Biographiccal essay on E.B. White as an essayist with some personal references and commentary.

Essay by thinkfreeHigh School, 11th grade March 2003

download word file, 2 pages 2.2

Downloaded 53 times

E. B. White

I don't remember exactly how I first learned the story of Charlotte's Web. I don't remember if Mom or Dad read it to me or if a baby-sitter popped the tape in the VCR. I do remember that I was obsessed with pigs by the time I was three. E. B. White had infiltrated our home. White's essays are not only enjoyable, but are filled with important lessons for the prospective writer as well -- White's candor combined with wit and a dash of humor has transformed the newspaper columnist into a prominent, uniquely American literary figure.

The essays of E. B. White are masterfully composed. His imagery departs a grand demonstration that few writers can ever accomplish. His style flows through all of his essays and illustrates the world around him as he tells his stories. No matter what topic he writes about, his words flow smoothly to paint a scene of pictures and leave a sense of understanding.

Through his imagery and style, the reader learns a unique aspect of the world.

With this in mind, E.B. White writes in a manner that moves in a smooth path to its final destination. He mentions all details that reside in the surrounding area, while presenting an intrinsic idea that is concluded at the end. Showing how the simple joys of a place recover many memories, in "Once More to the Lake," is one example of his style. Here, he flashes back to his summers as a child, when his father takes him to the lake, describing the coves, streams and his experiences as he ponders if the lake remains the same, and ending by revealing his final thoughts and findings. To this end, his words flow freely from the first sentence to the last, combining with...