Kissiing

A concise analogy behind the historic language of kissing is detailed in Diane Ackerman's Kissing. Sharing personal experiences and using literary devices such as: allusion, diction and figurative language, allows Ackerman to communicate her knowledge and perceptions about kissing. While Ackerman's personal experiences stimulate an erogenous note among the reader, she is also able to illustrate a logical view through example. The method of development primarily used by Ackerman, would be that of explaining. Her method of explaining begins with personal experiences, however is mostly comprised of citations from other sources.

Throughout paragraphs three and four, Ackerman captures the reader through personal experiences. She explains her motivation behind the essay and creates a detailed scene by illustrating places and endless moments. The scenario is then harmonized with the innocence of adolescence, and yet it still manages to sexually stimulate the mature reader. "Ð'...clutching our boyfriends from behind as we straddled motorcycles, whose vibrations turned our hips to jelly; we kissed extravagantly beside a turtlearium in the park, or at the local rose garden or zooÐ'..." (Ackerman, page 3). By detailing her most favorable moments, Ackerman sets the mood of intimacy for her essay, and opens the road for factual evidence.

Ackerman's method of explaining is best communicated through her use of allusion. Quoting biblical text, referring to anthropology and the natural science expert, Darwin, are just a few of her references. Demonstrating the senses and emotions involved with kissing offspring, was her citation of the Bible. She explains, "Ð'...when Isaac grew old and lost his sight, he called his son Esau to kiss him and receive a blessing, but Jacob put on Esau's clothing and, because he smelled like Esau to his blind father, received the kiss instead." (Ackerman, page 4). She also explains through allusion our natural yearning for kissing may have prelude from early human behavior. In modern day, one is mimicking this same behavior for its' parental or comfort value. For example, "Ð'...mothers weaned their children by chewing up their food and then passing it into the infantile mouth by lip-to-lip contactÐ'--which naturally involved a considerable amount of tonguing and mutual mouth-pressure." (Ackerman, page 5). Allusion creates factual evidence or carries the ability to support an argument.

Utilizing literary devices enables Ackerman to communicate her ideas in an effective manor. To begin, Ackerman uses a formal word choice. Diction at a formal language level, allows the reader to comprehend