Purpura’s “Autopsy Report” utilizes language strategically by offering vivid images that rely on the reader’s five senses, especially with the use of short phrases or sentences coupled with unique and perhaps awkward wordplay. For instance, even in the first sentence of the entire piece, the author states, “I shall begin with the chest of drowned men, bound with ropes and diesel-slick” (Purpura, 1). “Diesel-slick” is an interesting yet brilliant choice of words to describe the first scene, since it seems to emphasis a dark yet vivid visual imagery that definitely leaves a picture in your head. This kind of technique accentuates emphasis with short lists of words that give you quick images in your head that become layered upon each other, barely giving the reader time to think and reflect on them. Purpura lists a variety of different and powerful adjectives combined with simplistic nouns to almost mimic poetry, which makes it as effective for visual representations.

This piece even utilizes repetition such as “I shall” as well as patterns of short paragraphs that are spaced out with several pauses for extra emphasis. For example, in the next couple of sentences, she states, “I shall touch, while no one is looking, the perfect cornrows, the jacket’s wet color” (Purpura, 1).

Another example of lists and the use of italics for an added effect is: the autopsy report: “The last person to see him alive was his girlfriend. History: bipolar. OD: heroin” (2). In this case, the reader can imagine the visuals and even determine a bit of the plot with just these list-like words by using common sense—by understanding cause and effect. We use these list-like words that a strung together to fill in gaps to connect a story together and create our own imaginative visuals.

As for Biss’s “Dust Off,” she, too, also uses this similar style of short strung list-like words and pauses to convey a story, although she had the advantage of footage and sound at her side unlike Purpura. One instance of this technique is when she describes the first story of death: “The problem was that the propellant sometimes lingered in the lungs, displaced oxygen and killed you” (Biss, 1:06). Here, she recounts the story of how Theo took in propellant to get high, which ultimately caused his death—haunting and eerie. To make this more meaningful, she inhales and exhales and pauses for a while to mimic Theo’s death to give it a realistic added effect and much more powerful (Biss, 1:16).

As for the visuals, it was harsh snow falling everywhere, which transitioned into an empty leaveless tree, alone and isolated, in the midst of a snowstorm, which is a powerful image that becomes ingrained into your memory. The tree symbolizes Theo’s death and isolation when he died alone. In addition, the soundlessness gives a foreboding suspenseful tone.

In the end, both of the works depict death as a result of drugs in a visual and powerful way. The use of short phrases and sentences with a good amount of space in between words are both their strategy to evoke imagery and imagination. More specifically, they focused on simple yet descriptive adjectives and nouns in list-like forms, which gives it a much more fast-paced solemn, sad tone.