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In the first half of the passage, the prose is written in a very specific manner, with an
equally specific reason justifying it. It is highly descriptive in a very elegant and
somewhat refreshing manner. There is mention of aspects such as "a spark of light
rising over the orchard" as well as Z ita's clothing, pajamas to be specific. All of these
things are directly tied to the morning, which is also the temporal setting of this story.
This time of day generally symbolizes beginnings, birth, rebirth, and vitality. Also, much
of the description in this half of the excerpt focuses on non-human features, such as a
"spider in action," crows, trees, and even comparing the protagonist to a field mouse.
However, in the eighth paragraph, there is a structural transition. Descriptions shift from
these natural objects to human ones such as "boots crunch[ing] across the gravel to a
faded pickup truck," as well as her father. Such a shift in focus from the natural to the
man-made creates a relationship between Z ita and her father, the characters that are
focused on in each of these respective sections, that conveys Zita's perspective. With
this, the reader is truly able to identify that Zita sees her father as "a man afflicted by the
cruel reality of brokenness," feeling sorry for him and trying to do whatever she can in
order to make him happy.
The symbolism in this passage reveals an even more pronounced understanding of
Zita's perspective. This symbolism comes almost exclusively from the description of
the setting. In the beginning, the crows present at dawn are described as
"black-feathered angels [that] herald the dawn." The ravens are mentioned once more in
the final paragraph of the passage. They are described as "signal[ing] each other with
wails of alternating anguish and affection." These descriptions characterize the ravens
as a symbol of the duality of heaven. The peace of heaven as well as the sorrow that
accompanies departure to it. This, accompanied by the distinct settings of the orchard,
symbolizing heaven, and the house, symbolizing the base world...