remains deeply underground but Aunt Emily, BA, MA, is a word warrior. She’s a crusader, a little old gray-haired Mighty Mouse, a Bachelor of Advanced Activists and General Practitioner of Just Causes.

How does the author’s use of diction contribute to the mood of the excerpt?

The factual description of “How different my two aunts are” creates a somber mood.
The formal descriptions of “Obasan’s language” and “Aunt Emily, BA, MA” create an uplifting mood.
The vague description of “One lives in sound, the other in stone” creates a confused mood.
The playful descriptions of “word warrior” and “gray-haired Mighty Mouse” create a lighthearted mood

Answer 1

The playful descriptions of “word warrior” and “gray-haired Mighty Mouse” create a lighthearted mood.

These whimsical, energetic phrases (along with humorous titles like “Bachelor of Advanced Activists”) make Aunt Emily seem spirited and comic, producing a light, affectionate tone that contrasts with the more solemn language used for Obasan.