Tag Archives: the shawl

barged

barge (v) : to move or push in a fast, awkward and often rude way

Definition from Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barge)

From The Shawl by Louise Erdrich (Paragraph 9)

The kind where, when he came home, we’d jump out the window and hide in the woods while he barged around, shouting for us.

After the mother died, the father became alcoholic and came home drunk. And every time he came home drunk, the kids jumped out the window to hide in the woods, avoiding their father, and the father moved around and looked for the kids.

Annihilated

Annihilate (v) : to destroy (someone or something) completely

Definition from Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilated)

From The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick (paragraph 5)

They were in a place without pity, all pity was annihilated in Rosa, she looked at Stella’s bones without pity.

There were no pity in the place (in the situation). Rosa thinks all pity was completely destroyed because it no longer exist in the place.