RL 4 "A Beat Education" Leonard Kress

1)      One of the expressions Kress uses that helps bring the story to life, to me anyways, was when he spoke of the hobo tackling him to the ground. The overall imagery he uses, him being too shocked to resist and the hobo coming uncomfortably close to his face, really brings this essay to life. If you can picture the terrifying adrenaline rush of being tackled by a railroad bum with the fear that this might be the end, then you know exactly what im talking about. Another phrase in which Kress brings this essay to life is when he speaks of how uncomfortable the ride was. Imagine going over railroad tracks in a fast moving metal box. The jitters and vibrations would be close to unbearable. It only added insult to injury when he couldn't eat what he brought along (very serious statement especially when i love food, i was sad for him!).

2)     Kress might have better described the scene had he described the bum in better detail.
- The man, almost a shadow of a man, was dressed in remnants of old clothing and soot.
This statement can contribute to the "sketchy factor" when speaking of when the man tackled him to the ground. Describing the sunset in detail would have helped the essay come alive as well.
- As the sun was sinking into the murky depths of Lake Michigan, streaks of gold, purple, and orange shot through the trees. 
Althought the journey was rough, Kress did point out the beauty of the sunset, and this statement would've helped described it in further detail.

3)     Kress' voice seems to be one of a weathered man looking back at the "green" youth he used to be. Words and phrases that would help prove this point are everywhere in the text.
-"Doubtless, my sense of education at the time...was more than mildly seasoned by the Beats..."
-"If I were to characterize it now....and my own middle class suburban naivete..."
- "Here was a whole gallery of street life like i had never seen."
I believe that Kress' voice is appropriate for writing about hopping a freight train, because it focuses on what new experiences he got from doing it.