Practice Commentary This passage taken from Denton Welch's Maiden Voyage

The author also uses symbolism in order to reveal the identity of the object found by the main character. It is first mentioned as a “black speck” and because the color black is usually associated with death and evil it catches the reader’s attention and arouses suspicion. Next as the main character gets closer to the object he wonders, “if it could be a cat crouching in the middle of the road,” or even a dark boulder. By this time the readers are sure that the object being mentioned is going to be an unusual yet scary thing because it is being compared to a black cat (which is seen as an omen) and a boulder (which is seen as an obstacle in ones path).

The most important aspect of this passage is its setting as through the setting, the situation of the main character feeling imprisoned in the villa and then becoming trapped        is made to seem more realistic and is also made easier to imagine. In the starting the villa in which the main character is staying is said to be surrounded by poplar trees that are tall and thin and are planted in straight lines. This gives the readers the feeling that these trees act as barriers between the villa and the Chinese city that lies outside and maybe even guards the people living inside the villa from the outside dangers. Apart from this it gives a sense of why the main character feels imprisoned. Then when the main character sneaks out of the villa and walks along the sandy lane that leads to the country the surrounding area is described in such a way that is seems to have a life of its own. The stunted bushes are said to squeak and grate linguistically as the wind passes through them indicating that the bushes have a language of their own. The dust and sand are described as pillars and scarves making them similar to real civilization and makes the readers feel as if they have entered another world similar to their own. Then as the main character nears the bloodcurdling object the grass is said to have harsh spears which at first do not seem to be too symbolic or important but later on in the passage when the main character feels trapped the grass is mentioned again and at that moment it too seems to be a threatening factor like the buzzing insects. Therefore through the use of setting the author is able to present a unique civilization which is similar to ours in certain aspects but one in which the main character feels trapped upon entering.

Last but not the least the author uses characterization in order to present the main character as a rebel and one who prefer to be independent and appears to be strong but in times of difficulty is very hopeless and weak. The main character is introduced to the readers when he says, “I hated to be dependent on other people. They would never want to do what I wanted to do.” These two lines let the readers know that the main character prefers to be independent but also that he is spoiled as he likes to do things his way and his way only. Therefore when Mr. Butler suggests that stay at the villa he feels imprisoned and is furious. When his curiosity takes the better of him he leaves the villa quietly just to explore the country. His curiosity also takes over him when he observes the black speck at some distance. When he realizes that the object is actually a human head he is appalled but at the same time he is unable to take his eyes of the head. At this point in the passage the readers get the feeling that the main character is not as strong as he seems to be. He feels trapped and is reluctant to go back to the place where the head because he knows that he will be overcome by curiosity again. So this rebelliousness of his leads him into trouble.

Therefore through the use of foreshadowing, symbolism, effective setting and characterization the author is able to successfully display a situation where an adolescent’s rebelliousness leads him into unexpected trouble.