The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Celie and Nettie’s letters: Crunched
DIY chart – a comparison of letter styles
In the table below are some ways to describe the different styles of Celie and Nettie’s letters.
Frank
Exclamatory sentences
Limited vocabulary
Everyday diction
Addressed to God
Vernacular
Sparse, reduced
language
Language has immediacy
and impact
Use of dialect
Religious diction
Uneducated
Non standard forms and
spellings (C)
Childlike expression
Frequent use of pronouns
(he, him etc.)
Curt observations
Elliptical
Frequent use of first
person
Focuses on immediate people
and relationships/events
Naïve
Missionary style (N)
Use of dialogue is
vigorous/convincing
Explicit slang
Epistolary form
Some figurative language
Taboo topics
Short, simple sentences
Frequent use of rhetorical
questions
© 2009 www.teachit.co.uk
Cruncher: A-level Literature
Task 1
Read through Celie’s letter below, and identify
any features which Walker typically uses to
create her epistolary style.
Draw arrows to show where they appear in the
text and write C (for Celie) or N (for Nettie) if
you think the technique is more typical of her
sister’s letters:
Dear God,
He act like he can’t stand me no more. Say I’m
evil an always up to no good. He took my other
little baby, a boy this time. But I don’t think he
kilt it. I think he sold it to a man an his wife over
Monticello. I got breast full of milk running
down myself. He say Why don’t you look
decent? Put on something. But what I’m sposed
to put on? I don’t have nothing.
I keep hoping he fine somebody to marry. I see
him looking at my little sister. She scared. But I
say I’ll take care of you. With God help.
(P. 5 Phoenix edition)
Page 1 of 3
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Celie and Nettie’s letters: Crunched
Task 2
Now look closely at the language of Celie’s letter in its raw state (the text has been ‘crunched’ using Teachit’s Cruncher).
Can the words be grouped or categorised – nouns, verbs, adjectives etc.? What is the effect? An example has been done for you, but
what other features of the language can you identify?
But But But Dear God God I I I I I I I’ll I’m I’m Monticello Put Say She Why With act always baby boy breast can’t care
decent don’t don’t don’t down evil fine full good got have he he he he help him his hoping keep kilt like little little
look looking man marry me milk more my my myself no no nothing running say say scared see sister sold somebody
something sposed stand take think think this time took up what wife you you
The repetition of masculine
pronouns in Celie’s letter
suggests Mr________’s
dominance over her.
Task 3
Now identify any aspects of language that you think are typical of Nettie’s epistolary style, by annotating this letter. Try to find at least
five points – you may wish to use ideas from the table above. An example has been done for you:
Short and elliptical sentences here add drama and
convey the strength of Nettie’s feelings.
Dear Celie,
I keep thinking it’s too soon to look for a letter from you. And I know how busy you is with all Mr_______’s children. But I miss you so
much. Please write to me, soon as you have a chance. Every day I think about you. Every minute.
The lady you met in town is name Corrine. The little girl’s name is Olivia. The husband’s name is Samuel. The little boy’s name is Adam.
They are sanctified religious and very good to me. They live in a nice house next to the church where Samuel preaches, and we spend a lot
of time on church business. I say ‘we’ because they always try to include me in everything they do, so I don’t feel so left out and alone.
But God, I miss you, Celie. I think about the time you laid yourself down for me. I love you with all my heart,
Your sister,
Nettie (P. 115 Phoenix edition)
© 2009 www.teachit.co.uk
Cruncher: A-level Literature
Page 2 of 3
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Celie and Nettie’s letters: Crunched
Task 4
Below is the same letter in its ‘crunched’ form, which shows you how many times the word is used in the text, and focuses on the most
important diction. In pairs:
•
•
•
Choose the 7 most powerful or emotive words in the letter (these words may not necessarily be the most frequently used).
Choose the 5 words that are most typical of Nettie’s epistolary style.
Some words are repeated frequently. Identify the most interesting repeated words and comment on what they tell you about
Nettie’s character or her relationship with Celie.
about about adam all all alone always and and and and are as because boy’s business busy but but celie celie chance children church
church corrine day dear do don’t down every every everything feel for for from girl’s god good have heart house how husband’s i i i i i i i i
i in in in include is is is is is it’s keep know lady laid left letter little little live look lot love me me me me met minute miss miss mr_______’s
much my name name name name next nice of olivia on out please preaches religious samuel samuel sanctified say sister so so so soon soon
spend the the the the the the they they they they think think thinking time time to to to to to too town try very we ‘we’where with with
write you you you you you you you you you your yourself
Task 5
Now write a paragraph, focusing on five features of either Celie’s OR Nettie’s language and discuss what their effect is in conveying her
character.
© 2009 www.teachit.co.uk
Cruncher: A-level Literature
Page 3 of 3