The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Literary Analysis Essay

Introduction

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making is a fantasy novel by Catherine Valente that tells the story of a 12-year old girl called September from Omaha who visits the fictional realm of Fairyland. The author employs some language techniques meant to achieve various effects. As a fantasy novel, the author uses figurative language to give objects and events meaning that is different from the literal text, hence creating an effect that improves the reader's reading experience and enables them to relate the fantasy to real-world objects and events.

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Alliteration is one of the styles that the author uses as part of the figurative language in the book. "grown-up hearts flutter in terror," (4). In that quote the author was describing the act of children climbing high trees and jumping around to the level of scaring grownups. The words hearts, flutter and terror repeatedly use the letter and sound 't' to draw the reader's attention towards the text. The use of alliteration as a figurative language that early in the book builds the mood for the story. It helps the reader build momentum and improves his or her reading experience. The author uses the same technique throughout the opening pages. "coffee-colored trench coat," (1). In that quote the author was describing the trench coat of September's father. The words have the same rhyme that draws the reader's attention to them. The author is careful enough not to overuse the technique which might damage its intended effect.

The author also draws comparisons by use of similes. "Sweet as cherries, bright as berries, the light of my moony sky!" (4). The quote describes the opening chapter where Green Wind had just finished briefing September on the rules of Fairyland. One of the rules was that she was allowed to eat anything she likes in Fairyland. The author's comparisons of sweetness to cherries, brightness to berries and light to the moony sky is meant to trigger imagination within the readers' minds. The 'moony sky' is an event which the reader can very much relate to. In this case the imagination also prepares the reader for the fantasy narrative. The same technique is also present in Chapter 1 of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making. "I think I look a little like a pumpkin," (7). The quote was said by September when she was referring to her look in the jacket the Green Wind had given her. The green color of the jacket along with the orange color of her clothes mimicked the appearance of a pumpkin. By picturing a pumpkin, the author gets an idea of how the jacket looked like and September's appearance in it. The author uses similes to the effect of enabling the reader to relate the fantasy jacket of Green Wind to real objects like the pumpkin.

As a work of fantasy, there are many instances of personification present in the novel. For a start, September refers to a month; but in the book, Catherine has given it the persona of a girl. The author is describing the life in Westerly using this the quote," They strode down Squamish Thoroughfare, where big-cheeked Blue and Golden Winds went about their grocery shopping, piling their arms with tumbleweeds for rich, thorny salads," (7). The author has given the winds a persona that enables them to participate in the activities that normal humans do. Grocery shopping, and piling their arms with tumbleweeds. By using personification, the reader better understands nature and actions in the story. It is easier for the reader to relate to the Green Wind and others if they take a human form. The author uses the same technique in the quote," pillars so enormous that September could not see right away that they were actually people..." (7). The quote is describing latitude and longitude which the author has given a persona. In this respect the author has used personification to the effect of giving deeper meaning to the text; such as the relationship between latitudes, longitudes and winds in the real world.

Works Cited

Valente, Catherynne M. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. New York: Square Fish, 2012. e-copy.