Shel Silverstein
Few writers of the twentieth century have made nearly the same impact on the literary society than Sheldon Allan Silverstein. His writing encompasses a broad range of styles, from adult to children’s, comical to unusual. One of his most common styles was that of fantasy: actions and events that cannot logically happen. This style was evident in his works, the Loser, Thumb Face, Warning, Squishy Touch, and Skin Stealer. Through the description of these absurd circumstances, Silverstein was able to entertain readers of all ages.
In Sely Friday’s reference to a biography, was quoted as saying, “ . . . I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls. But I ...
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a little-known magazine called Playboy. Despite this wide range of literary audiences, Silverstein’s main purpose was to entertain.
Two of his major collections of works of literature are the critically acclaimed Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. They have no real historic significance; they were written to entertain. These two books contain some of Silverstein’s most accredited work. Since the books are children’s literature, not many critics have taken the time to review the works. However, Book Reviews reference to a review of Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic said, “Despite such moments of banality, and there aren't many, Mr. Silverstein's work remains a must for lovers of good verse for children. Quite like nobody else, he is still a master of delectable outrage and the ‘proprietor’ of a surprisingly finely tuned sensibility.” In other words, there were some ordinary poems in this book, but for the most part, Silverstein reaffirmed his status as an ...
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it because of its size. For example, Silverstein wrote, “It has a little twisty mouth, / And yellow teethies, too.” Again, Silverstein uses end rhyme in the pattern of “a b c b,” which helps move the story along in a definite rhythm. While the subject matter is irrational, Silverstein uses vivid descriptions and a straightforward picture to entertain his readers.
Included in the collection of poems within Where the Sidewalk Ends is a poem entitled Warning. This poem is exactly what the title says it is. Once more, the main idea is in the first two lines, saying, “Inside everybody’s nose / There lives a sharp-toothed snail.” (p. 75). Silverstein goes on to describe the ...
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Shel Silverstein. (2007, July 2). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shel-Silverstein/67377
"Shel Silverstein." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 2 Jul. 2007. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shel-Silverstein/67377>
"Shel Silverstein." Essayworld.com. July 2, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shel-Silverstein/67377.
"Shel Silverstein." Essayworld.com. July 2, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shel-Silverstein/67377.
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