IRB #3- Post 2

Chapters 14 to 27 of Payment in Full delve into the life of Elvira, the orphaned African American girl taken into custody by a Jewish couple after they could not conceive themselves. Rebecca, Elvira's adopted mother, introduces Elvira to the African-American community as well as exposes her to Christianity. However, Elvira seems to be more interested in the Jewish religion. For example, Elvira's favorite foods are bagels and she enjoys watching Rebecca prepare Shabbat dinner and other Jewish remedies. The bond between Elvira and the Rosen family strengthens day by day, and she realizes that this is her family. Later in the sectyion, it is discovered that Elvira must move in with a colored family- one who is more like her. Elvira refuses to do so, revealing her love for the Rosen family. In the end, the judge allows Elvira to stay with the Rosen's, and it is official that Elvira is in the custody of the Rosen family. 

Henry Denker's stylistic approaches in this chapter often reveal allusions to the Civil War era through the prejudice that Elvira is experiencing while living with a white Jewish family. His informal diction to describe the slang used by African Americans during this time demonstrate the differences during this era between blacks and whites. The syntax is often very short, for most of the details are described through dialogues between people. The imagery used in this section reveals the context of the story because it describes typical scenes that one would see if they lived during this era. Every chapter describes a dilemma Elvira must overcome, with vivid details that spark an emotional connection between the audience and the characters, while enticing the audience to continue reading. This ratio, according to Burke's Pentad, is very effective in this fictional story.