Stylistic Devices in The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

In The Serpent King, Zentner uses the personification, “The decrepit window air conditioner wheezed, losing the battle against the mugginess of his living room”.

Zentner provides this personification to create a more vivid image of the inanimate object for readers. Giving the object the human attribute of wheezing shows that the combination of humidity and heat in the room causes it to struggle in providing enough cool air. This personification helps readers better visualize the object’s condition and the effects of its surroundings.

Zentner utilizes diction: “Social contractual obligations and whatnot” in the book.

By specifically integrating this choice of words, the author describes the qualities of the character who is speaking, which is Lydia. The use of academic vocabulary demonstrates that Lydia has a high-level speaking language and is also an intelligent person. The word choice authorizes the audience to further understand the characteristics of Lydia and the formulation of her conversation with others.

Zentner implements allusion in The Serpent King: “While everyone else at Forrestville High tries desperately to appear as though they don’t live in Forrestville, we’ll embrace and own your rural Southerness, continuing in the vein of 1970s Townes Van Zandt meets Whiskeytown-era Ryan Adams”.

The reference to the two American singer-songwriters gives readers context into the characters’ likings in popular culture. As people are reading this phrase, they can make associations which allow them to connect more closely with the characters of the story.

An example of an idiom is administered into the book by the author: “Dill blushed. Might as well rip off the Band-Aid. He quickly and quietly sang the requested number a capella”.

This idiom aids in emphasizing Dill’s sense of discomfort in his current situation. “Rip off the Band-Aid” does not interpret, in a literal manner, into exactly what is stated. It is instead figuratively suggesting that Dill wants to do something promptly as possible because of its difficultness. The situation he is dealing with is similar to the circumstances of ripping off a Band-Aid, in which to alleviate pain, it has to be done quickly. With this idiom, the audience better comprehends the feelings Dill was undergoing and the point Zentner was trying to reveal.

Zentner uses the simile, “Talking to his father made Dill feel like he was talking to a sentient brick wall that somehow knew about Jesus” in The Serpent King.

Applying this simile permits Zentner to clarify the way Dill’s conversation with his father seems to be affecting Dill negatively. The author’s comparison of “talking to a sentient brick wall” implies that Dill is experiencing a struggle trying to communicate his thoughts to his father, since he seems to be ignoring them instead. Through this simile, readers gain insight into the type of relationship Dill has with his father, which insinuates a potential conflict between child and father.

Zentner depicts the character archetype of a bully, “ ‘What up, Dildo? Senior year!’ Tyson said with mock excitement, raising his hand for a high five” in The Serpent King.

The bully archetype exhibits a difficulty that Dill and his friends encounter in school. It symbolizes a typical person and situation that most human beings recognize. While reading this portion of the story, the audience is able to identify more closely with the characters because of the universal motif of the bully.

The metaphor, “Even Christ had chased the moneylenders from the temple, and Lydia’s friendship was a temple to him” is illustrated by the author.

Through this metaphor, the author indicates the state of significance that Lydia’s friendship means to Dill. The comparison of her friendship to a temple shows that Lydia’s friendship is extremely important to Dill, no matter what happens. The biblical example particularly represents that Dill would protect Lydia at all costs from those who act immoral, which in this case was a bully. Ultimately, readers can understand the impacts Dill’s correlation with Lydia has on his actions.