Examples Of Syntax In The Crossing By Mccarthy

Sometimes a person just feels small. When face to face with something that can only be described as majestic or grand, the self can seem insignificant and inconsequential. McCarthy's The Crossing describes such an experience where the main character feels small. To convey this impact on the reader, McCarthy employs belittling diction and manipulated syntax.
The author's choice of words magnifies nature and reduces the main character. The first time the protagonist is introduced, he's not introduced by name or description. Throughout the passage, he is never named and his physical appearance is never detailed. This is contrasted against the wolf who "was stiff and cold and her fur was bristly with the blood dried upon it." While the narrative follows the human protagonist, it's clear that he's not the focus of the narrative with his lack of description juxtaposed with the rich imagery of nature. When nature is described with the protagonist in mind, it seems almost oppressive. The coyote calls that the main character hears "seemed to have no origin other than the night itself." The protagonist is surrounded by nature, here embodied in the coyotes.. …show more content…
When the main character is washing a sheet in paragraph two, his actions are confined in a giant, ten-line sentence. The sheer length of it gives the impression that his actions aren't that important, not even deserving separate sentences of their own. It also impresses a trance-like quality to his actions, perhaps conveying how overwhelmed the main character feels. This is paralleled in the third paragraph with an eight-line sentence. Here, it's used to show the reverence the protagonist has for the wolf. The descriptors are rich and vivid, and brings the reader into the action as opposed to the detached ramble from before. Using syntax, McCarthy makes insignificant the protagonist's experiences while also magnifying the

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