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Transcript

On Being a Cripple

By Nancy Mairs

Asyndeton

"I walked down the aisle. I pushed baby carriages, changed tires in the rain, marched for peace" (233).

"...Tab Hunter and Johnny Mathis gave way to the Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cream" (233).

Effect:

  • Speeds up the rhythm of the story, gives her a unique voice
  • Gives emphasis to the text and things she did before being diagnosed with MS

What is MS?

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Body's immune system mistakenly attacks myelin
  • Myelin: coating on your nerves, protection
  • Creates scar tissue - immobility

Source: nationalmssociety.org

Antithesis

"What I hate is not me but a disease. I am not a disease." (240)

Effect:

  • Conveys ideas more vividly than normal writing
  • Helps a phrase stick in a reader's head after it is read
  • Powerful

Euphemism

Costa's Discussion Questions

1. Predict why Mairs chose a blunt,

straight-forward title.

2. Infer what the purpose of this essay is.

3. Evaluate why Mairs includes her depiction of today's ideal woman on page 239.

4. Evaluate what the quote, "I am not a disease" represents (Mairs 240).

5. Compare Nancy's outlook on her MS diagnosis to how you believe other people would look at their diagnosis.

"'handicapped' and 'disabled'" (231).

"'differently abled'" (232).

Effect:

  • tries to beautify the disease
  • masks the harsh realities
  • essentially captures same ideas as "cripple"

Video Discussion

Video:

1. What similarities did you find with Kayla's story and Nancy's story?

2. Differences?

3. Does this video change your perspective on how you choose to name disability?

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