The Man Who Was Almost a Man

The author uses vernacular to characterize all of the Black characters and create a sense of time and place in the story. The dialect is used in dialogues but also Dave’s internal monologues, further establishing the character’s background and social status. Words like “[y]essuh” (12), “[s]hucks” (12), and “lemme” (12) create an authentic and unique voice for the Black characters that directly connects to the African American experience. The vernacular emphasizes the character’s point of view while contrasting against the authorial voice and the use of standard English by the white characters. The differences in language among the white and Black characters also highlight the differences in education in the South and relate to the racial segregation and poverty that historically thwarted African Americans’ participation in education.

Onomatopoeia is used to describe the mechanical sounds of the gunshot and the train’s arrival. The words “[b]looooom!” (25), and “[c]lick, click” (26) make the shooting scene more vivid and immediate for the reader. The gun’s sounds highlight its significance as a symbol throughout the story and dramatize the scene, which is a turning point in the protagonist’s life and development.