Brandon R. Schrand's "The Bone Road" is an evocative exploration of family history, identity, and mortality. Through his journey across the desolate landscape of southeastern Idaho, Schrand embarks on a quest to uncover the shadows of his family's past while grappling with his own sense of self. Schrand employs various rhetorical strategies—metaphor, imagery, and narrative structure—to engage readers and invite them to participate in his introspective exploration. This essay argues that Schrand’s use of the Bone Road as a metaphor, his vivid descriptive language, and his non-linear narrative techniques effectively draw readers into his exploration of family history and personal identity, reflecting broader themes of searching for meaning in a …show more content…
Schrand describes seeing "the sun-bleached skeletal remains of a deer alongside the road," an image that symbolizes his preoccupation with death and the ephemeral nature of life (Schrand 61). The bones serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of existence, echoing his fears about his own mortality. This image also aligns with the title, "The Bone Road," suggesting that the road itself is littered with the remnants of life—both literal and metaphorical. The reader is reminded that Schrand’s journey is not just about exploring his family history, but also about confronting the inevitability of death and what it means to live with the knowledge of one’s mortality. Schrand's narrative structure, marked by shifts in tone and non-linear storytelling, adds further depth to his exploration of identity and family history. His fragmented storytelling approach, moving back and forth between different times and places, mirrors his attempts to piece together his family's disjointed past. This narrative structure effectively reflects the fragmented nature of his identity and the complexity of his search for