What are possible purposes of Stowe’s use of dialect? Select all that apply.

Answer:

A.) to endear certain characters to us.

D.) to exhibit characters' levels of education.

Stowe’s dialogue enhances the story’s backdrop in various manners. Primarily, it adds realism to the characters and endears them to readers. By depicting their speech as it would likely sound in reality, readers gain a closer connection with the characters, fostering deeper empathy. Additionally, Stowe employs dialect to reflect the educational attainment of characters, with "standard" English typically associated with those who are literate and educated.

Answer:

A.) to endear certain characters to us

D.) to illustrate characteristics of education

Explanation:

Literary dialect presents each character's speech as it would authentically sound rather than a uniform storytelling style. For instance, when one slave converses with another, the reader can hear, "This present yer's arrangement business, Andy. Yer must n't be a-makin' diversion." This isn't how Mrs. Stowe writes or what most writers do; it reflects the authentic speech of that specific slave. Through this representation, readers can appreciate the literary technique that makes each character distinct, showcasing their education, social status, and background. This is also true for white characters in the narrative, as many were not part of the elite classes. The slave trader's language sets him apart from Mr. Shelby: "I may bring him up in a year, very little the wuss for wear, and exchange him back." This is one of the most significant literary devices utilized by Mrs. Stowe. As Allison Burkette notes, "Stowe's phonetic accuracy is confirmed by how each character’s use of language features emulates real speakers, incorporating specific dialect attributes and their frequency, and her distribution of these features across social categories echoes findings in sociolinguistic research."