Reading this book for the second time in about 10 years, I was a little disappointed at how much I did not like it. I found this interesting because I remember really liking the book when I was younger. One of the things that I noticed, having a more "adult" perspective, was that some of the language seemed really advanced. There were a couple of moments when I was reading the book and I came across words that I definitely wouldn't have known the definition for when I was in fourth grade.
One example was the use of the word pathos. Jacques used pathos in the way it is used in rhetoric, to evoking emotion. I know that when I was in fourth grade, I did not know what this word and I doubt a lot of the general population would unless they had taken an upper high school or college rhetoric course. Another word that I would not have known in fourth grade is leveret. Basil Stag Hare uses it to relate himself to Matthais. A leveret is a young hare in it's first year, but I know that I would not have known that in fourth grade.
I am not trying to condemn Jacques for using the big words, I just find it interesting that he would use such words in a children's book. I feel like reading is the bet way to improve your vocabulary, it just seems to me that some of Jacques' word choices do not seem age appropriate.
No comments:
Post a Comment