The Immigrant Contribution

Words: 509
Pages: 3

The passages “A Quilt of a Country” and “The Immigrant Contribution” both utilize similar diction throughout the text. Anna Quindlen, author of “The Immigrant Contribution” successfully demonstrates the use of vivid diction throughout her piece. For example, the author explains “that’s because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. Out of many, one. That is the ideal.”
As demonstrated, a patchwork quilt is made of unique pieces sewed together to make one whole, similar to citizens of the United States. The authors graphic use of strong adjectives relays a powerful tone to her audience. The message Quindlen spreads
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But, Quindlen also addresses how violence and hatred toward those of other cultures still exist in America through her vivid diction. For example, the author expresses “the reality is often quite different, a great national striving consisting frequently of failure. Many of the oft-told stories of the most pluralistic nation on earth are stories not of tolerance, but of bigotry”. Powerful adjectives are able to produce Quindlen's tone, stating that in reality American’s are not always a community. Although when American’s do unite, this nation is a wonder. In contrast, Kennedy disregards the cultural problems in his piece “The Immigrant Contribution” and only focuses on the occasional whole uniting in this country. Kennedy’s concrete diction of this idea states “more than that, it infused the nation with a commitment to far horizons and new frontiers, and thereby kept the pioneer spirit of American life, the spirit of equality and of hope, always alive and strong”. Kennedy’s concrete diction that shows all American’s living as one spirit further develops his tone. Positivity is stated throughout Kennedy’s piece, showing a neglect to the often times split whole in America. Overall, it may be said that “A Quilt of a Country” and “The Immigrant Contribution” are extremely similar, but also very different in tone and