Audre Lorde's essay

Audre Lorde has a very charismatic way of illustrating what people are like. Her descriptions of her experience with "Miss Teacher" give the reader a feel for the teacher's personality.

Lorde illustrates Miss Teacher's frightening attitude and lack of understanding by stating, "All of a sudden the air around her hand beside my notebook grew very still and frightening...Her voice was sharp...There was a moment of icy silence, and I knew I had done something terribly wrong...She broke the silence with a wicked edge to her voice."

The way Lorde describes Miss Teacher's tone of voice shows her cruelty toward the child.