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Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
Unaware of what his name represents, he roams the streets with his friends, an army of barefoot boys who appear like the morning birds and disappear at noon. Over the months, I have come to recognise each of them. “Why aren’t you wearing chappals?” I ask one. “My mother did not bring them down from the shelf,” he answers simply. “Even if she did, he will throw them off,” adds another who is wearing shoes that do not match. When I comment on it, he shuffles his feet and says nothing. “I want shoes,” says a third boy who has never owned a pair all his life. Travelling across the country I have seen children walking barefoot, in cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one explanation. (Lost Spring)
What is the writer’s purpose in allowing the boys to speak for themselves via dialogue, as opposed to only a writer’s commentary ?
Answer:
The writer’s purpose in allowing the boys to speak for themselves via dialogue is to give voice to their hopes, dreams, and struggles in a way that is immediate and relatable.
Step-by-step explanation by Teachoo:
- The writer uses dialogue to let the boys share their aspirations and challenges with the reader.🗣️
- This helps the reader to connect with the boys on a personal level and to understand their situation better.👥
- For example, one boy says he wants shoes, which shows that he has a hope of improving his life. Another boy says he throws off his chappals, which shows that he has a struggle with his identity and culture 👟
- By using dialogue, the writer also makes the reader feel more involved and sympathetic towards the boys , as they can hear their voices and imagine their emotions.😢
- The writer could have only used commentary to describe the boys' situation, but that would have made the extract less direct and relatable , and more distant and factual.📝
