Compare and contrast is a writing skill that authors use to highlight similarities and differences. It can also be used to provide more detail and character traits. In the story the Bracelet, when Ruri looks back at her house and how it has changed, the author uses compare and contrast to show the differences from before and after they moved out. Another example is Ruris imagination when she was told there was an apartment, she thought it would be a big fancy one but compared to reality it was just a horse stable, it was really disappointing. At the start, Ruri got a bracelet from her friend Laurie to remind her of her but she lost it on the first day but she got taught from her mother that Laurie will always be in her heart. This story had countless mood changes throughout the book.By using compare and contrast, the writer effectively illustrates how Ruri's feelings shift throughout the narrative.
There is a mood change at the start of the story because the main character realizes the differences in the houses she had. Compare and contrast helps show the details and everything that is missing in her life. At the start when they are moving out, the girl looks back into the empty room and feels sad. “The clothes that Mama always told me to hang up in the closet, the junk piled on my dresser, the old rag doll I could never bear to part with – they were all gone.” This shows just how empty the room really is, everything is gone. "the nice thing inside was gone" this shows that she feels that compared to the house a day ago, it was better but now it just feels empty. This makes Ruri sad that her old life is going away and now she is starting a new one somewhere else. The compare and contrast helps us see into the character's shoes and how she feels so we can better understand the mood.
At the middle of the story, there is another notable mood change of the character that transitions from excitement to disappointment. The use of compare and contrast helps show the underlying reasons for Ruri's emotions. In the story, on the train, the mom tells Ruri she will be living in an apartment and she is happy because she knows someone who lives in a very good apartment. Compared to the good apartment she has a reason to be excited. When they finally got to their “apartment” they realized it was just a horse stable with army cots and Ruri was disappointed. Compared to the one good apartment she thought she would get, this was very disappointing and annoying for her. “dust-covered floor, and one light bulb dangled from the ceiling.” This shows just how nasty these stables were and unsanitary. Compare and contrast is useful to help the readers see the differences between reality and imagination therefore to enhance our understanding of the character’s mood.
At the end of the story, Ruri encounters people with bayonets. The use of compare and contrast helps us understand her emotions more deeply by allowing us to see things from her perspective. In the story, while going to their apartments, they see a group of guards with bayonets. Compared to their peaceful home far away by now, there were no bayonets, or guards. “.I wondered if they thought we would try to run away and whether they’d shoot us or come after us with their bayonets if we did.” This shows her inner thought in relation to the bayonets and shows that she is scared that the guards might use the guns or shoot someone. Being scared is normal because she is in a new environment with different people and she also doesn’t understand the situation she is in. Ultimately, using compare and contrast helps us see Ruri's feelings more clearly, showing how scared and confused she is.
Compare and contrast are very effective writing methods that involve showing the similarities and differences between subjects to show more detail and depth. The story the bracelet gives us countless examples of this. Ruri shows many emotions throughout the book and they are all intensified by the use of compare and contrast either from before and after, or a new situation. When the main character looks back at the house, compared to her old one, this one looks deteriorated and empty. When told that she will live in an apartment, she is excited because compared to her piano teacher's apartment this was exciting. The contrast was hers was just a horse stable. Ruri sees people with bayonets and is scared because compared to her old neighborhood, no one needed those there.
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