Diction/Word Choice

I always find it interesting to examine a writer's diction, word choice, when he/she uses descriptive passages to introduce characters, to explain settings, or to define conflicts and resolutions.  The denotations of words, as well as their connotation, both past and present, color the reader's interpretation in more ways than one.

For instance - Faulkner describes the daughters in "Barn Burning" as bovine.  Bovine.  When I taught this short story to my juniors, the word bovine was noted on the vocabulary list for the story.  I wondered which student would notice the meaning and then apply it to Faulkner's description of the daughters.  I wondered how much time would elapse between the task of recording the meanings, then reading the story, and finally making the connection.  I was never disappointed. Someone always commented on Faulker's diction in this story.

Bovine = cowlike

Two daughters of a father who moves them from one shanty to another, who burns buildings for revenge are described as being......bovine.  Cowlike.  Were they big and cumbersome?  Did they have cowlike faces?  Big ears?  Huge hoof-like feet?  Did they move slowly as they walked?  Did they have big eyes?  Did they chew their gum like cows chew their cuds?

Now I am not sure how many of my students have been up-close-and-personal with a cow, but I have.  We raise beef cattle and our two daughters showed steers and heifers in 4-H for 10 years each.  I have been up-close-and-personal with more of these animals than I can count. 

Two daughters.  Bovine.  Not exactly flattering.  Very descriptive.  What did Faulkner have in mind when he selected that particular word in his characterization?  We'll never know, but it is fun to speculate, isn't it?