1.5 Analyzing texts

     In Area of Darkness by V.S. Naipaul, taken by the book Scraps of Wool by Bill Colegrave he is describing and comparing nature to real life. This makes the reader be able to actually picture what he is talking about. The first thing that stuck out to me was the writer's strong word choice. The author is very descriptive and describes the differences between the bright and spacious land of Kashmir. As opposed to the dull and dirty land of Qaziqund. In Kashmir, the colors are ‘yellow’ and there is a “milky blue sky” which shows that the writer thinks Kashmir is beautiful and full of life and happiness. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Qazigund is “cold air of charcoal” and “a waiting crowd.” 

While reading Area of Darkness, I feel like I am actually witnessing Kashmir and Qazigund firsthand, and the environment that goes with it. Kashmir is mentioned to have many vibrant colors of ‘yellow, blue, and lots of rocky mountains and slopes.’ The writer wants to make it come off as very beautiful and spacious as like somewhere I would want to be. Qazugund on the other hand is filled to brim with people and almost feels like there is no room to breathe. There is the ‘smell of tobacco, charcoal, and a waiting crowd of people.’ The writer wants to make the town come off as very foolish in comparison to a beautiful town like Kashmir. It is very obvious that the author prefers Kashmir over Qazigund and uses his choice of words wisely so the reader feels like this too. 

There isn’t a lot of emotion used in the passage but the writer still wants to make the reader feel connected. The writer’s use of language is in the past tense and incorporates the word “we stopped” or “we rediscovered” as if I am a part of the journey and experiencing the places. V.S. Naipaul wants the reader to feel the same way as he does so he describes me as if I were with him so I share the same views.